Rik Mayall (1958-2014)

Richard Michael "Rik" Mayall (7th March 1958 - 9th June 2014) was an English comedian, writer and actor. Mayall was best known for his comedy partnership with Adrian Edmondson, his over-the-top, energetic "post-punk" portrayal of characters, and as a pioneer of alternative comedy in the early 1980s. He appeared in numerous cult classic sitcoms, including The Young Ones, Blackadder, The New Statesman and Bottom, and on the big screen in the comedy films Drop Dead Fred and Guest House Paradiso. Mayall was described at the time of his death as a "truly brilliant" comedian with a unique stage presence, whose "fireball creativity" and comedic approach to sitcom had inspired a generation of comedy stars.