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Billy Mays

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Billy Mays

William Darrell Mays Jr. (July 20, 1958 – June 28, 2009) was an American television direct-response advertisement salesperson. Throughout his career, he promoted a wide variety of products, including OxiClean, Orange Glo, Kaboom, Zorbeez, and Mighty Mendit. His promotions aired mainly on the Home Shopping Network through his company, Mays Promotions, Inc., although they have aired on other syndicated networks. Mays's infomercials were known for his catch phrase "Hi, Billy Mays here", and his shouted delivery of lines. Mays and his business partner, Anthony Sullivan, were also featured on PitchMen, a Discovery Channel television series that documented their work. His distinctive beard, attire, loud voice, and impassioned sales pitches made him a recognized television presence in the United States and Canada.

Infobox

Born
William Darrell Mays Jr.(1958-07-20)July 20, 1958McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died
June 28, 2009(2009-06-28) (aged 50)Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Resting place
Mount Calvary Cemetery, McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Other names
King of the Pitch
Occupation
Television direct-response advertisement salesman
Years active
1983–2009
Employer
Home Shopping Network
Known for
Infomercial acting
Television
PitchMen
Board member of
Mays Promotions, Inc.
Spouses
mw- Dolores DiDesiderio (div. 1990) Deborah Mays (m. 2002)
Children
2

Tables

· Products pitched
Awesome Auger
Awesome Auger
Product
Awesome Auger
Description
A gardening tool
Big City Slider Station
Big City Slider Station
Product
Big City Slider Station
Description
A mini-burger cooker
Crocodile Cutter
Crocodile Cutter
Product
Crocodile Cutter
Description
A cutter for metal and other materials
DC Snowboards
DC Snowboards
Product
DC Snowboards
Description
Snowboards
The Ding King
The Ding King
Product
The Ding King
Description
A dent repairing device
DualSaw
DualSaw
Product
DualSaw
Description
A circular saw with two blades
Engrave-it
Engrave-it
Product
Engrave-it
Description
An engraving tool for metal surfaces
ESPN360
ESPN360
Product
ESPN360
Description
A broadband service
EZ Bundler
EZ Bundler
Product
EZ Bundler
Description
A strapping tool that bundles objects together
EZ Crunch Bowl
EZ Crunch Bowl
Product
EZ Crunch Bowl
Description
A breakfast cereal bowl that separates cereal from milk, preserving the cereal's crunchiness
Flies Away
Flies Away
Product
Flies Away
Description
A fly trap
Gator Blades
Gator Blades
Product
Gator Blades
Description
Precision heavy duty windshield wiper blades
Gopher
Gopher
Product
Gopher
Description
A tool for grabbing out-of-reach objects
Grabit
Grabit
Product
Grabit
Description
A screw removal tool
Grater Plater
Grater Plater
Product
Grater Plater
Description
A ceramic plate with grater teeth
Green Now!
Green Now!
Product
Green Now!
Description
Lawn fertilizer in a can
Grip Wrench
Grip Wrench
Product
Grip Wrench
Description
A strap wrench
Handy Switch
Handy Switch
Product
Handy Switch
Description
A wireless electric switch
Hercules Hook
Hercules Hook
Product
Hercules Hook
Description
A hook for hanging objects on a wall
iCan health insurance
iCan health insurance
Product
iCan health insurance
Description
A health insurance benefit group
Impact Gel
Impact Gel
Product
Impact Gel
Description
A shoe insert
iTie
iTie
Product
iTie
Description
A necktie with a hidden pocket
Jupiter Jack
Jupiter Jack
Product
Jupiter Jack
Description
A cell phone speaker system for the car
Kaboom!
Kaboom!
Product
Kaboom!
Description
Tile and shower cleaner
Magic Carry
Magic Carry
Product
Magic Carry
Description
A harness system that allows the user to pick up two or three times what they can lift normally
Mighty Mendit
Mighty Mendit
Product
Mighty Mendit
Description
A bonding agent for mending cloth
Mighty Putty
Mighty Putty
Product
Mighty Putty
Description
An epoxy putty adhesive
Mighty Putty Steel
Mighty Putty Steel
Product
Mighty Putty Steel
Description
A metal alloy adhesive putty
Mighty Putty Wood
Mighty Putty Wood
Product
Mighty Putty Wood
Description
A non-shrinking epoxy putty for wood
Mighty Shine
Mighty Shine
Product
Mighty Shine
Description
A soft powder that removes rust and tarnish from metal objects
Mighty Tape
Mighty Tape
Product
Mighty Tape
Description
A self-fusing silicone rubber waterproof tape
Orange Glo
Orange Glo
Product
Orange Glo
Description
A wood cleaner
OxiClean
OxiClean
Product
OxiClean
Description
A general purpose cleaner
Pest Patrol
Pest Patrol
Product
Pest Patrol
Description
A pest repellent which relied on ultrasonic frequencies.
Quick Chop
Quick Chop
Product
Quick Chop
Description
A chopping device
Quik Strip
Quik Strip
Product
Quik Strip
Description
A wire stripper
Safety Beep
Safety Beep
Product
Safety Beep
Description
A stick-on alert device for vehicles moving in reverse
Samurai Shark
Samurai Shark
Product
Samurai Shark
Description
A knife sharpener
Simoniz Fix-It
Simoniz Fix-It
Product
Simoniz Fix-It
Description
A scratch remover
Simoniz Liquid Diamond
Simoniz Liquid Diamond
Product
Simoniz Liquid Diamond
Description
Car polish
Six Shooter
Six Shooter
Product
Six Shooter
Description
A cordless power drill able to hold up to six different bits
Steam Buddy
Steam Buddy
Product
Steam Buddy
Description
A lightweight steam iron
Tool Band-it
Tool Band-it
Product
Tool Band-it
Description
A magnetic armband for holding hand tools
Turbo Tiger
Turbo Tiger
Product
Turbo Tiger
Description
A vacuum cleaner
Ultimate Chopper
Ultimate Chopper
Product
Ultimate Chopper
Description
A kitchen tool
Vidalia Slice Wizard
Vidalia Slice Wizard
Product
Vidalia Slice Wizard
Description
A kitchen tool
WashMatik
WashMatik
Product
WashMatik
Description
A hose that pumps water from a bucket without being hooked up to a faucet
What Odor?
What Odor?
Product
What Odor?
Description
An odor-removing fluid
Zorbeez
Zorbeez
Product
Zorbeez
Description
A chamois cloth
Product
Description
Awesome Auger
A gardening tool
Big City Slider Station
A mini-burger cooker
Crocodile Cutter
A cutter for metal and other materials
DC Snowboards
Snowboards
The Ding King
A dent repairing device
DualSaw
A circular saw with two blades
Engrave-it
An engraving tool for metal surfaces
ESPN360
A broadband service
EZ Bundler
A strapping tool that bundles objects together
EZ Crunch Bowl
A breakfast cereal bowl that separates cereal from milk, preserving the cereal's crunchiness
Flies Away
A fly trap
Gator Blades
Precision heavy duty windshield wiper blades
Gopher
A tool for grabbing out-of-reach objects
Grabit
A screw removal tool
Grater Plater
A ceramic plate with grater teeth
Green Now!
Lawn fertilizer in a can
Grip Wrench
A strap wrench
Handy Switch
A wireless electric switch
Hercules Hook
A hook for hanging objects on a wall
iCan health insurance
A health insurance benefit group
Impact Gel
A shoe insert
iTie
A necktie with a hidden pocket
Jupiter Jack
A cell phone speaker system for the car
Kaboom!
Tile and shower cleaner
Magic Carry
A harness system that allows the user to pick up two or three times what they can lift normally
Mighty Mendit
A bonding agent for mending cloth
Mighty Putty
An epoxy putty adhesive
Mighty Putty Steel
A metal alloy adhesive putty
Mighty Putty Wood
A non-shrinking epoxy putty for wood
Mighty Shine
A soft powder that removes rust and tarnish from metal objects
Mighty Tape
A self-fusing silicone rubber waterproof tape
Orange Glo
A wood cleaner
OxiClean
A general purpose cleaner
Pest Patrol
A pest repellent which relied on ultrasonic frequencies.
Quick Chop
A chopping device
Quik Strip
A wire stripper
Safety Beep
A stick-on alert device for vehicles moving in reverse
Samurai Shark
A knife sharpener
Simoniz Fix-It
A scratch remover
Simoniz Liquid Diamond
Car polish
Six Shooter
A cordless power drill able to hold up to six different bits
Steam Buddy
A lightweight steam iron
Tool Band-it
A magnetic armband for holding hand tools
Turbo Tiger
A vacuum cleaner
Ultimate Chopper
A kitchen tool
Vidalia Slice Wizard
A kitchen tool
WashMatik
A hose that pumps water from a bucket without being hooked up to a faucet
What Odor?
An odor-removing fluid
Zorbeez
A chamois cloth

References

  1. Tampa Bay Online
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090630085315/http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/28/281319/tv-pitchman-billy-mays-found-dead-tampa-home/news-breaking/
  2. "Raw Data: Billy Mays Biography"
    https://www.foxnews.com/story/raw-data-billy-mays-biography
  3. Fox News
    https://www.foxnews.com/story/infomercial-king-billy-mays-found-dead-in-home
  4. The Washington Post
    https://web.archive.org/web/20121111094347/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/18/AR2008081802508.html
  5. CTV News At 11
    https://archive.today/20120731035147/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090628/mays_obit_090628/20090628?hub=CTVNewsAt11
  6. PitchMen: Billy's Legacy
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090704221722/http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/pitchmen-billys-legacy.html
  7. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090416055259/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/tribpm/s_604864.html
  8. CNN Money
    https://money.cnn.com/2009/04/03/magazines/fortune/okeefe_infomercial.fortune/index.htm
  9. Tampa Bay Business Journal
    http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2002/05/06/story8.html
  10. Tampa Bay Times
    https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2006/07/24/company-sold-local-pitchman-keeps-his-job/
  11. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49328-2004Sep25.html
  12. The Cincinnati Enquirer
    https://archive.today/20130122062135/http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/12/29/biz_billymays29.html
  13. AdWeek
    http://adweek.blogs.com/adfreak/2008/12/billy-mays-wants-to-sell-you-some-espn360.html
  14. TMZ
    http://www.tmz.com/2009/06/28/billy-mays-had-just-inked-a-deal-with-taco-bell/
  15. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
  16. Billy Mays On Leno For Impact Gel Friday 3/27/09
    https://web.archive.org/web/20240619074716/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USHc8bUkpBY&gl=US&hl=en
  17. Reality TV Fans
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090307010951/http://www.realitytvfans.com/2009/03/02/discovery-channel-announces-new-series-pitchmen-premiering-april-15.html
  18. Pitchmen
    https://archive.org/details/pitchmenpitchmanatributetobillymays
  19. TV.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090701170038/http://www.tv.com/the-tonight-show-with-conan-obrien/lisa-kudrow-billy-mays-and-anthony-sullivan-elvis-costello/episode/1274099/summary.html
  20. The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
    https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5rqbcv
  21. Austin American-Statesman
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120917020534/http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/nation/2009/06/29/0629maysobit.html
  22. The Jacksonville Observer
    https://web.archive.org/web/20181123021225/http://www.jaxobserver.com/2009/06/29/billy-mays-iii-remembers-his-dad-on-florida-radio-show/
  23. Portfolio.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20081120051751/http://www.portfolio.com/views/columns/the-world-according-to/2008/10/09/QA-With-Pitchman-Billy-Mays
  24. The Herald-Dispatch
    https://www.herald-dispatch.com/multimedia/photo_galleries/gallery-billy-mays-funeral/article_c64a0dab-116d-5c48-9a04-227d51259617.html
  25. RAW DATA: Chilling Billy Mays 911 Tape Archived July 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Fox News. Monday, June 28, 2009.
    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529469,00.html
  26. NBC News
    http://www.nbcnews.com/id/31596003
  27. Fox News
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090804151707/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529350,00.html
  28. The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer
  29. USA Today
    https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2009-08-07-billy-mays_N.htm
  30. "Statement from Billy Mays' Family In Response to Medical Examiner's Report"
    http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090807005720&newsLang=en
  31. USA Today
    https://web.archive.org/web/20091018140337/https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2009-10-15-billy-mays_N.htm
  32. NBC News
    http://www.nbcnews.com/id/32334881
  33. "Product pitchman Mays remembered as natural seller"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180810042226/http://www2.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=146663
  34. Scott Wilson, Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, p. 492
  35. L.A Times
    http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jul/10/business/fi-mays10
  36. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/14/business/media/14adco.html?_r=0
  37. Tampa Bay Times
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160918084157/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/media/content/billy-mays-iii-encouraging-fans-nationwide-dress-his-deceased-dad-halloween
  38. YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAaE7sJahiw
  39. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/18/AR2008081802508.html
  40. Youtube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4_oRFV6haM
  41. CNN Money
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090703045103/https://money.cnn.com/2009/06/29/smallbusiness/infomercials_without_billy_mays.smb/?postversion=2009062917
  42. Discovery Channel
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090411085304/http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/pitchmen/about/about.html
  43. "Top Ten Billy Mays Commercials"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180724071852/http://www.asseenontvvideo.com/Billy-Mays.html
  44. Entertainment Weekly
    https://archive.today/20130122210453/http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/06/billy-mays-conan.html
  45. "Mighty Brand Infomercials Back on the Air: Continuing Billy Mays' Legacy with New Mighty Products"
    https://archive.today/20130201064615/http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/07/09/idUS19080+09-Jul-2009+PRN20090709
  46. YouTube
    https://web.archive.org/web/20230118225531/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBR_PXW5vUc
  47. "QuikStrip LLC and MediaCorp Worldwide Hits a Grand Slam with the addition of Billy Mays to their QuikStrip Direct Response Television Campaign"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20230203075915/https://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/11/prweb176366.htm
  48. YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv8KM10C7oM
  49. Uncle John's Unsinkable Bathroom Reader
    https://books.google.com/books?id=wChZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT459
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