TV commercial king Billy Mays dead at 50

Published: June 28, 2009 at 1:08 PM

TAMPA, Fla., June 28 (UPI) -- Tampa police say 50-year-old television pitchman Billy Mays was found dead at his home Sunday.

Mays, whose distinctive voice and high-volume commercials and infomercials for variety of household products and Internet services made him a nationally known TV personality was found unresponsive by his wife Deborah, police told WTVT-TV, Tampa.

Paramedics transported Mays to a hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police said an autopsy would be conducted Monday, but there appeared to be no evidence of foul play at the home.

The bearded Mays shot to fame when he began hawking products for Orange Glo International, including OxiClean and Kaboom. He most recently put his barker style to work with a commercial for ESPN's online service.

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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