Rik Mayall

Richard Michael Mayall (7 March 1958 – 9 June 2014) was an English actor, comedian and writer. He formed a close partnership with Adrian Edmondson while they were students at Manchester University, and was a pioneer of alternative comedy in the 1980s.

Mayall starred in numerous successful comedy series throughout his career, including ''The Young Ones'' (1982–1984), ''The Comic Strip Presents...'' (1983–2012), ''Filthy Rich & Catflap'' (1987), ''The New Statesman'' (1987–1994), ''Bottom'' (1991–1995), and ''Believe Nothing'' (2002). He also starred in the comedy films ''Drop Dead Fred'' (1991) and ''Guest House Paradiso'' (1999). Mayall won a Primetime Emmy Award for his voiceover performance as Mr. Toad in TVC London's 1996 animated movie ''The Willows in Winter'' (a sequel to TVC's 1995 production of ''The Wind in the Willows'', in which Mayall also played Toad). His comedic style, defined by the over-the-top, grotesque and deeply unsympathethic characters he portrayed, was described as energetic "post-punk".

Mayall died of a heart attack at his home in London on 9 June 2014 at the age of 56. BBC Television director Danny Cohen praised him as a "truly brilliant" comedian with a unique stage presence, whose "fireball creativity" and approach to sitcom had inspired a generation of comedy stars. Provided by Wikipedia