All posts containing the tag: "pitchman"
Posted Oct 15th 2009 1:00AM by TMZ Staff
Billy Mays' tombstone has finally been unveiled in Pennsylvania -- and lets just say it captures every aspect of the pitchman's life ... husband, father, son, "Pitchman."
The gravestone features a full color image of Billy wearing his classic blue shirt, a big smile and a satisfaction guaranteed thumbs up.
Billy's son, Billy Mays III, posted the picture on his Twitter page, with the caption, "So here it is, my dad's gravestone."
Billy's funeral was on July 3 in McKees Rock, Pennsylvania -- and all his pallbearers were decked out in the blue shirts as well.
Filed under: Billy Mays
Tags: billy mays, BillyMays, gravestone, pitchman, tombstone
Posted Aug 6th 2009 1:00AM by TMZ Staff
It'll be hard to find anyone to fill that blue shirt quite like Billy Mays -- but the marketing company behind Mighty Brand products is prepping a nationwide search for a new pitchman to take his place.
Media Enterprises tells us the hunt will begin August 19 with auditions in Tampa, FL -- and will continue throughout the country. We're told Mays' image will remain on the Mighty products, but the company is looking for someone with as much enthusiasm as Billy to sell it.
The first product the new person would be pitching is the Mighty Sponge -- a sponge so strong it can allegedly absorb 2 liters of Coke.
The gig could end up being pretty lucrative for whoever nails it -- for one of his last commercials, Mays was paid seven figures for one day's work.
Talk about an easy sell.
Filed under: Billy Mays, Exclusives
Tags: billy mays, BillyMays, media enterprises, MediaEnterprises, mighty brand, MightyBrand, nationwide search, NationwideSearch, pitchman, search
Posted Jul 14th 2009 6:10AM by TMZ Staff
It's Billy Mays last commercial -- an ad for Mighty Tape ... so strong it works underwater.
This is the final cut of the spot which was shot two weeks before he died. It will begin airing in August.
Filed under: Billy Mays, Exclusives
Tags: billy mays, BillyMays, commercial, mighty tape, MightyTape, pitchman, video
Posted Jul 11th 2009 1:30AM by TMZ Staff
Billy Mays put the finishing touches on a commercial two weeks before he died -- which featured him being hoisted on a moving, 500 ton boat to show the strength of the putty he was peddling.
TV commercials for the Mighty Putty Super Pack and Mighty Tape will begin airing this month.
Mighty Brand President Bill McAlister tells us Mays' pic will remain on boxes of all the products he endorsed until a decision is made on a successor.
Filed under: Billy Mays, Exclusives
Tags: billy mays, BillyMays, commercial, pitchman, pitchmen, video
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
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
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
