Suspected drug overdose for Harris Wittels

A comedian who wrote on Parks and Recreation has been found dead in his Los Angeles home at the age of 30.

Harris Wittels was found by his assistant, and is suspected to have died from a drug overdose.

His comes just days before the finale of the Amy Poehler comedy after seven series.

At a charity bash in LA last night, Poehler said: ‘Today I lost a dear, young friend in my life who was struggling with addiction, so, I don’t really feel like telling any jokes.’

Wittels had talked about his struggles with drug abuse on the Nerdist’s You Made It Real podcast in November.

Then he told host Pete Holmes that he was taking the painkiller oxycodone to deal with his stress over a failed relationship and his TV work. ‘It was easier just to take drugs and do it all,’ he said.

He revealed that he had taken recreational drugs since the age of 12 and had just come out rehab for a second time after being treated for heroin addiction. He added: ‘Sobriety is still fresh. I haven't figured it all out.

As well as his work on Parks and Rec, on which he was an executive producer, Wittels, was a stand-up – and the night before he was found dead, he performed at The Meltdown comedy theatre in Los Angeles.

kHe also wrote for other TV shows including Eastbound & Down and The Sarah Silverman Program.

Silverman tweeted: ‘He was my baby. I just keep thinking of superman flying backwards around the earth. I wish I could do that. I'm so mad at you Harris.

‘You should know that Harris was brilliant beyond compare. That his imagination was without limit. That he loved comedy more than anything.

’That his heart was big and he FELT hard. That he was someone who would reach out to tell you he was thinking of you for no particular reason. That he was honest even if it was gonna piss u off or make him look shitty. He told the truth. Even when it was ugly. Even when he lied.’

Here is talking about his addiction:

Published: 20 Feb 2015