Celebrity pitchman Billy Mays is dead at 50

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Celebrity pitchman Billy Mays is dead at 50

June 28th, 2009 | Add a Comment

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By News Services

Known for his trademark beard, blue shirt and booming bass voice, he was one of America’s most recognizable salesmen. Photo courtesy Wikipedia TV pitchman Billy Mays was pronounced dead at his home, police in Tampa, Florida, said, according to CNN. He was 50.

Mays was found dead by his wife in his Tampa home on June 28, 2009. The Associated Press reported that there were no indications that the house had been broken into, and that police did not suspect foul play.

According to Fox News, Mays had been aboard a US Airways flight that blew out its front tires as it landed at Tampa International Airport on June 27, the day before his death. None of the 138 passengers and five crew members were reported to be seriously injured immediately following the incident, but several passengers reported having bumps and bruises from falling objects.

Mays told the local Tampa TV station that some of the objects “hit me on the head, but I got a hard head.” It is unclear whether Mays’ death was related to the incident.

Mays had built up one of the most recognizable personas in advertising. From humble beginnings on the Atlantic City boardwalk to national television commercials, chances are, most households in America have used one or more of his products at one time or another in the 16 years since he first came to prominence on the Home Shopping Network.

His most famous products include Orange Glo, Oxi-Clean and the Handy Switch.

Michael Breckenridge contributed to this article.

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