Phodg

British comedian and actor Rik Mayall has died aged 56, according to his management team.

He played the obnoxious, poetry-writing anarchist Rick in The Young Ones alongside his friend Adrian Edmonson before the duo later went on to star in their sitcom Bottom.

Mayall also appeared in shows including Blackadder and The New Statesman.

He was left seriously ill after a quad bike accident in 1998 which left him in a coma for several days.

Mayall's film roles included the comedies Drop Dead Fred and Guest House Paradiso.

His big break came at The Comic Strip Club, performing with comedy partner Adrian Edmondson as 20th Century Coyote in the 1980s which led to cult television hit The Comic Strip Presents.

He co-wrote The Young Ones with Lise Mayer and Ben Elton, which shared cult status and schoolboy humour with later sitcom Bottom.

Mayall and Edmonson's slapstick comedy often involved fires, explosions, and hefty blows to the head with a frying pan.

Mayall also famously played the loud-mouthed and lecherous Lord Flashheart in BBC comedy series Blackadder, starring Rowan Atkinson.

He appeared in the second and fourth series, shouting catchphrases such as "woof!" and "let's do-oo-oo it!".

But his early, anarchic characters gave way to the smooth, scheming Conservative politician Alan B'Stard in The New Statesman, which ran on ITV from 1986 to 1992.

A statement from Mayall's management, Brunskill, said: "We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Rik Mayall who passed away this morning.

"We will be issuing a further statement in the fullness of time."

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-27770266

The Cow

I haven't heard anything about him in quite a while, but that sucks.

I'm a big fan of The Young Ones, and I think Drop Dead Fred is quite good.

Why So Blu?

Bummer. I remember Drop Dead Fred.

Toonview

I remember first seeing Mayall narrating the delightfully weird kids show Grim Tales. I never could quite get into the the Young Ones even though I recognized him from Tales, but I never forgot his name.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRi-v_7cJ_U

billolmesdahl

This house will become a shrine, and punks and skins and Rastas will all gather 'round and hold their hands in sorrow for their fallen leader. And all the grown-ups will say, "But why are the kids crying?" And the kids will say, "Haven't you heard? Rick is dead! The People's Poet is dead!

modfather

Really bummed. He was a favourite as a teen who loved The Young Ones and later, Bottom. His voicework on Chicken Run was great craic and of course, he was really great in Drop Dead Fred. I was always on the lookout for him - he was one of my fav's.

Phodg

He was recently in "Man Down", a new sitcom ...

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mickey65

Dropped Dead Rik...RIP

DaveNinja

RIP people's poet

Toonview

Thanks for that Phodg. That made me laugh.

VHS?

Haven't heard of anything from him for like the past 20 years. I figured it was Yahoo Serious syndrome.
I enjoyed the Loved One's and DDF was always funny to me.

BDB

So sad - the young ones and bottom were massive for me growing up, and of course his Lord Flashheart in Blackadder.

james2025a

He was a legend of comedy in England growing up. His turn in the Young Ones, Kevin Turvey on the Old Grey Whistle Test, one half of the Dangerous Brothers, Bottom, the Comic Strip Presents, Blackadder and the New Statesman. He was one of many from the UK that tried conquering America only to find that American tastes did not match. I was always kind of happy about this. Too much talent is wasted trying to break that zone when it is better kept at home to flourish. The last thing i would have liked to have seen is him square pegged into some shitty US sit-com. I shall be watching some of the old classics this week.

MrSmearkase

Numanoid

This has hit me hard. Rik was my absolute favorite comedian of all time. Bottom is one of my favorite shows, ever. I had the chance to see him live in a stage version of The New Statesman in London a few years ago, and have the playbill and ephemera from the show on display in front of me as I type. Devastatingly awful.

He had made a resurgence last year in Man Down as Phodg posted, and according to the star, Greg Davies, they were retooling the second series to feature Rik more. So sad.

JTH182

Sorry for your loss

Perkinsun Dzees

Nooooooo!

RIP Rik Mayall.

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Bill Needle

Wow, just recently finished re-watching Filthy, Rich, & Catflap (post-Young Ones, pre-Bottom). Such a talented man. He will be missed.

Not long after Drop Dead Fred came out I sat next to Phoebe Cates on a flight. I struck up a conversation with her, and when the topic came to her work much to her surprise (as I was a young adult male) I did not ask about Fast Times, but wanted to know how she found it working with Rik Mayall. She could not have been more complimentary. I recall her saying he was quite a bit different than she thought he would be, and all in a good way. She said he was a very intelligent and kind man, and incredibly funny even in just everyday conversation.

Some favorite Young Ones quotes from the People's Poet, pRick:


Rick: Neil, the bathroom’s free. Unlike the country under the Thatcherite junta.


Rick: Neil, are these lentils South African?!
Neil: Well... ummm
Rick: You bastard! You complete and utter bastard! Why dont you just go out and become a policeman? Become a pig? There's no difference you know! I suppose you hate gay people too! Hippie!Neil: ... well actually about £4.50 each
Rick: £4.50?! I'm not paying you money to eat black men! I could become a pig and do that for free!


Rick: Thatcher’s Britain. Thatcher’s bloody Britain! Look at me. I’m young, I’m pretty. I’ve got 5 O Levels. Bloomin’ good grades as well, considering I didn’t do a sod of work cause I’m so hard. And look at me now! Homeless, cold, and prostitute.


Rick: If I'm a virgin, how come I know what a girl's bottom looks like?
Vyvyan: From looking in the mirror.
Rick: Damn!

Trickshot

Damn! Just rewatched Drop Dead Fred the other day. Laughed my arse off. This is a crappy way to start the day. RIP.

inri222

to a very funny man

Original Desmond

Really gutted

and dont forgot Lord Flashheart !

DVDMagic

always one of my favorites growing up, in particular 'Bottom' and especially the live shows they put out on DVD - a shit ton of ad-libbing on there that was absolutely hilairious!!

RIP Rik

conscience

Really enjoyed Bottom. RIP.

BDB

http://www.lettersofnote.com/2011/03...riend.html?m=1

rexinnih

RIP (P)Rik (the "P" is silent). Loved the Young Ones and will miss him. Thanks for the comedy you created.