Culture

Harvey Pekar, American Splendor Author, Dies at Age 70

by Amy Judd | July 12, 2010 at 08:09 am

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Harvey Pekar Has Been Found Dead in His Cleveland Heights Home At Age 70

Best known for the comic-book series American Splendor and for detailing his battle with prostate cancer in Our Cancer Year, Harvey Pekar has died at the age of 70. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Pekar was found by his wife Joyce Brabner just before 1am in their home. The cause of death is not known at this time, but an autopsy is set to be performed today or tomorrow.

It has been confirmed that Pekar was suffering from cancer, high blood pressure, depression and asthma.

Mr. Pekar was best known for his on-again, off-again comics series “American Splendor,” whose title deliberately contrasted with the everyday people it documented (often the author himself).

American Splendor was made in to a film in 2003 staring Paul Giammati. He was also an occasional guest on Late Night With David Letterman.

Long-time friend R. Crumb told The Plain Dealer in 1994 that Pekar was 'the soul of Cleveland'.