Billy Mays Funeral -- Death of a Salesman

Posted Jul 3rd 2009 7:41PM by TMZ Staff

In pure Billy Mays fashion, all of Billy's pallbearers wore OxiClean button up shirts during his funeral in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania today.


Mays died on Sunday morning in his sleep -- an autopsy suggested he died from complications due to heart disease.

Filed under: R.I.P., Billy Mays

Tags: as seen on tv, AsSeenOnTv, billy mays, BillyMays, death, funeral, oxiclean

Billy Mays 911 Call -- 'It's Too Late'

Posted Jun 29th 2009 11:09AM by TMZ Staff

TMZ has obtained the 911 call made from the home of Billy Mays, where he was found dead yesterday morning.



During the emotional call, Billy's wife is asked to move his body from the bed to the floor so she can perform CPR -- just like in the Michael Jackson 911 call -- but then an unknown male takes the phone to tell the dispatcher, "It's too late."

We're told by Tampa police officials the mystery male heard in the call was a family friend who was visiting from out of town.

Click here... it's not over yet

Filed under: Billy Mays

Tags: 911 call, 911Call, billy mays, BillyMays, oxiclean, pitchman, pitchmen

FAA -- Billy Wasn't Wearing a Seat Belt on Plane

Posted Jun 28th 2009 12:58PM by TMZ Staff

The FAA is already deflecting blame for the death of Billy Mays -- claiming the legendary TV pitchman wasn't wearing a seat belt when he took a shot to the head during a rough landing on a flight he was on yesterday.

Here's what we know -- Billy Mays was aboard US Airways Flight 1241 flying from Philadelphia, which landed roughly when the front tire blew out as it touched down. After the flight, Billy told FOX 13 in Tampa that something struck him in the head -- here's Billy's actual quote:

"All of a sudden as we hit you know it was just the hardest hit, all the things from the ceiling started dropping. It hit me on the head, but I got a hard head."

We called the FAA for comment, and a spokesperson told us, "The passenger needs to wear a seat belt during landing and he didn't."

A spokesperson for US Airways did not want to comment until more information comes to light.

Billy posted about it last on his Twitter last night, saying, "Just had a close call landing in Tampa. The tires blew out upon landing. Stuck in the plane on the runway. You can always count on US Air."

Filed under: Billy Mays, Exclusives

Tags: billy mays, BillyMays, dead, faa, oxiclean, pitchman

Pitchman Billy Mays Found Dead

Posted Jun 28th 2009 11:50AM by TMZ Staff

TMZ has confirmed TV pitchman Billy Mays was found dead today in his home in Tampa, Florida early this morning.

According to the Tampa PD, the 50-year-old TV pitchman was found unresponsive by his wife Deborah at 7:45 AM.

TMZ has learned Mays' body has already been removed from his home.

Mays had just returned from Philadelphia, where he shot a new OxiClean commercial. He was a passenger aboard a plane that suffered a blown front tire upon landing. He told a local TV station, "All of a sudden as we hit you know it was just the hardest hit, all the things from the ceiling started dropping. It hit me on the head, but I got a hard head."

We're told Mays was at his home around 6:00 PM last night, and according to a source Mays was "acting fine and normal ... he was talking business with his father-in-law."

According to cops, there are no signs of forced entry to the residence and no foul play is suspected. Billy's wife Deborah told investigators Billy wasn't feeling well last night.

The Medical Examiner's office is expected to complete the autopsy by tomorrow afternoon. Billy was due to have his third hip replacement surgery on Monday.

UPDATE: Deborah just released the following statement: "Although Billy lived a public life, we don't anticipate making any public statements over the next couple of days. Our family asks that you respect our privacy during these difficult times."

A rep for the Discovery Channel -- which airs Billy's show "Pitchmen" -- released this statement, "Everyone that knows him was aware of his larger-than-life personality, generosity and warmth. Billy was a pioneer in his field and helped many people fulfill their dreams. He will be greatly missed as a loyal and compassionate friend."

Filed under: R.I.P., Billy Mays

Tags: Billy mays, BillyMays, dead, died, oxi-clean, oxiclean, pitchman

Kaboom! Billy Mays Sells Out ... NYC

Posted Jun 11th 2009 1:15PM by TMZ Staff

The world's loudest salesman Billy Mays is always on the clock -- and yesterday outside The London Hotel in NYC, he was trying to pitch everyone outside on the "Best French restaurant here in town!"

Filed under: Paparazzi Video, Wacky & Weird

Tags: Billy Mays, BillyMays, Kaboom, new york city, NewYorkCity, oxiclean, salesman