Harris Wittels, the co-executive producer of the popular NBC comedy Parks and Recreation, has died from an apparent drug overdose.
On Thursday, Feb. 19, 30-year-old Wittels was found dead at his home in Los Angeles, Calif. The cause of death is suspected to be drug overdose per the LA Police Department, but it is not yet confirmed.
Apart from working on the popular Parks and Recreation show, Wittels is also credited with scripting and producing HBO's Eastbound and Down, as well as Comedy Central's The Sarah Silverman Program.
Park and Recreation is currently in its seventh and final season with the last episode slated to air Tuesday, Feb. 24.
Growing up in Houston, Texas, in 2006 Wittel graduated from Emerson College and later shifted to Los Angeles to kick-start his comedy career. His stand-up video that was sent to Hollywood's Upright Citizen Brigade was instrumental in getting him a spot on the popular Comedy Death-Ray show. Later Wittel also got a gig at Largo, a popular nightclub, where he was spotted by Sarah Silverman, who offered him the opportunity to write for The Sarah Silverman Program.
Wittels name is synonymous with coining the term "humblebrag," which became huge on Twitter. The success prompted the actor/comedian to write the book "Humblebrag: The Art of False Modesty" in 2012. The book deals with the phenomenon Wittels called "a specific type of bragging which masks the brag in a faux-humble guise."
Wittels had personal devils to battle and he was open about his drug addiction. He had been to rehabilitation two times to fight off drug addiction.
Wittels' death at a young age has sparked off an outpouring of sorrow on microblogging site Twitter.
Such heartbreaking news about Harris Wittels. A really funny guy.
— Seth Meyers (@sethmeyers) February 20, 2015
Sarah Silverman also paid tribute to the deceased actor/comedian.
You should know that Harris was brilliant beyond compare. That his imagination was without limit. That he loved comedy more than anything. — Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) February 20, 2015
