Rik Mayall R.I.P.

I hadn't intended posting anything today, but I have just read of the passing of comedy legend Rik Mayall, and felt I had to post something in tribute.  He is best known for his work with comedy partner Adrian Edmondson, including the TV series The Young Ones and Bottom.

Rik Mayall was born on March 7, 1958, in Harlow, Essex, and was raised in Worcestershire.  In 1976, he attended the University of Manchester, where he first met Edmondson.  Making a name for himself at The Comedy Store, Mayall and then-girlfriend Lise Mayer wrote the scripts for a sitcom called The Young Ones.  The story of four anarchic students living in London, the show starred Mayall, Edmondson, Nigel Planer, and Christopher Ryan, along with regular appearances from Alexei Sayle.  The first of two series aired in 1982, and the second, two years later.

By now a household name, Mayall and Edmondson also went on to make Filthy Rich and Catflap, and Bottom.  In 1987, Mayall departed from his very over-the-top style, and starred in the political comedy, The New Statesman, which ran for four series.  He also made guest appearances in Blackadder, alongside Rowan Atkinson, but may be best known to American audiences as the title character in the movie, Drop Dead Fred.

In 1998, Mayall was seriously injured when crashing his quad bike, and was in a coma for five days.  Despite initial fears of brain damage, he quickly recovered, and returned to work.  Rik Mayall was found dead at home this morning.