Richard Michael "Rik" Mayall (7 March 1958 – 9 June 2014) was a British comedian and actor and writer of comedy. He starred in many sitcoms, including "The Young Ones", "Blackadder", "Filthy Rich and Catflap", "The New Statesman" and "Bottom". He also starred in the movies "Drop Dead Fred" (1991) and "Guest House Paradiso" (1999). He also won an Emmy Award in 1997 for "The Willows in Winter" (1995).