Erik Gates, who was best known for his guest appearances on the popular TV show 'Mythbusters', died last Sunday at the age of 47. Gates, who owned his own electric company with his brother, was working on the roof of a client's house when he fell through a skylight. He was working on the roof with a colleague, but his coworker says he neither heard nor saw the fall. Although Gates initially survived the fall and was still talking when paramedics arrived on the scene, he died later that day of blunt force injuries to his chest at Los Robles Hospital.

Erik was featured as an amateur rocket expert four times on 'Mythbusters'. He appeared in their pilot episode, where they tested a myth about tying a rocket to one's car. He was also brought in on other episodes, including ones where he tied rockets to a chair and to a swing to test their propulsion capabilities. The Mythbusters crew added a tribute to Erik in their most recent episode on Monday, December 28th.