British Comedian Rik Mayall, 56, died at his home in Barnes, London, yesterday and friends and family members expressed grief for losing one of the U.K.'s most celebrated funny men and writers.

His body was discovered by his wife Barbara Robbin, 62, at their family home in Barnes late in the afternoon of June 9.

Mayall's close friends were shocked when they learned about the comedian's passing. In fact, reports said that Mayall even spoke to a friend's son 30 minutes before he died.

Peter Richardson, 62, and founder of The Comic Strip, a group of English comedians, said that he was still in shock upon learning the sudden death of his 56-year-old friend. Richardson's son even spoke to Mayall and described the deceased to have "chatted away happily" and "seemed so happy and so healthy."

"We still don't know quite what happened, but it was a seizure of some sort. It was very quick," Richardson said in an interview, according to the Daily Mail.

Richardson also talked about a quad bike accident Mayall had back in 1998, which left the actor in a temporary coma.

"Well, he had 16 years after the quad bike - at the time I don't think people thought he would survive that," he said. "But he lived for another 16 years, and it was just shocking that he went: he was so happy and seemed very healthy when he did go."

In a statement issued, a spokesman for the Mayall family said that the comedian's sudden death had put the family in a terrible state of shock.

"We are all deeply saddened by this news, from the enormous number of fans Rik had to those who worked with him and knew him as a man as well as a fine actor. He touched many lives, and always for the better," the spokesman said in the statement.

Friends and fellow celebrities have extended their condolences and shared their memorable moments with Mayall.

TV personalities and celebrities such as comedian David Walliams, film director Edgar Wright and comedy producer John Lloyd have paid their respects and offered tributes to Mayall.

Fellow comedian and writer Ade Edmonson has this to say about Mayall:

"There were times when Rik and I were writing together when we almost died laughing. They were some of the most carefree stupid days I ever had, and I feel privileged to have shared them with him."

He added jokingly, "And now he's died for real. Without me. Selfish bastard."

At 1:20 p.m., a Scotland Yard spokesman confirmed that the London Ambulance Service called the police to a house in Barnes where a man in his fifties was declared dead at the scene. Initial reports before an autopsy said the death was not believed to be suspicious, and as yet the cause of death remains unknown.