Rik Mayall Death Anniversary: One Year Since Young Ones Star Passed Away | HuffPost

Remembering Rik Mayall A Year Since His Death

Sara C Nelson— Huffington Post UK

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It’s been a year since comedian and actor Rik Mayall died unexpectedly aged 56.

The star, who shot to fame playing poetry-writing anarchist Rick in The Young Ones, was a father-of-three whose career included appearances in shows including Blackadder, Bottom and The New Statesman.

Mayall suffered an "acute cardiac event" after returning from a morning run, his widow Barbara said. Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Ben Elton and Ruby Wax were among those who attended his funeral in Dittisham.

We miss you, Rik

Friends of Mayall said he had never fully recovered following his quad bike accident in 1998, which left him in a coma for five days.

His daughter Bonnie, 18, paid a moving tribute to her father on Facebook: “My dad was loved not only by my family, but by many many others.

“We will never forget him and neither will the world.

“R.I.P. to the man, the myth, the legend — my wonderful, generous, foul-mouthed and hysterical father. My idol now and forever.

“We love you daddy.”

RIP Rik, we’re still thinking of you.

Rik Mayall 1958 - 2014

British Comedy Awards 2011(01 of23)

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 16: Rik Mayall attends the British Comedy Awards at Fountain Studios on December 16, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

The New Statesman - Photocall(02 of23)

LONDON - MARCH 20: Actors Rik Mayall and Marsha Fitzalan pose as their comic 1980's TV characters Alan and Sarah B'Stard as they launch the four-month UK tour of the stage adaptation of their satirical TV series ?The New Statesman - Episode 2006: The Blair B'Stard Project' outside the Houses of Parliment, Millbank on March 20, 2006 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

British Comedy Awards 2011 - London(03 of23)

Rik Mayall arrives at the British Comedy Awards at the Fountain Studios in London. (credit:PA)

Rik Mayall casting for new show - London(04 of23)

Rik Mayall as Alan B'Stard, with Cherie Blair hopefuls in central London, November 27, 2006. Rik Mayall's political alter-ego Alan B'stard is searching for his Tony and Cherie Blair. The comedy actor held an open audition at studios in London this morning to cast the roles of the Prime Minister and his wife in his new show. (credit:PA)

RIK MAYALL COMEDY AWARDS 1993(05 of23)

COMEDY ACTOR RIK MAYALL, ARRIVING ATTHE BRITISH COMEDY AWARDS 1993 CEREMONYIN LONDON [WITH UNNAMED WOMAN]. (credit:PA)

COMEDIAN DAVE ALLEN AT THE BRITI(06 of23)

COMEDIAN DAVE ALLEN AT THE BRITISHCOMEDY AWARDS 1993 WITH RIK MAYALL. (credit:PA)

COMEDY AWARD WINNERS 1993(07 of23)

SOME OF THE BRITISH COMEDY AWARDS 1993WINNERS, AFTER THE CEREMONY IN LONDON.L-R RICHARD WILSON, JENNIFER SAUNDERS,JOANNA LUMLEY AND RIK MAYALL. (credit:PA)

Rik Mayall casting for new show - London(08 of23)

Rik Mayall as Alan B'Stard outside Trafalgar Studios in central London, November 27, 2006. Rik Mayall's political alter-ego Alan B'stard is searching for his Tony and Cherie Blair. The comedy actor held an open audition at studios in London this morning to cast the roles of the Prime Minister and his wife in his new show. (credit:PA)

Rik Mayall as Alan B'Stard(09 of23)

Rik Mayall returns as 'The New Statesman', Alan B'Stard, to launch a national theatre tour, Monday 20 March 2006, outside the House of Commons, central London. The tour begings at the Theatre Royal Brighton on 19 April. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Photo Credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA. (credit:PA)

Rik Mayall as Alan B'Stard(10 of23)

Rik Mayall returns as 'The New Statesman', Alan B'Stard, with Marsha Fitzalan who plays Alan's wife Sarah, to launch a national theatre tour, Monday 20 March 2006, outside the House of Commons, central London. The tour begings at the Theatre Royal Brighton on 19 April. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Photo Credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA. (credit:PA)

Rik Mayall as Alan B'Stard(11 of23)

Rik Mayall returns, with Marsha Fitzalan who plays his wife Sarah, as 'The New Statesman', Alan B'Stard, to launch a national theatre tour, Monday 20 March 2006, outside the House of Commons, central London. The tour begings at the Theatre Royal Brighton on 19 April. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Photo Credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA. (credit:PA)

Rik Mayall as Alan B'Stard(12 of23)

Rik Mayall returns as 'The New Statesman', Alan B'Stard, to launch a national theatre tour, Monday 20 March 2006, outside the House of Commons, central London. The tour begings at the Theatre Royal Brighton on 19 April. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Photo Credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA. (credit:PA)

National Television Awards(13 of23)

Actor Rik Mayall at the National Television Awards 2005 (NTA), at the Royal Albert Hall, central London. (credit:PA)

Churchill - The Hollywood Years(14 of23)

Comedian Rik Mayall arrives for a private screening of Churchill - The Hollywood Years, at the Soho Hotel in central London. (credit:PA)

Terminator 3 - Rik Mayall(15 of23)

Rik Mayall arriving at The Odeon Leicester Square, for the British premiere of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. (credit:PA)

Jellikins/Rik Mayall(16 of23)

The Jellikins is to be launched on GMTV breakfast show. Aimed at children between two and five, the Jellikins are six happy loveable, bouncy characters who all live in Jolly Jelly World, the programme will be narrated by comic actor Rik Mayall. 04/07/03 : Actor and comedian Rik Mayall was banned from driving for 90 days, after admitting speeding on a motorway at 113mph. The 45-year-old was caught by a speed gun on the M5 motorway northbound at Weston-super-Mare on April 20. Avon and Somerset road traffic police chased his silver Mercedes car down the motorway and on to the A370 and stopped him at the Bucket and Spade pub. Mayall, of north Kensington, London, was cautioned and police officers took a statement from him which read: I accept what the police officer said and I was not concentrating enough and I thank him for the warning and I will not do it again. (credit:PA)

PA NEWS PHOTO : 2/5/95 : COMIC ACTOR RIK MAYALL. PHOTO BY FIONA HANSON....(17 of23)

PA NEWS PHOTO : 2/5/95 : COMIC ACTOR RIK MAYALL. PHOTO BY FIONA HANSON. (credit:PA)

Rik Mayall Lord of the Rings(18 of23)

Comedian Rik Mayall arriving at the Odeon Leicester Square, London, for the UK premiere of Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. (credit:PA)

Guest House/Mayall & Edmondson(19 of23)

Actors and comedians Rik Mayall (left) and Ade Edmondson, who star in the film, arrive for the celebrity screening of Guest House Paradiso, at the Warner Village Cinema in Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)

"Around The World In 80 Days" Premiere - Arrivals(20 of23)

LONDON - JUNE 22: Actor Rik Mayall arrives at the UK Film Premiere of the classic novel by Jules Verne 'Around The World In 80 Days' at Vue West End on June 22, 2004 in London. (Photo by Steve Finn/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

(21 of23)

Rik Mayall in Blackadder (left)

(22 of23)

Rik Mayall in The Young Ones

(23 of23)

Rik Mayall in The Young Ones

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