British actor and comedian Rik Mayall is dead at 56 . Mayall is best known for starring in TV series ` ` The Young Ones , '' ` ` Blackadder '' and ` ` Bottom '' He had lead role in movie ` ` Drop Dead Fred , '' playing imaginary friend of Phoebe Cates . He wrote : 'Young Ones are never afraid . ' '' He survived a near - fatal quad bike accident in 1998 .
British actor and comedian Rik Mayall is dead at 56 . Mayall is best known for starring in TV series ` ` The Young Ones , '' ` ` Blackadder '' and ` ` Bottom '' He had lead role in movie ` ` Drop Dead Fred , '' playing imaginary friend of Phoebe Cates . He survived a near - fatal quad bike accident in 1998 .