# Comedian/actor Rik Mayall dead at 56 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [June 9, 2014, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410 "2014-06-09T15:15:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410/21 "2014-06-09T18:02:18Z")
Really sad news, I remember as a very young child laughing myself silly watching §rick trying to kill himself with laxatives and then his great performances as Lord Flashheart and in Comic Strip and how much I loved Bottom as a young teenager. The Young Ones, Bottom and Black Adder I think are 3 sitcoms that broke the mold and whilst most of the comedies I loved back then look very dated, they still stand up very well. RIP Rik ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410/22 "2014-06-09T18:04:03Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wCb1pRczfP4/hqdefault.jpg "The Young Ones - Series 2 Start Up") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCb1pRczfP4) ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410/23 "2014-06-09T18:07:46Z")
Damn. Fifty-six is too young. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410/24 "2014-06-09T18:15:15Z")
I can’t link because I’m mobile, but I loved him as Herod in the 2000 video of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410/25 "2014-06-09T19:59:09Z")
I’m stunned, I grew up watching (and loving) The Young Ones, Bottom, The Comic Strip, Filthy Rich and Catflap, Blackadder, The New Statesman, loved The Living Doll send up. Way, way too early. He was brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410/26 "2014-06-09T20:06:32Z")
Damn. He was one of the greats, and Rik from The Young Ones was one of the great characters. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410/27 "2014-06-09T20:08:38Z")
I only know him from Blackadder. Flashheart was a hoot on that show. Woof! ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410/28 "2014-06-09T20:50:59Z")
That sucks, sucks \*\*sucks!! **I just watched the last episode of my Bottom DVD set, too. Oh hell, Rik, Rest In Peace, this is for you: (Cliff Richard “The Young Ones”) [- YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JKtHcM05Dk)** ☹ \*\* ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410/29 "2014-06-09T21:31:03Z")
“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? Rik is dead! The People’s Poet is dead!”” I’m so sad ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410/30 "2014-06-09T21:42:39Z")
How can Rik be dead when we still have his Poems? RIP ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410/31 "2014-06-09T22:04:38Z")
[Hey kids! It doesn’t matter what you are: punks, skins, rastas, mod-rockers, Keith Chegwin even! Everybody everywhere, stop snogging and pay attention to me. 'Cause if you’re a wild-eyed loner at the gates of oblivion, then hitch a ride with us, 'cause we’re riding on the last freedom moped out of nowhere. And we haven’t even told our parents what time we’ll be coming home. So, pull on your dancing trousers and get down to the total and utter king of rock’n’roll: CLIFF RICHARD!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGOU0o9K89g) Goodbye Rik. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410/32 "2014-06-09T22:45:23Z")
Lord Flashheart now really _has_ been everywhere. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410/33 "2014-06-09T22:45:28Z")
Very sad news. I’ve been a fan of his for years, and always hoped to see him find a great later-career role. Too young. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410/34 "2014-06-09T23:07:09Z")
He was always my favorite Young One. Most people had Vyv for their favorite, or maybe Neil. I paid to see Princess and the Goblin because he was doing a voice in it. Amazingly talented guy. I think I said this before, but there should be a 56 Club along with the 27 Club. Steve Jobs, Warren Zevon, now Rik Mayall, and Rick James, and George VI and Lincoln. (And Hitler. And now I’m hearing Rik: “Give them a uniform they think they’re Hitler!”) ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410/35 "2014-06-09T23:07:46Z")
…woof… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410/36 "2014-06-09T23:25:07Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I can’t link because I’m mobile, but I loved him as Herod in the 2000 video of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. Loved him in that. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410/37 "2014-06-09T23:38:10Z")
I just remembered: He was supposed to play Peeves in the Harry Potter movies. Or more precisely, he did film scenes for the first movie, but someone decided that Peeves wasn’t needed in the final cut, and in fact, he wasn’t needed ever. Darn it; when you think of everyone else who was in those movies… ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410/38 "2014-06-10T00:06:38Z")
There’s an animated adaptation of The Wind in the Willows with him voicing Toad: it’s worth the price of admission just to hear Rik saying “Cripes! It’s the bobbies!”. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2014, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410/39 "2014-06-10T00:34:10Z")
From CNN’s obit: [QUOTE=CNN] The series, which he co-wrote, focused on the lives of four roommates at “Scumbag College.” Mayall played politics-obsessed poet Rick alongside his long-term comedy partner Ade Edmondson as violent punk Vyvyan. Edmondson led the tributes to Mayall Monday, telling Britain’s Press Association news agency: "There were times when Rik and I were writing together when we almost died laughing. “They were some of the most carefree, stupid days I ever had, and I feel privileged to have shared them with him. And now he’s died for real. Without me. Selfish bastard.” [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2014, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410/40 "2014-06-10T01:48:59Z")
I made do with bootleg VHS copies of _The Young Ones_ until 2002, when I got the _Every Stoopid Episode_ boxed set on DVD. Haven’t worn the discs out yet, but it’s one of my favourite collections. I also bought the _Comic Strip Presents…_ boxed set of DVDs. Unfortunately they’re PAL format, so I have to hook up the PAL DVD player if I want to watch them. Today I discovered the set has been available in Region 1 NTSC format, and I ordered it. R.I. (The P is silent.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedian-actor-rik-mayall-dead-at-56/690410.md?page=3)