Famed for roles in comedy classics like Bottom, Blackadder and The Young Ones alongside friend Adrian Edmondson, in 1998 he was in a quad bike crash which left him in a coma with critical injuries but he survived and has continued working until recently.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Rik Mayall who passed away this morning,” his management company announced.
The funnyman, who also appeared in big screen in film Drop Dead Fred, was married to the Scottish make-up artist Barbara Robbin and had three children, Rosie, Sidney and Bonnie.
Impressionist and comedian Rory Bremner was among the first to pay tribute to Mayall, tweeting: “Oh no. Awful news about Rik Mayall- a fireball of creative comic energy and inspiration. Such brilliant raw talent.”
The cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
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