Rik Mayall, a pioneering figure in British alternative comedy, was born in Matching Tye, a village nestled just outside Harlow in Essex. His parents, John and Gillian, were both drama teachers who instilled in him a passion for the performing arts from a young age. Mayall's acting debut came at the tender age of seven, when he appeared in one of his father's stage plays.
As he grew older, Mayall's path converged with that of his future comedy partner and best friend, Adrian "Ade" Edmondson, at Manchester University in 1975. The duo began performing together as a comedy act called "Twentieth Century Coyote" at the iconic Comedy Store in London, before later moving to the legendary "The Comic Strip" venue. It was here that they were discovered by producer Paul Jackson, paving the way for their ascent to television stardom.
Mayall's breakthrough came with the writing and starring role in the groundbreaking sitcom "The Young Ones" (1982),co-written with Ben Elton and Lise Mayer. The show's impact on British sitcoms was undeniable, and Mayall's career was catapulted to new heights. By the age of 24, he had become one of the most popular comedians in Britain.
Throughout his career, Mayall wrote and starred in numerous television programmes and films, including the BAFTA-winning "The New Statesman" (1987),in which he played the role of Alan B'Stard. He also had a brief foray into Hollywood with the title role in "Drop Dead Fred" (1991),before returning to British television with the hit show "Bottom" (1991-1995). Despite only running for three seasons, "Bottom" became a cult classic, and Mayall and Edmondson continued to tour with live shows based on the series until 2014.
In 1998, Mayall suffered a severe accident while riding his quad-bike at his farm in Devon, leaving him in a coma. Miraculously, he made a full recovery and went on to star in films and shows such as "Guest House Paradiso" (1999) and "Day of the Sirens" (2002). In 2002, he reunited with the writers of "The New Statesman" for the comedy series "Believe Nothing", and in 2003, he embarked on a UK tour with Edmondson for the fifth "Bottom Live" show.
