William Darrell "Billy" Mays Jr. (20 July 1958 – 28 June 2009) was an American television advertisement salesperson who was known for his OxiClean commercials. Born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, he was raised in nearby Pittsburgh, and he worked for his father's hazardous waste company before moving to Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1983. He sold "As Seen on TV" products while living there, and he was taught to sell by older pitchmen. In 1993, he was hired to promote OxiClean, and he became a famous television direct-response advertisement salesperson on the Home Shopping Network. In 2008, Mays revealed that he was a Republican, and that he supported John McCain. He died of cocaine-related heart disease in 2009.
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