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 '' as well as his role on the BBC sitcom Mayall survived a near-fatal quad bike accident in 1998 ; he was in a coma for five days after the crash , on his farm in Devon , southwest England , and developed epilepsy as a result of the severe head injury he suffered when he was crushed under the bike . ` Comedian 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 '' as well as his role on the BBC sitcom ` Comedian survived a near-fatal quad bike accident in 1998 .