Harvey Pekar dead, writer of American Splendor comics

Paul Giamatti and Harvey Pekar

Harvey Pekar is dead. The writer of American Splendor comics has passed away at the age of 70.

Pekar, most linked to his friend, the famous artist (and for a time San Franciscan) R. Crumb, was a cancer survivor who was found by his wife Joyce Brabner Monday morning at his home in a Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Harvey Pekar wrote his first comic book strip in 1972. Illustrated by his friend Crumb, it featured his life as a file clerk.

Pekar was also known as a frequent guest of David Letterman on his show. Pekar's reparte with Letterman is good television, although it's hard to tell if they're kidding or serious. Here's one of Pekar's appearances, where David Letterman calls him a "dork" and says "I'd like to apologize to Cleveland," on August 31, 1988:



Later in life, Pekar was played by actor Paul Giamatti in the critically acclaimed film American Splendor. In this scene from that movie, Toby (played by Judah Friedlander) talks to Harvey about White Castle burgers and the movie Revenge of the Nerds:



Harvey Pekar lived from 1939 to 2010 and struggled with lymphoma during his later years. That battle resulted in Our Cancer Year, graphic novel autobiography. Pekar's survived by his wife Joyce Brabner and their foster daughter Danielle.