As long-time readers of my blog know, I’m a big fan of Harris Wittels. He played the drums in the comedy band “Don’t Stop or We’ll Die”, did stand up around Los Angeles, has written for many comedy tv shows and even invented the Humblebrag, all before 30. He was the “Flight of the Concords”, to my “Mel”. He even once commented on this very blog (check it out HERE). Getting that notification email “Harris Wittels has left a comment for you” was the best day (I still have the email saved). He was the type of guy that cared enough to find his fans and talk to them, which is incredibly rare.
He was always open about his drug use, as he talked about it candidly in different podcasts. Back in November he was a guest on Pete Holmes’ “You Made It Weird” (find that HERE), where he talks about when recreational drug use shifted to addiction and then took over his life. He was working on recovery and died too soon. This is such a loss for the comedy world, as Harris had so much comedy left in him. It’s a sad day.
Harris doing stand up at UCB’s Comedy Bang Bang Wednesday show in Los Angeles.
Don’t Stop or We’ll Die performing at the Meltdown Theater in Los Angeles.
Harris Wittels (right) with Adam Scott and Scott Aukerman at the Comedy Bang Bang LA event as part of the IFC Tour (Aug 2012).
Above is the band Don’t Stop or We’ll Die performing at the Comedy Bang Bang 2011 Nativity Pageant at UCB in LA (Harris is in the center on drums).