Rest in Peace, People's Poet: Actor Rik Mayall Dead at Age 56
Actor Rik Mayall, perhaps best known as the character "Rick" from the BBC sitcom, The Young Ones, passed away suddenly today, at the age of 56.
Rik Mayall had a long and storied career, with the majority of his work being on British television series and UK-based film productions. To a slightly younger generation, he may be best remembered as the titular character of the movie Drop Dead Fred. But to many, including first-generation fans of MTV, he will forever be linked to his homogeneously named character, Rick, from the Britcom, The Young Ones.
The Young Ones was an anarchic hybrid of Monty Python and The Three Stooges; smart, timely, British wit with current event savvy writing combined with physical comedy that was turned up to 11, very often with Rick being the recipient.
The Young Ones famously featured music performers in all but 1 of the 12 episodes of the series, with Mayall introducing bands including Rip Rig + Panic, The Damned and Dexys Midnight Runners.
"Only pop music can save us now!"
Mayall's long-time comedic writing partner and The Young Ones co-star, Adrian Edmondson, gave this quote to BBC News, in the inimitable style of which the two comic geniuses were known for:
"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."
Upon hearing the news, fans were quick to take to social media to point out a scene from The Young Ones featuring "Rick" eulogizing himself.
Rick: This house will become a shrine, and 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? Rick is dead! The People's Poet is dead!" And then one particularly sensitive and articulate teenager will say, "Other kids, do you understand nothing? How can Rick be dead when we still have his poems?"
Rest in Peace, People's Poet...
Comments
Post a Comment