(PCM) Beloved British actor and comedian Rik Mayall has passed away today at the age of 56. His agent claims that Mayall died suddenly and unexpectedly and the immediate cause of death is not known at this time.
Mayall is best known for his work in Britain’s alternative comedy scene in the 1980′s and his roles in both “The Young Ones” and “Blackadder”. “The Young Ones” ran for two years on the BBC and then was picked by MTV and aired here in The States.
Mayall portrayed the character of Rick, who was a politics obsessed poet on the series which focused on the lives of four roommates at “Scumbag College”. Eventually, Mayall branched out into the world of film and had the starring role in the 1991 film “Drop Dead Fred”, playing the imaginary childhood friend of Phoebe Cates who come back to stir up trouble in her adult life.
Mayall was the victim of a horrific quad bike accident that left him in a coma for five days. He also suffered from epilepsy as a result of the head injury he sustained while being crushed under neath of the bike.
According to CNN.com, Mayall joked during an interview after the accident that he had “beat Jesus” saying “I was dead for five days. Jesus was only dead for three, so I beat him — 17 April 1998 was the day I was sent back from heaven.”
He went on to claim that the accident made he “more aware of being alive”. Our sincere condolences go out to Mayall’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.
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