The British actor and comedian Rik Mayall has died at the age of 56.

The Essex-born actor, who starred in alternative comedy shows such as The Young Ones and Blackadder, died on Monday morning, a spokesman for Brunskill Management said. The cause of death is currently unknown.

Mayall was best known for his comedy partnership with Adrian Edmonson, whom he first met at university. The pair went on to become one of the biggest comedy duos of the 1980s, co-writing The Young Ones. Mayall later starred in Jonathan Creek.

Rik Mayall (left) as Rick in the Young Ones with Adrian Edmondson as Vyvyan, Nigel Planer as Neil, and Christopher Ryan as Mike. Photograph: Photos 12/Alamy

In 1998, Mayall was nearly crushed to death by the quad bike he was riding when he fell off. He suffered a fractured skull and severe haemorrhaging and spent five days in a coma.

Rik Mayall and Marsha Fitzalan pose as their 1980s TV characters Alan and Sarah B'Stard to launch the UK tour of its stage adaptation in 2006. Photograph: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

The comic actor later made light of the trauma at his Devon farm. "I beat Jesus Christ," he said. "He was dead for three days at Easter. When I crashed it was the day before Good Friday, Crap Thursday, and I was technically dead until Easter Monday – that's five days … beat him 5-3."

Mayall is survived by his wife, the Scottish make-up artist Barbara Robbin whom he married in 1985, and his three children Rosie, 28, Sidney, 26, and Bonnie, 19.