Harvey Pekar: 1939-2010
Comic-book writer Harvey
Pekar, whose autobiographical comic series American Splendor was made into a 2003 Oscar nominated film
starring Paul Giamatti as Harvey in addition to Harvey appearing as himself,
has been found dead in his Ohio home. He was 70.
Cleveland Heights police Capt. Michael Cannon says
officers were called to Pekar’s home by his wife Joyce Brabner about 1 a.m. Monday.
Cannon says Pekar had been suffering from prostate cancer, asthma, high blood pressure and depression. Coroner’s spokesman Powell Caesar in Cleveland says
an autopsy will be performed.
Pekar’s “American Splendor” comics, which he began
publishing in 1976, record his complaints about work, money and the day-to-day grind of life. The comic was done with stories from dozens of artists over the years in a wide variety of styles. Recently, the stories had begun to migrate to the web, as The Pekar Project.
He gained widespread notoriety from his appearances on Late Night With David Letterman, which can give you a video chronicle of the man. Here’s his last appearance on the show:
Our condolences to Joyce and the rest of Harvey’s family.
The whole comics world is hurting today, having lost one of its great writers. I hope no one takes offense when I say that those of us in the Cleveland area are hurting more. Harvey was one of us. He walked our streets. He gave our town a voice as few others ever have. My condolences to His wife, his daughter, and all his friends and fans.
The whole comics world is hurting today, having lost one of its great writers. I hope no one takes offense when I say that those of us in the Cleveland area are hurting more. Harvey was one of us. He walked our streets. He gave our town a voice as few others ever have. My condolences to His wife, his daughter, and all his friends and fans.
Sad news indeed. Harvey Pekar’s work served as my introduction to underground comics after years of reading mainstream stuff. Having watched the film based on Harvey’s life, I feared his story would lack what many call a happy ending. But his legacy is now one with our industry’s history. Rest easy, Harv.
Sad news indeed. Harvey Pekar's work served as my introduction to underground comics after years of reading mainstream stuff. Having watched the film based on Harvey's life, I feared his story would lack what many call a happy ending. But his legacy is now one with our industry's history. Rest easy, Harv.
Joanna Connors’ obituary for Harvey Pekar was the lead story on the front page of this morning’s (Cleveland) Plain Dealer. The second I saw it, I said “Man, Harvey would have loved to write about this.”
It’s nice to see a real Cleveland hero honored in this fashion.
My sincerest condolences to Mr. Pekar’s family and friends.
Joanna Connors' obituary for Harvey Pekar was the lead story on the front page of this morning's (Cleveland) Plain Dealer. The second I saw it, I said "Man, Harvey would have loved to write about this."It's nice to see a real Cleveland hero honored in this fashion.
My sincerest condolences to Mr. Pekar's family and friends.