'Parks and Recreation' executive producer Harris Wittels passed away at his Los Angeles home on Thursday, LAPD confirms. He was 30.
Parks and Recreation co-executive producer Harris Wittels passed away at his Los Angeles home on Thursday, LAPD confirms. He was 30.
Police and an ambulance arrived at Wittels' home in the Los Feliz neighborhood around 1 p.m. after he was discovered on the couch by his assistant.
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TMZ reports that drug paraphernalia was found in Wittels' home and that his death came after an apparent overdose.
Wittels, a comedian, had been vocal about his drug-addled past.
During his time writing for Parks and Rec, which wraps Feb. 24 on NBC, Wittels also had a recurring bit part as one of two "pothead" animal control workers. The other was played by comedian Colton Dunn. The show finished filming in December.
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A friend of Wittels tells ET that the writer-producer was reportedly depressed following the show's production wrap and that he was having trouble finding work.
Parks and Rec star Amy Poehler took a moment to remember her friend on Thursday evening at Variety's unite4humanity event.
"Today, I lost a friend. I lost a dear, young friend in my life who was struggling with addiction," Poehler said.
"I'm sharing it with you because life and death live so close together, and we walk that fine line everyday," she added. "When things happen in our lives, we turn to the people that we love ... and we lean on people, in a hope that we will ease our pain."