Autopsy: Cocaine contributed to Billy Mays' death - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 08-07-2009, 05:16 PM

TAMPA, Fla. — An autopsy shows that cocaine use contributed to the heart disease that suddenly killed boisterous TV pitchman Billy Mays in June, officials announced Friday.

The 50-year bearded TV personality died of a heart attack in his sleep after going to bed at his Tampa condo the night of June 27. His wife found him unresponsive the next morning.

The Hillsborough County medical examiner's office Friday said Mays had last used cocaine days before his death. The report said that although Mays died from heart disease, cocaine use was a contributing cause of death.

Mays was a pop-culture fixture with his energetic commercials pitching gadgets and cleaning products like Orange Glo and OxiClean.

The McKees Rocks, Pa., native developed his style demonstrating knives, mops and other "As Seen on TV" gadgets on Atlantic City's boardwalk. For years he worked as a hired gun on the state fair and home show circuits, attracting crowds with his booming voice and genial manner.

He got his start on TV on the Home Shopping Network and then branched out into commercials and infomercials. He developed such a strong following that he became the subject of a reality TV series, Discovery Channel's "Pitchmen."

dawsongirl · 08-07-2009, 05:27 PM

AKA · 08-07-2009, 05:28 PM

While I'm surprised to see that cocaine was found in Billy Mays' system, it explains so much. The dude was excited about cleaning products, after all!

dawsongirl · 08-07-2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKA

While I'm surprised to see that cocaine was found in Billy Mays' system, it explains so much. The dude was excited about cleaning products, after all!

Hollow · 08-07-2009, 05:36 PM

what the hell, man?
maybe he went to purgatory for it and that's why i couldn't summon him on my ouija board.

JamesG · 08-07-2009, 05:42 PM

How unfortunate. Never know what people do in private.

Watch for all the "Billy Mays on speed" jokes that's going to come about on the web.

browneyes106 · 08-07-2009, 08:07 PM

It's very unforunate that cocaine was involved. I do wish Billy would have gotten help for his drug problem.

catlover79 · 08-07-2009, 08:15 PM

WOW.

80sTrivia · 08-07-2009, 09:03 PM

Shocking, but then again, maybe not so shocking...

Pitooey · 08-07-2009, 10:26 PM

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He sure fooled me.....

No, No..... He did get excited for those cleaning products like AKA said.

TheGreatPretender · 08-07-2009, 10:29 PM

..damn.

dakert · 08-07-2009, 11:07 PM

Drugs SUCK!!! Just Say NO!

InspectorExstead · 08-07-2009, 11:42 PM

Dayum. I didn't see that one coming at all. That's a really big shocker.

Schmoopie · 08-08-2009, 02:44 AM

That's too bad, really. Especially when it could have possibly been prevented, had cocaine NOT contributed to his death. Terrible way to learn a lesson, though.

SBTB Geek · 08-08-2009, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by safety pin

what the hell, man?
maybe he went to purgatory for it and that's why i couldn't summon him on my ouija board.

08-07-2009, 05:16 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Autopsy: Cocaine contributed to Billy Mays' death TAMPA, Fla. — An autopsy shows that cocaine use contributed to the heart disease that suddenly killed boisterous TV pitchman Billy Mays in June, officials announced Friday. The 50-year bearded TV personality died of a heart attack in his sleep after going to bed at his Tampa condo the night of June 27. His wife found him unresponsive the next morning. The Hillsborough County medical examiner's office Friday said Mays had last used cocaine days before his death. The report said that although Mays died from heart disease, cocaine use was a contributing cause of death. Mays was a pop-culture fixture with his energetic commercials pitching gadgets and cleaning products like Orange Glo and OxiClean. The McKees Rocks, Pa., native developed his style demonstrating knives, mops and other "As Seen on TV" gadgets on Atlantic City's boardwalk. For years he worked as a hired gun on the state fair and home show circuits, attracting crowds with his booming voice and genial manner. He got his start on TV on the Home Shopping Network and then branched out into commercials and infomercials. He developed such a strong following that he became the subject of a reality TV series, Discovery Channel's "Pitchmen."
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08-07-2009, 08:15 PM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	WOW.
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08-07-2009, 09:03 PM	#9
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,714	Shocking, but then again, maybe not so shocking...
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08-07-2009, 10:26 PM	#10
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He sure fooled me..... No, No..... He did get excited for those cleaning products like AKA said.
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08-07-2009, 10:29 PM	#11
TheGreatPretender just because Forum Veteran Join Date: May 22, 2004 Location: Trying to think of a creative, witty location. Posts: 7,628	..damn.
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08-07-2009, 05:27 PM	#2
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140

08-07-2009, 05:28 PM	#3
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	While I'm surprised to see that cocaine was found in Billy Mays' system, it explains so much. The dude was excited about cleaning products, after all!

08-07-2009, 05:36 PM	#5
Hollow Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 16, 2001 Posts: 30,406	what the hell, man? maybe he went to purgatory for it and that's why i couldn't summon him on my ouija board.

08-07-2009, 05:42 PM	#6
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,168	How unfortunate. Never know what people do in private. Watch for all the "Billy Mays on speed" jokes that's going to come about on the web.

08-07-2009, 08:07 PM	#7
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	It's very unforunate that cocaine was involved. I do wish Billy would have gotten help for his drug problem.

08-07-2009, 11:07 PM	#12
dakert Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Altoona PA Posts: 3,411	Drugs SUCK!!! Just Say NO!

08-07-2009, 11:42 PM	#13
InspectorExstead Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 29, 2001 Location: The Golden State Posts: 12,902	Dayum. I didn't see that one coming at all. That's a really big shocker.
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08-08-2009, 02:44 AM	#14
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	That's too bad, really. Especially when it could have possibly been prevented, had cocaine NOT contributed to his death. Terrible way to learn a lesson, though.
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