Gossip: Billy Mays
A Florida medical examiner reported that TV pitchman Billy Mays had heart disease caused or aggravated by cocaine use. Before his death he had also taken several painkillers and anti-anxiety drugs.
Hyperkinetic TV pitchman Billy Mays died partly as a result of cocaine use, said a Florida medical examiner last week. Mays, who was 50, had heart disease caused or aggravated by drug use, said the report. Before his death he had also taken the painkillers hydrocodone, oxycodone, and tramadol, as well as anti-anxiety drugs alprazolam and diazepam. Mays’ family said they were “extremely disappointed” by the report and would consider an independent evaluation.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Gandhi arrests: Narendra Modi's 'vendetta' against India's opposition
The Explainer Another episode threatens to spark uproar in the Indian PM's long-running battle against the country's first family
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
How the woke right gained power in the US
Under the radar The term has grown in prominence since Donald Trump returned to the White House
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
Codeword: April 24, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff