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| death_place = [[Tampa, Florida]], U.S.
| resting_place = Mount Calvary Cemetery, McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| years_active = 1983–2009
| known_for = Infomercial acting
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| television = ''[[PitchMen]]''
| children = 2
| spouse = {{ubl|{{marriage|Dolores DiDesiderio||1990|end=div}}<ref name="tbo"/>|{{marriage|Deborah Mays|2002}}<ref name="tbo">{{cite web|url=http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/28/281143/tv-pitchman-billy-mays-found-dead-tampa-home/news-breaking|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630085315/http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/28/281319/tv-pitchman-billy-mays-found-dead-tampa-home/news-breaking/|archive-date=June 30, 2009|title=TV pitchman Billy Mays found dead in Tampa home|work=Tampa Bay Online|access-date=June 28, 2009 |date=June 28, 2009 |first1=Walt |last1=Belcher |first2=Josh |last2=Poltilove |first3=Ray |last3=Reyes |first4=Chip |last4=Osowski |first5=Natalie |last5=Shepherd}}</ref>}}
| occupation = Television direct-response advertisement salesman
}}
'''William Darrell Mays Jr.''' (July 20, 1958 – June 28, 2009)<ref name="Fox Bio">{{cite news|url=
Mays and his business partner, [[Anthony Sullivan (pitchman)|Anthony Sullivan]], were also featured on ''[[PitchMen]]'', a [[Discovery Channel]] television series that documented their work. His distinctive beard, attire, loud voice, and impassioned sales pitches made him a recognized television presence in the United States and Canada.<ref name="segal">{{cite news |title= Shill Game: With His Booming Voice, Billy Mays Projects That Sales Will Rise | first=David |last=Segal |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/18/AR2008081802508.html |access-date= June 28, 2009|date=August 19, 2008|newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111094347/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/18/AR2008081802508.html |archive-date=November 11, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.ctvnews.ca/infomercial-pitchman-billy-mays-found-dead-1.411982 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120731035147/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090628/mays_obit_090628/20090628?hub=CTVNewsAt11 |url-status= live |archive-date= July 31, 2012 |title= Infomercial pitchman Billy Mays found dead |date= June 28, 2009 |work= CTV News At 11 |publisher= CTV.ca |author=<!--Staff byline-->}}</ref>
==Early life==
Mays was born on July 20, 1958, in [[McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania]] to Joyce Palm<ref name="discoveryremember">{{cite video |people=Billy Mays, Anthony Sullivan, Billy Mays III, Deborah Mays, Elizabeth Mays, Joyce Palm |date=June 2009 |title=PitchMen: Billy's Legacy |url=http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/pitchmen-billys-legacy.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704221722/http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/pitchmen-billys-legacy.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 4, 2009 |format=Adobe Flash |medium=Internet video |publisher=Discovery Channel |access-date=July 1, 2009}}</ref> and Billy Mays Sr, where he was raised in nearby [[Pittsburgh]].<ref name="Fox Bio"/><ref name="PittTR">{{cite web|url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/tribpm/s_604864.html|title='Life's a pitch' for McKees Rocks native Billy Mays|last=Brandolph|first=Adam|date=December 29, 2008|work=[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]]|access-date=June 30, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416055259/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/tribpm/s_604864.html|archive-date=April 16, 2009}}</ref> He was a student at [[Sto-Rox High School]],<ref name="Fox Bio"/><ref name="PittTR" /> and later [[West Virginia University]], where he was a walk-on [[linebacker]] on its [[West Virginia Mountaineers football|football team]] during his two years there.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2009/04/03/magazines/fortune/okeefe_infomercial.fortune/index.htm|title=Secrets of the TV pitchmen|last=O'Keeffe|first=Brian|date=April 6, 2009|work=
==Career==
After dropping out of college, Mays worked for his father's hazardous waste company before moving to [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]], in 1983.<ref name="Fox Bio"/> On the Atlantic City boardwalk, Mays sold the Washmatik portable washing device to passersby,<ref name="TBBJ">{{cite news |first=G.G. |last=Rigsby |title= As seen on TV: Billy Mays hawks it all for a price| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2002/05/06/story8.html |newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Business Journal]] |date=May 3, 2002 |access-date=April 21, 2007}}</ref> along with other "[[As seen on TV|As Seen on TV]]" products.<ref name="Fox Bio"/> In Atlantic City, he
▲=== Early work ===
▲After dropping out of college, Mays worked for his father's hazardous waste company before moving to [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]] in 1983.<ref name="Fox Bio"/> On the Atlantic City boardwalk, Mays sold the Washmatik portable washing device to passersby,<ref name="TBBJ">{{cite news |first=G.G. |last=Rigsby |title= As seen on TV: Billy Mays hawks it all for a price| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2002/05/06/story8.html |newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Business Journal]] |date=May 3, 2002 |access-date=April 21, 2007}}</ref> along with other "[[As seen on TV|As Seen on TV]]" products.<ref name="Fox Bio"/> In Atlantic City, he was taught how to sell by the older salesmen, saying "I was taught to pitch by a lot of old pitchmen. That's the kind of style I have."<ref name="Fox Bio"/>
Mays then traveled to home shows, [[auto show]]s, and [[state fair]]s across the United States for a period of twelve years, selling various maintenance products and tools, including cleaning products and food choppers.<ref name="TBBJ"/>
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=== Television pitching ===
At a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, home show in 1993, Mays struck up a friendship with rival salesman Max Appel, founder of Orange Glo International, a [[Denver]]-based manufacturer of cleaning products. He was then hired by the company to promote their line of cleaners, [[OxiClean]], Orange Clean, Orange Glo, and [[Church and Dwight|Kaboom]], on the [[Home Shopping Network]] in [[St. Petersburg, Florida]].<ref name="sptimes06">
In October 2000, Mays shot an infomercial for the then-three-year-old [[OxiClean]] corporation. He became a staple of the brand and the wider company, Orange Glo. Later on he appeared in Kaboom infomercials.
Mays was the CEO and founder of Mays Promotions, Inc., based at his home in [[Odessa, Florida]].<ref name="segal"/> His services as a pitchman became highly sought-after, and he appeared in commercials for many diverse "As Seen On TV" products such as [[Epoxy putty|Mighty Putty]]. Mays claimed to be an avid user of the products he promoted.<ref name="CinInq">{{cite news |first=Mitch|last=Stacy |agency=[[Associated Press]] |title= As seen on TV, pitchman Billy Mays cleans up with shtick — In-your-face salesman peddles fixes for car dents to cleaning products.|url=http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/12/29/biz_billymays29.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122062135/http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/12/29/biz_billymays29.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 22, 2013 |newspaper=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]] |date=December 29, 2002 |access-date=April 21, 2007}}</ref>
In December 2008, Mays began appearing in ads for [[ESPN]]'s online service, [[ESPN360]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://adweek.blogs.com/adfreak/2008/12/billy-mays-wants-to-sell-you-some-espn360.html|work=[[AdWeek]]
On March 26, 2009, Mays appeared on ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]''.<ref name=lenoEp>{{cite episode |series=The Tonight Show with Jay Leno |season=17 |number=52 |title=Dana Carvey, Billy Mays, Prince |first=Jay |last=Leno |network=NBC}}</ref>
On April 15, 2009, the [[Discovery Channel]] began airing ''[[PitchMen]]'', a documentary series that featured Mays and [[Anthony Sullivan (pitchman)|Anthony Sullivan]] in their jobs in [[direct-response marketing]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.realitytvfans.com/2009/03/02/discovery-channel-announces-new-series-pitchmen-premiering-april-15.html |title=Discovery Channel Announces New Series "Pitchmen" Premiering April 15 |publisher=Realitytvfans.com |date=March 2, 2009 |access-date=June 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307010951/http://www.realitytvfans.com/2009/03/02/discovery-channel-announces-new-series-pitchmen-premiering-april-15.html |archive-date=March 7, 2009 }}</ref> After Mays' death, Discovery Channel aired a special Billy Mays tribute special, ''[[Pitchmen#Pitchman: A Tribute to Billy Mays|Pitchman: A Tribute to Billy Mays]]''.▼
▲On April 15, 2009, the [[Discovery Channel]] began airing ''[[PitchMen]]'', a documentary series that featured Mays and [[Anthony Sullivan (pitchman)|Anthony Sullivan]] in their jobs in [[direct-response marketing]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.realitytvfans.com/2009/03/02/discovery-channel-announces-new-series-pitchmen-premiering-april-15.html |title=Discovery Channel Announces New Series "Pitchmen" Premiering April 15 |
<ref name=lenoYT>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USHc8bUkpBY |title=Billy Mays On Leno For Impact Gel Friday 3/27/09 |date=April 1, 2009 |access-date=June 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619074716/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USHc8bUkpBY&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=June 19, 2024 |author=Karen Herbst |work=Youtube |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> He and Sullivan also appeared on ''[[The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien]]'' on June 23, 2009,<ref name=conanEp>{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/the-tonight-show-with-conan-obrien/lisa-kudrow-billy-mays-and-anthony-sullivan-elvis-costello/episode/1274099/summary.html |title=The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: Lisa Kudrow, Billy Mays & Anthony Sullivan, Elvis Costello |access-date=June 28, 2009 |date=June 23, 2009 |work=TV.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090701170038/http://www.tv.com/the-tonight-show-with-conan-obrien/lisa-kudrow-billy-mays-and-anthony-sullivan-elvis-costello/episode/1274099/summary.html |archive-date=July 1, 2009}}</ref><ref name=conanDM>{{cite episode |series=The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien |title=Lisa Kudrow, Billy Mays & Anthony Sullivan, Elvis Costello |season=1 |number=17 |first=Conan |last=O'Brien |url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5rqbcv |date=June 22, 2009 |network=NBC}}</ref> five days before his death.
== Personal life ==▼
Mays' first marriage was to Dolores "Dee Dee" Mays, which ended in divorce.<ref name="statesman">{{cite web|url=http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/nation/2009/06/29/0629maysobit.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917020534/http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/nation/2009/06/29/0629maysobit.html|archive-date=September 17, 2012|title=OxiClean pitchman dies at age 50|date=June 29, 2009|work=[[Austin American-Statesman]]|access-date=June 30, 2009}}</ref> He had a son with Dolores named Billy Mays III (born August 12, 1986) who worked as a production assistant alongside his father on the ''PitchMen'' television show.<ref name="discoveryremember"/> Mays had a daughter, Elizabeth, with his second wife, Deborah Mays. His daughter was three years old at the time of his death.<ref name="statesman"/
In an interview during the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 presidential election]], Mays said he was a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.portfolio.com/views/columns/the-world-according-to/2008/10/09/QA-With-Pitchman-Billy-Mays|title=World According to... Billy Mays|work=Portfolio.com|date=October 9, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120051751/http://www.portfolio.com/views/columns/the-world-according-to/2008/10/09/QA-With-Pitchman-Billy-Mays|archive-date=November 20, 2008|last=Grove|first=Lloyd|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was also a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2009-07-05 |title=Gallery: Billy Mays Funeral |url=https://www.herald-dispatch.com/multimedia/photo_galleries/gallery-billy-mays-funeral/article_c64a0dab-116d-5c48-9a04-227d51259617.html |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=The Herald-Dispatch |language=en}}</ref>
==Death==
{{Wikinews|American pitchman Billy Mays dies at age 50}}
On the morning of June 28, 2009, Mays' wife found him unresponsive in his home in [[Tampa, Florida]].<ref name="Foxnews">
After an initial [[autopsy]] on June 29, 2009, Vernard Adams, the [[Hillsborough County, Florida]] [[Coroner|medical examiner]], stated that Mays suffered from [[hypertensive heart disease]] and that heart disease was the likely cause of his death. According to a toxicology report released August 7, 2009, heart disease was the "primary cause of death" and [[cocaine]] was listed as a "contributory cause of death."<ref>{{cite news|title=Cocaine linked to Billy Mays death|work=The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer|publisher = CNN }}</ref><ref name="AP">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2009-08-07-billy-mays_N.htm|title=Autopsy: Cocaine contributed to Billy Mays' death|date=August 7, 2009|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=USA Today|access-date=July 9, 2012}}</ref> In response to the release of the toxicology report, the Mays family issued a press release stating, "We are extremely disappointed by the press release released by the Hillsborough County medical examiner's office. We believe it contains speculative conclusions that are frankly unnecessary and tend to obscure the conclusion that Billy suffered from chronic, untreated hypertension" and said in the release that they were considering "an independent evaluation of the autopsy results".<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090807005720&newsLang=en |publisher=Businesswire.com |title=Statement from Billy Mays' Family In Response to Medical Examiner's Report|date=August 7, 2009|agency=RFB Communications Group|author=Deborah Mays}}</ref>▼
▲After an initial [[autopsy]] on June 29, 2009, Vernard Adams, the [[Hillsborough County, Florida]], [[Coroner|medical examiner]], stated that Mays suffered from [[hypertensive heart disease]] and that heart disease was the likely cause of his death. According to a toxicology report released August 7, 2009, heart disease was the "primary cause of death" and [[cocaine]] was
The medical examiner concluded that "cocaine use caused or contributed to the development of his heart disease, and thereby contributed to his death," the office said in a press release. The office said Mays last used cocaine in the few days before his death but was not under the influence of it when he died. Hillsborough County spokeswoman Lori Hudson said that nothing in the toxicology report indicated the frequency of Mays' cocaine use. Cocaine can raise the arterial blood pressure, directly cause [[hypertrophy]] of the left ventricle, and accelerate the formation of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries, the release said. However, in October 2009, the results of a second medical examination, commissioned by Mays' family, concluded that cocaine was not a "significant contributing factor" to his death.<ref name="APsecondopinion">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2009-10-15-billy-mays_N.htm |title=Mays' family: Review finds no chronic cocaine use|agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=October 15, 2009 |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=August 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091018140337/https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2009-10-15-billy-mays_N.htm|archive-date=October 18, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>▼
▲The medical examiner concluded that "cocaine use caused or contributed to the development of his heart disease, and thereby contributed to his death
According to subsequent news reports,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/32334881 |title=Mays' family contests cocaine report |work=NBC News |date=August 7, 2009 |access-date=June 9, 2010}}</ref> the toxicology tests also showed levels of painkillers [[hydrocodone]], [[oxycodone]], and [[tramadol]], as well as anti-anxiety drugs [[alprazolam]] and [[diazepam]]. Mays suffered from hip problems and was scheduled to have had hip replacement surgery the day after he was found dead.▼
▲According to subsequent news reports,<ref>{{cite web|url=
Mays' funeral was held on July 3, 2009, in his hometown of [[McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania]]. The [[pallbearer]]s wore blue shirts and khaki pants at the funeral, much like Mays wore when he advertised his products.<ref>"{{cite web |author=Joe Mandak |url=http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=146663 |title=Product pitchman Mays remembered as natural seller |agency=Associated Press |date=July 3, 2009 |access-date=February 15, 2013 |archive-date=August 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810042226/http://www2.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=146663 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He is buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery.<ref>Scott Wilson, ''Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons'', p. 492</ref>▼
▲Mays' funeral Mass was held at St. Mary's Church on July 3, 2009, in his hometown of [[McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania]]. The [[pallbearer]]s wore blue shirts and khaki pants at the funeral, much like Mays wore when he advertised his products.<ref>"{{cite web |author=Joe Mandak |url=http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=146663 |title=Product pitchman Mays remembered as natural seller |agency=Associated Press |date=July 3, 2009 |access-date=February 15, 2013 |archive-date=August 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810042226/http://www2.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=146663 |url-status=dead |work=[[Reading Eagle]]}}</ref> He is buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery.<ref>{{cite book |first=Scott |last=Wilson
In the immediate aftermath of his death, many companies pulled ads featuring Mays from the air, replacing them with similar ads featuring [[Anthony Sullivan (pitchman)|Anthony Sullivan]].<ref name="beyondgrave">{{cite web|last1=Hennigan|first1=W.J|title=Billy Mays pitches from beyond the grave|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jul/10/business/fi-mays10|website=L.A Times|date=July 10, 2009 |access-date=February 4, 2016}}</ref> By mid-July, with his family's consent, some ads were put back into rotation,<ref name="GoneNewYortkTimes">{{cite news|last1=STELTER|first1=BRIAN|title=Billy Mays Is Gone, but His Infomercials Go On|work=The New York Times |date=July 13, 2009 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/14/business/media/14adco.html?_r=0|access-date=February 4, 2016}}</ref> alongside previously unaired ads.<ref name="GoneNewYortkTimes"/><ref name="beyondgrave"/>▼
▲In the immediate aftermath of his death, many companies pulled ads featuring Mays from the air, replacing them with similar ads featuring [[Anthony Sullivan (pitchman)|Anthony Sullivan]].<ref name="beyondgrave">{{cite web|last1=Hennigan|first1=W.J|title=Billy Mays pitches from beyond the grave|url=
== In popular culture ==▼
His catchphrase and infomercials made Billy Mays a notable icon in popular culture, with many shows, YouTube videos, and films lampooning him. In the ''[[South Park]]'' episode "[[Dead Celebrities]]", Mays' ghost appears repeatedly to Ike Broflovski, trying to sell him products from the afterlife with his catchphrase "Hi, Billy Mays here with the...". Mays' son, Billy III, a self-proclaimed ''South Park'' fan, said he loved "Dead Celebrities", and found its portrayal of his father to be both tasteful and respectful.<ref>{{cite news|title=Billy Mays III encouraging fans nationwide to dress like his deceased dad for Halloween|url=http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/media/content/billy-mays-iii-encouraging-fans-nationwide-dress-his-deceased-dad-halloween|access-date=September 18, 2016|work=Tampa Bay Times|date=October 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918084157/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/media/content/billy-mays-iii-encouraging-fans-nationwide-dress-his-deceased-dad-halloween|archive-date=September 18, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
He was portrayed by comedian Colin J. Sweeney in the season 1 episode of ''[[Epic Rap Battles of History]]'',
==Products pitched==
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|A [[Slider (sandwich)|mini-burger]] cooker
|-
|Crocodile Cutter<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rare Billy Mays ad - The Crocodile Cutter - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4_oRFV6haM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/o4_oRFV6haM |archive-date=December 15, 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=November 29, 2020 |
|A cutter for metal and other materials
|-
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|Snowboards
|-
|The Ding King<ref name="cnn">{{cite web |last=Maltby
|A dent repairing device
|-
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|Precision heavy duty windshield wiper blades
|-
|Gopher<ref name="ew">{{cite magazine |last=Barrett
|A tool for grabbing out-of-reach objects
|-
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|A harness system that allows the user to pick up two or three times what they can lift normally
|-
|Mighty Putty Steel<ref name="earth">{{cite
|A metal alloy adhesive putty
|-
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|A general purpose cleaner
|-
|Pest Patrol <ref>{{cite web |
|A pest repellent which relied on ultrasonic frequencies.
|-
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|A chopping device
|-
|Quik Strip<ref name="Keller2004">{{cite press release |last=Keller |first=Mike |title=QuikStrip LLC and MediaCorp Worldwide Hits a Grand Slam with the addition of Billy Mays to their QuikStrip Direct Response Television Campaign |url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/11/prweb176366.htm |publisher=MediaCorp Worldwide |agency=PRWeb |date=November 10, 2004 |access-date=February 3, 2023 |archive-date=February 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203075915/https://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/11/prweb176366.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|A wire stripper
|-
|Safety Beep<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv8KM10C7oM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/Nv8KM10C7oM |archive-date=December 15, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Billy Mays - Safety Beep|website=YouTube |author=tomturboswaggingsdumpster2598 |date=November 19, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
|A stick-on alert device for vehicles moving in reverse
|-
|