Co-Exec Producer Of 'Parks And Recreation' Found Dead
LOS FELIZ (CBSLA.com) — Authorities said the co-executive producer of the NBC sitcom "Parks and Recreation" was found dead Thursday inside his Los Feliz home.
Police said Harris Wittels died from a possible drug overdose.
The NBC sitcom starring Amy Poehler began in 2009 and was slated to have its series finale next Thursday.
Wittels was found by his assistant around 1 p.m. inside his home in the 2200 block of North Hobart Boulevard, said LAPD Officer Jane Kim with the media relations department.
Fans of the sitcom also know Wittels, who would have turned 31 in April, from a recurring bit role as Harris, an animal-control worker.
Various media reports said Wittels long battled addiction and had gone to rehab at least twice.
The death was first reported by TMZ.
Wittels, who also performed as a stand-up comic and as a drummer in the band Don't Stop or We'll Die, was pronounced dead at the scene, Kim said.
Prior to joining "Parks and Recreation in 2013," Wittels produced and wrote for "The Sarah Silverman Program," which ran on Comedy Central from 2007-10 as well as being a co-writer on several MTV movie and video award shows.
Wittels' "Humblebrag" on Twitter has nearly 250,000 followers despite his not posting a tweet in almost two years. "Humblebrag" was a video short and book as well.
Poehler was being honored Thursday evening as part of Variety's second annual "unite4humanity" event.
"Today I lost a friend," she told the assembled crowd, "I lost a dear, young friend in my life who was struggling with addiction."
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