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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- Billy Mays, best known for his high-energy infomercials, has died at the age of 50.
Police have confirmed that he died Sunday morning. He was found at home by his wife at 7:45 a.m.
Police said there was no sign of a break-in, and they do not suspect foul play.
The coroner's office expects to have an autopsy done by Monday afternoon.
Mays became famous for his amped-up infomercials and spots on the Home Shopping Network. His ads featured him shouting about the virtues of products like OxiClean and Orange Glo while demonstrating their efficacy.
The Pennsylvania native got his start in the late 1970s as a salesman selling a portable washing machine to people on the Atlantic City boardwalk. He spent the next 12 years selling products at home shows, auto shows and state fairs across the United States.
He first surfaced nationally when he became friends with rival salesman Max Appel, who founded OrangeGlo International. The company hired Mays to go on the Home Shopping Network to sell its line of cleaners: OxiClean, Orange Clean and Orange Glo.
Since then, he had appeared in infomercials for "as seen on TV" inventions like the Steam Buddy, Mighty Mendit and the Ding King.
In 2008, Mays started appearing in ads for ESPN's online service, ESPN360, which were designed as parodies of his own commercials.
Most recently, he teamed up with fellow pitchman Anthony Sullivan for the Discovery Channel documentary "Pitchmen."
Mays was a passenger on the US Airways 737 aircraft that took a hard landing at Tampa International Airport on Saturday, an airport spokesperson has confirmed.
Mays posted about the incident to his Twitter account.
"Just had a close call landing in Tampa," he wrote. "The tires blew out upon landing. Stuck in the plane on the runway. You can always count on US Air."
Officials have not said if his death is connected to that incident.
Mays' wife, Deborah, released a statement Sunday.
"Although Billy lived a public life, we don't anticipate making any public statements over the next couple of days. Our family asks that you respect our privacy during these difficult times."
Mays' son, Billy, posted to his Twitter account Sunday morning.
"My dad didn't wake up this morning.. I'm sure you'll all hear about it. It hasn't yet hit me but it's about to."
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- Billy Mays, best known for his high-energy infomercials, has died at the age of 50.
Police have confirmed that he died Sunday morning. He was found at home by his wife at 7:45 a.m.
Police said there was no sign of a break-in, and they do not suspect foul play.
The coroner's office expects to have an autopsy done by Monday afternoon.
Mays became famous for his amped-up infomercials and spots on the Home Shopping Network. His ads featured him shouting about the virtues of products like OxiClean and Orange Glo while demonstrating their efficacy.
The Pennsylvania native got his start in the late 1970s as a salesman selling a portable washing machine to people on the Atlantic City boardwalk. He spent the next 12 years selling products at home shows, auto shows and state fairs across the United States.
He first surfaced nationally when he became friends with rival salesman Max Appel, who founded OrangeGlo International. The company hired Mays to go on the Home Shopping Network to sell its line of cleaners: OxiClean, Orange Clean and Orange Glo.
Since then, he had appeared in infomercials for "as seen on TV" inventions like the Steam Buddy, Mighty Mendit and the Ding King.
In 2008, Mays started appearing in ads for ESPN's online service, ESPN360, which were designed as parodies of his own commercials.
Most recently, he teamed up with fellow pitchman Anthony Sullivan for the Discovery Channel documentary "Pitchmen."
Mays was a passenger on the US Airways 737 aircraft that took a hard landing at Tampa International Airport on Saturday, an airport spokesperson has confirmed.
Mays posted about the incident to his Twitter account.
"Just had a close call landing in Tampa," he wrote. "The tires blew out upon landing. Stuck in the plane on the runway. You can always count on US Air."
Officials have not said if his death is connected to that incident.
Mays' wife, Deborah, released a statement Sunday.
"Although Billy lived a public life, we don't anticipate making any public statements over the next couple of days. Our family asks that you respect our privacy during these difficult times."
Mays' son, Billy, posted to his Twitter account Sunday morning.
"My dad didn't wake up this morning.. I'm sure you'll all hear about it. It hasn't yet hit me but it's about to."
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