Billy Mays
| Billy Mays | |
|---|---|
Mays at the Flatiron District in New York City on June 13, 2009
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| Born |
William Darrell Mays Jr. July 20, 1958 McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Died | June 28, 2009 (aged 50) Tampa, Florida, United States |
| Cause of death | Heart disease |
| Resting place | Mount Calvary Cemetery |
| Other names | King of the Pitch |
| Occupation | Television direct-response advertisement salesman |
| Years active | 1993–2009 |
| Employer | Home Shopping Network |
| Notable work | See products pitched |
| Television | PitchMen |
| Board member of | Mays Promotions, Inc. |
| Spouse(s) | Dolores Mays (divorced) Deborah Mays |
| Children | 2 |
William Darrell "Billy" Mays Jr. (July 20, 1958 – June 28, 2009) was an American television direct-response advertisement salesperson most notable for promoting Fix-it, OxiClean, Orange Glo, Kaboom, Zorbeez, and other cleaning, home-based, and maintenance products on the Home Shopping Network, and through his company, Mays Promotions, Inc.
He and his business partner, Anthony Sullivan, were also featured on PitchMen, a Discovery Channel television series that documented their work. His distinctive beard, attire, and impassioned sales pitches made him a recognized television presence in the United States and Canada.
Mays was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania and raised in nearby Pittsburgh. Mays was a student at Sto-Rox High School, and later West Virginia University, where he was a walk-on linebacker on its football team during his two years there.
After dropping out of college, Mays worked for his father's hazardous waste company before moving to Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1983. On the Atlantic City boardwalk, Mays sold the Washmatik portable washing device to passersby, along with other "As Seen on TV" products. In Atlantic City, he was taught how to sell by the older salesmen, saying "I was taught to pitch by a lot of old pitchmen. That's the kind of style I have."
Mays then traveled to home shows, auto shows, and state fairs across the United States for a period of twelve years, selling various maintenance products and tools, including cleaning products and food choppers.
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