His big break came at The Comic Strip Club, performing with comedy partner Adrian Edmondson as 20th Century Coyote in the 1980s, which led to cult television hit The Comic Strip Present where he starred opposite Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders as well as Nigel Planer, Keith Allen and Alexei Sayle.
He co-wrote The Young Ones with Lise Mayer and Ben Elton, which ran for 12 episodes between 1982 and 1985. It shared cult status and schoolboy humour with later sitcom Bottom in which he starred with his best friend Adrian Edmondson.
The Young Ones
Here is Rik on the David Letterman Show:
The New Statesman
The real Rik comes through here;
He also appeared as a voice on many cartoons and animated films and shows, and it was always with a warm feeling that I'd recognize his voice and visualize who was behind the character.
Blackadder, The New Statesman and Bottom were some of his more glorious moments where he really came to the fore as a performer. His dedication, fun and saucy look to camera will always be how I best remember him.
Rik Mayall, rest in peace.
kthanxbai!
Jumblerant
