Cause not yet known

Rik Mayall has died at the age of 56 – but there is no news yet about the cause of death.

His manager Roger Davidson said: 'It is a terrible shock. All we know at this stage is that Rik died at home.

'We are all deeply saddened by this news, from the enormous number of fans Rik had to those who worked with him and knew him as a man as well as a fine actor. He touched many lives, and always for the better.'

His wife, Barbara, who found him dead at their London home, said: 'We don't know yet what happened. He had a strong heart, so I don't think it was a heart attack. But we just don't know until the coroner's report. Maybe he had a fit, maybe it was his heart. We just don't know.'

Mayall was a pioneer of alternative comedy, forming the double act 20th Century Coyote (also known as The Dangerous Brothers) with Adrian Edmonson after meeting at the university of Manchester. They went on to have success in The Young Ones, Comic Strip Present and Bottom.

Edmonson said today: '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.'

In 1991, the pair co-starred in the West End production of Beckett's Waiting for Godot, while Mayall's other theatre work includes Cell Mates and The Government Inspector at the National Theatre.

Mayall also starred in ITV's The New Statesman, playing deliciously evil Thatcherite Alan B'Stard, as well as playing Lord Flashheart in Blackadder and starring in his own film Drop Dead Fred.

Mayall's latest role was playing Greg Davies's father in the Channel 4 comedy Man Down.

Davies said: 'I am so sad to learn of the passing of Rik. He was my comedy hero. I could not believe that I got the opportunity to work with him and did not stop pinching myself throughout the filming.

'He was hilarious, warm and passionate on and off camera and being in his presence was always humbling. I cannot imagine how devastated his family, who he spoke of with such love, will be feeling and my thoughts are with them at this terribly sad time.'

In recent years, Mayall had hoped to reprise his partnership with Edmondson through a TV series based on a Bottom live show – but Ade had vetoed the idea saying: 'It's not what I want to do.' However, he acknowledged that his decision 'caused a bit of a bad air between us'.

Mayall previously escaped death in April 1998, when he was seriously injured after crashing a quad bike near his home in Devon, leaving him in a coma for several days.

He later joked: 'I beat Jesus Christ. He was dead for three days at Easter. When I crashed it was the day before Good Friday - Crap Thursday - and I was technically dead until Easter Monday – that’s five days. I beat him 5-3.'

Among those paying tribute today were Charlie Brooker, who tweeted: 'Rik Mayall was just pure wiry, energetic, unpredictable humour poured into the shape of a human. You couldn't not watch him.'

David Schneider said: 'Hard to believe we've been robbed of such flair and comic force.

Rory Bremner added: 'Awful news about Rik Mayall- a fireball of creative comic energy and inspiration.'

BBC director of television Danny Cohen said: 'Rik Mayall was a truly brilliant comedian. His comic timing was outstanding and his screen presence unique. For a generation of viewers he was a true comedy hero'.

A statement from Mayall's management, Brunskill, said nothing about the cause of death but said: 'We will be issuing a further statement in the fullness of time.'

Police who were called to his house in Barnes, south-west London, at 1.19pm today following reports of a sudden death do not believe there were any suspicious circumstances; and London Ambulance Service confirmed he was pronounced dead at the scene.

As well as his wife, Mayall is survived by his three children: Rosie, 27, Sid, 25 and Bonnie, 20.

Click here to watch some of his memorable moments on screen.

Published: 9 Jun 2014