Parks and Recreation executive producer Harris Wittels was pronounced dead around 1 p.m. by law enforcement officials, TMZ reported.
The 30-year-old was found on his couch by his assistant in his home near Los Feliz, the Los Angeles Police Department said.
An official cause of death must still be determined by the Los Angeles County coroner, but several industry publications, citing unidentified sources, reported that Wittels may have died of an overdose.
Wittels had spoken previously about his struggle with drug addiction and had gone to rehab twice.
Wittels had written for Parks and Rec since the show started in 2011 and had appeared in several episodes as an animal control employee.
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In addition to Parks and Rec, Wittels had worked on Eastbound and Down, The Sarah Silverman Program, and Secret Girlfriend.
Parks and Rec is in its final season and will air its last episode Tuesday.
He also popularized the humblebrag, which became such a huge phenomenon Wittels turned it into a book, Humblebrag: The Art of False Modesty, in 2012.
Another msg with the notorious @twittels @eatsieboys #phish @Humblebrag
Wittels performed stand-up comedy and had reportedly told a bit about being clean and sober Wednesday night at the Meltdown, a Los Angeles comedy venue.
"we're all trying to avoid thinking about death, that's why we get excited about these stupid, human interactions." - Harris last night
@kumailn I took this last night. What a fucking tragedy.
Many who knew Wittels took to Twitter to express their grief:
RIP and thank you, Harris Wittels.
Don't know what to say. Harris Wittels was a fantastic writer I had the pleasure to work with at Parks and Rec. So so sad. RIP Harris.
Such heartbreaking news about Harris Wittels. A really funny guy.
Very sad to learn about the death of Harris Wittels. He was extremely talented and, more importantly, a really nice person.
We lost one of the best minds and chillest dudes. I'm so fucking sad. I'll miss you @twittels
I mean, look at his tweets. One of them made me laugh even right now. This pic is from LAST NIGHT. Fuck. https://t.co/977ITsDwLx
Fucking fuck!! Really? Funny little guy! RIP Harris Wittels.
My god we are so heartbroken over the loss of Harris Wittels and feel lucky to have known him at all.
I am truly crushed to report that a brilliant comic mind, Harris Wittels, has passed away. This really fucking sucks. #RIPHarris
Harris Wittels wrote my first episode of Eastbound and Down and was a hilarious and fun guy to hang out with. I'm very sad today
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.
Amy Poehler said Thursday night that she "lost a friend. I lost a dear, young friend in my life who was struggling with addiction.”
She was being honored with the Unity Award at Variety's unite4humanity event, when she took a moment to to speak about Wittels.
"I'm sharing it with you because life and death live so close together, and we walk that fine line everyday. 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," she said.
"So, I don't really feel like telling any jokes. I'm kind of sad, and it's really great to be here tonight and listen to all of you, and listen to the great work that you do and be reminded why we live in this bizarre planet called 'Hollywood.' It's very strange."
Aziz Ansari wrote a tribute on Tumblr on Friday to Harris Wittels:
