Billy Mays' sudden death at 50 still resonates 17 years later

Billy Mays became one of America's most recognizable television personalities with his booming voice and energetic infomercials, but his career came to a sudden end when he died unexpectedly at the age of 50 in 2009.

Best known as the face behind products including OxiClean, Kaboom, Mighty Putty and Orange Glo, Mays built a reputation as one of television's most successful pitchmen after years of honing his sales skills on the Atlantic City boardwalk. His trademark introduction — "Hi, Billy Mays here!" — became a pop culture catchphrase.

His business partner Anthony Sullivan previously remembered Mays as "the hardest working man in television," adding that he genuinely believed in every product he promoted.

Mays died on June 28, 2009, after his wife, Deborah Mays, found him unresponsive in their Tampa, Florida, home.

He had returned the previous day from filming a commercial and reportedly told his wife he was feeling ill before going to bed.

An autopsy later determined that heart disease was the official cause of death. Authorities initially found no evidence of drug abuse, although a subsequent toxicology report stated cocaine had been a contributing factor after being used days earlier.

Mays' family strongly disputed that conclusion and commissioned an independent autopsy, which found no signs of chronic cocaine use and concluded the drug did not contribute to his death.

Before the medical findings were released, speculation surrounded whether Mays had suffered a fatal head injury after a rough landing on a U.S. Airways flight the day before his death.

During the incident, an object reportedly struck his head, but both autopsies ruled out head trauma as a factor.

His final public comments came shortly after the flight, when he described the turbulent landing.

"All of a sudden as we hit, it was just the hardest hit. All the things from the ceiling started dropping. It hit me on the head, but I got a hard head," Mays said.

The news of his death stunned family, friends and fans. Sullivan paid tribute by calling Mays his best friend and praising his larger-than-life personality, while remembering his unmistakable television presence.

Although Mays was gone, his familiar infomercials continued airing in the weeks following his death, including previously recorded commercials for products such as Jupiter Jack and Mighty Putty.

Reports at the time indicated sales of several products he endorsed increased significantly following his passing.

As sales later declined, Sullivan stepped in to replace Mays in several advertising campaigns and continued their Discovery Channel series Pitchmen as its sole host, saying he wanted to honour what his longtime friend would have wanted.

Seventeen years later, Mays' influence remains evident.

His son, Billy Mays III, continues to preserve his father's legacy through a fan community and by sharing stories about the late television icon, ensuring a new generation remembers one of infomercial history's most recognizable voices.