'Young Ones' creator Rik Mayall dies at age 56
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Rik Mayall, one of a generation of performers that injected post-punk energy into British comedy, has died. He was 56.
Mayall's management firm Brunskill Management said the comedian died early Monday.
Mayall was part of the Comic Strip, a group of alternative young `80s comics that included Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and Mayall's comedy partner, Adrian Edmondson.
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He was best known for co-writing and performing in "The Young Ones," a sitcom about slovenly students that was much loved by those it satirized.
He played the self-described "people's poet," Rik.
He also memorably played Conservative politician Alan B'stard in the sitcom "The New Statesman."
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He and Edmondson also created and starred in slapstick comedy series "Bottom."
The cause of death was not immediately disclosed. In 1998 Mayall was in a coma for several days after a quad bike accident.