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Author Topic: Billy Mays...dead?  (Read 5876 times)

Mr. Happy

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Billy Mays...dead?
« on: June 28, 2009, 11:34:55 am »
Tiz so, according to WaPo. Found dead at 50 (gulp) by his wife. No signs of foul play.
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TheWizard

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #1 on: June 28, 2009, 11:38:15 am »
Wow, wtf.  Apparently he was on an airplane which had its front tires blow out yesterday and several passengers had bumps and bruises.  Wonder if the guy had some sort of problem stemming from that.
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Ty in Tampa

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #2 on: June 28, 2009, 11:50:47 am »
Billy was a colleague and a friend. Everyone here is pretty busted up about this right now. He has had numerous health issues in recent years, including double hip replacements. I would be surprised if it had anything to do with the plane incident but you never know.
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TheWizard

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #3 on: June 28, 2009, 11:59:45 am »
Quote from: Ty in Tampa on June 28, 2009, 11:50:47 am
Billy was a colleague and a friend. Everyone here is pretty busted up about this right now. He has had numerous health issues in recent years, including double hip replacements. I would be surprised if it had anything to do with the plane incident but you never know.
Sorry to hear that.

Its just the inquisitive side of me that wonders if he had some dormant aneurysm that was ruptured or some sort of plaque in his arteries that threw a clot when he got jolted.
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Rebel Jew

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #4 on: June 28, 2009, 12:15:37 pm »
Quote from: Ty in Tampa on June 28, 2009, 11:50:47 am
Billy was a colleague and a friend.

explanation?
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Ty in Tampa

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #5 on: June 28, 2009, 12:19:53 pm »
Quote from: Joey Trum on June 28, 2009, 12:15:37 pm
explanation?

I work at a video post-production company here in Tampa. Sullivan Productions' office is a floor above us and they were one of our biggest clients until a few years ago and they still work with us off and on. I've known Billy for about 8 years.
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Mr. Happy

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #6 on: June 28, 2009, 12:51:54 pm »
Quote from: Ty in Tampa on June 28, 2009, 12:19:53 pm
I work at a video post-production company here in Tampa. Sullivan Productions' office is a floor above us and they were one of our biggest clients until a few years ago and they still work with us off and on. I've known Billy for about 8 years.

Ty:

I'm sad for your loss. He had amazing pitchman abilities. He was believable and his enthusiasm for the product was contagious.
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Matt

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #7 on: June 30, 2009, 12:52:15 pm »
Quote from: Ty in Tampa on June 28, 2009, 12:19:53 pm
I work at a video post-production company here in Tampa. Sullivan Productions' office is a floor above us and they were one of our biggest clients until a few years ago and they still work with us off and on. I've known Billy for about 8 years.
I just recently became obsessed with his show Pitchmen.  It really showed what a fun and nice guy Billy was.

This video is pretty fun too
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtYdDK1uTDI&feature=player_embedded
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AtascAstro

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #8 on: August 07, 2009, 04:15:25 pm »
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Fredia

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #9 on: August 07, 2009, 05:43:30 pm »
would explain a lot about his onfilm persona
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Ty in Tampa

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #10 on: August 07, 2009, 07:00:14 pm »
Quote from: Fredia on August 07, 2009, 05:43:30 pm
would explain a lot about his onfilm persona

I'm trying to imagine what could possibly explain yours.
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BUWebguy

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #11 on: August 07, 2009, 09:49:55 pm »
Quote from: Ty in Tampa on August 07, 2009, 07:00:14 pm
I'm trying to imagine what could possibly explain yours.

Fredia's been onfilm?
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kevwun

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #12 on: August 08, 2009, 09:14:02 am »
He was also on a wide assortment of pain killers.
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Col. Sphinx Drummond

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #13 on: August 08, 2009, 10:22:53 am »
Quote from: kevwun on August 08, 2009, 09:14:02 am
He was also on a wide assortment of pain killers.

Most people waiting for hip replacement surgery are on some kind of pain killer or more.
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AtascAstro

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #14 on: August 08, 2009, 02:27:35 pm »
Quote from: Fredia on August 07, 2009, 05:43:30 pm
would explain a lot about his onfilm persona

I think his persona was genuine.  I bet he was an intense kind of guy all along.  However, I can see where a drug like cocaine would be helpful in sustaining that intensity over the day to day grind of his career.  Especially given the nature of his health problems.

I really grew to like his "character" on pitchmen and hate that he has to leave with that as part of his legacy.
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ybbodeus

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #15 on: August 09, 2009, 09:45:04 am »
I would have guessed Mr. Shaw-Wow as a coke user* versus Billy's being one.  That announcement surprised me. 

I thought we were going to hear something about an undiagnosed concussion---bad landing at the airport that day?  Was that injury as a contributor to his downfall eliminated early on in the process, and I just forgot?


*Well, actually, the Sham-Wow New Jersey sounding guy looks more like a crack man, or even a meth man, than he does a Peruvian Powder participant.
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Col. Sphinx Drummond

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #16 on: August 09, 2009, 11:01:08 am »
Quote from: ybbodeus on August 09, 2009, 09:45:04 am

*Well, actually, the Sham-Wow New Jersey sounding guy looks more like a crack man, or even a meth man, than he does a Peruvian Powder participant.

Yes. Yes he does. Peruvian Powder Participant. heh heh. Colombian Cocaine Connoisseur... Bolivian Blow Booster.
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kevwun

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #17 on: August 09, 2009, 11:46:18 am »
Quote from: Sphinx Drummond on August 08, 2009, 10:22:53 am
Most people waiting for hip replacement surgery are on some kind of pain killer or more.

but not 5 or 6.
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Col. Sphinx Drummond

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #18 on: August 09, 2009, 12:05:03 pm »
Quote from: kevwun on August 09, 2009, 11:46:18 am
but not 5 or 6.

Yeah, I just figure he has enough dirt on his grave already, so I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt. Say, how about that Josh Hamilton falling off the wagon and going shirtless for photos with the bar girls?
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S.P. Rodriguez

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #19 on: August 10, 2009, 10:40:20 am »
Quote from: Sphinx Drummond on August 09, 2009, 12:05:03 pm
Yeah, I just figure he has enough dirt on his grave already, so I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt. Say, how about that Josh Hamilton falling off the wagon and going shirtless for photos with the bar girls?

It's unfortunate.  More out of concern for his life and his family's well being (rather than is MLB career), I hope he can get back on the wagon and stay clean.  I'm not going to presume to know what it's like to fight addiction.  I'm not an addict but I have a great deal of respect for addicts who get straight, knowing it's a life long battle.  It's not easy fighting personal demons, let alone those that lead to addiction. 
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Gizzmonic

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #20 on: August 10, 2009, 10:52:03 am »
Quote from: Sphinx Drummond on August 09, 2009, 12:05:03 pm
Yeah, I just figure he has enough dirt on his grave already, so I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt. Say, how about that Josh Hamilton falling off the wagon and going shirtless for photos with the bar girls?

From what I've heard, Hamilton was raised by "helicopter parents" and never learned to completely fend for himself.  When his parents were hurt in a car wreck, he was suddenly left on his own and fell in with a bad crowd.  This eventually led to his drug addiction.  It must be very tough to stay clean in the consequence-free environment of professional sports, especially with the particulars of his upbringing.
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strosrays

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #21 on: August 10, 2009, 01:07:53 pm »
Quote from: Gizzmonic on August 10, 2009, 10:52:03 am
From what I've heard, Hamilton was raised by "helicopter parents" and never learned to completely fend for himself.  When his parents were hurt in a car wreck, he was suddenly left on his own and fell in with a bad crowd.  This eventually led to his drug addiction.  It must be very tough to stay clean in the consequence-free environment of professional sports, especially with the particulars of his upbringing.

IIRC, when he signed his multi-million dollar bonus, his parents quit their jobs and just started hanging out with him, full-time; on the pretense of 'protecting him' from all the evils of the world.

Waking up every morning in a hotel room with my parents, when I'm 21 or 22 and a multi-millionaire - that alone would drive me to drugs.
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Mr. Happy

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #22 on: August 10, 2009, 02:15:32 pm »
Quote from: strosrays on August 10, 2009, 01:07:53 pm
IIRC, when he signed his multi-million dollar bonus, his parents quit their jobs and just started hanging out with him, full-time; on the pretense of 'protecting him' from all the evils of the world.

Waking up every morning in a hotel room with my parents, when I'm 21 or 22 and a multi-millionaire - that alone would drive me to drugs.

Assuming that you are correct, I'd have been driven to whores and the needle just trying to run from my free-loading parents.
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Duman

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Re: Billy Mays...dead?
« Reply #23 on: August 10, 2009, 02:25:39 pm »
Long read but worth it.  Says alot about where Josh Hamilton came from.  

Series done by St Pete Times in 1999


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