Rik Mayall Died After Returning From Morning Jog

British actor and comedian Rik Mayall suffered an “acute cardiac event” at his London home shortly after returning from his usual morning run, his wife said Thursday.

Barbara Mayall released a prepared statement,

“He had just returned from his usual run and many people had seen him that morning,” Barbara Mayall said in a prepared statement released by his agent, Kate Benson.

Barbara said she and the extended family thanks “the thousands and thousands” of people who have sent condolence messages. source

Rik Mayall, 56, one of the leading lights of Britain’s alternative comedy scene in the 1980s, was best known for starring role in Drop Dead Fred.