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Billy Mays: Infomercial King's Heart Disease Death
28 Jun
Summary
- Heart disease was the official cause of Billy Mays' death.
- Cocaine was later identified as a contributing factor in his death.
- His family disputed the toxicology findings, citing independent autopsy results.
Infomercial icon Billy Mays, best known for promoting products such as OxiClean and Kaboom, passed away at the age of 50 on June 28, 2009. Mays died in his sleep at his Tampa home, with his wife Deborah discovering him unresponsive. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner initially listed heart disease as the official cause of death. However, subsequent toxicology reports suggested cocaine use as a contributing factor.
This conclusion was disputed by Mays' family, who commissioned an independent autopsy. This second autopsy reportedly contradicted the initial findings regarding drug use. Before the autopsies, speculation arose that a head injury from a bumpy flight landing might have been a factor, but this was later disproven.
Mays began his career selling goods on the Atlantic City boardwalk, developing his distinct high-volume, energetic pitch style. He rose to national fame with commercials for OxiClean in 2000 and became a ubiquitous presence in infomercials.
Following his death, Mays' infomercials continued to air, and sales for some of the products he endorsed saw a significant increase. Despite his absence, his legacy endures through fan communities and his children, who continue to share his story.
