Aziz Ansari Pens Touching Tribute to Harris Wittels, His "Friend, Colleague, & Hero," Who Died at Age 30

The comedian and Parks and Recreation co-executive producer and writer was found dead in his apartment on Feb. 19

By Corinne Heller Feb 22, 2015 8:03 PMTags
Harris Wittels, Aziz Ansari Frazer Harrison/Getty Images /Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Parks and Recreation actor and comedian Aziz Ansari has opened up about what he called the "devastating" loss of show writer, co-executive producer and fellow comic Harris Wittels with a moving, 2,800-word tribute.

Wittels was found dead at age 30 at his Los Angeles apartment on Thursday after what police believe may have been a drug overdose. He received tributes from a slew of co-stars and fellow comedy performers, including main Parks and Recreation actress Amy Poehler, Marc Maron and Sarah Silverman, who had worked with him on The Sarah Silverman Program.

In a Facebook message posted on Friday, Ansari, 30, called Wittels his "friend, colleague & hero." and linked to his tribute, which he published on his Tumblr blog.

"There are so few people that you meet in life that give you that feeling that you've found a real unique, original person," Ansari wrote. "Harris Wittels was one of those and we lost him yesterday. He was 30 years old. I've been devastated."

"I'm still waiting for the other phone call to let me know that Harris is okay and this was all a horrible misunderstanding," he said. "I don't know when my brain is going to be able to process the terrible feeling that fills my heart with dread and my eyes with tears every 20 seconds when I realize this very special person is really gone."

Ansari said he first knew Wittels as a standup comic and that he would have him perform as the opening act at his own comedy shows, a common practice among comedian friends (watch a video of Wittels performing below). 

They went on to co-write scripts of comedy projects that never got produced. Ansari posted photos of parts of them.

Harris' comedy writing career soon took off. Ansari said his friend penned a joke used in fellow comedian and actor Zach Galifianakis' 2014 interview with President Barack Obama on his FunnyOrDie.com mock talk show, Between Two Ferns.

"I also want to say, besides being so unbelievably hilarious, Harris was truly a sweet guy," Ansari wrote. "He was so lovable even when saying the most disgusting things. You just couldn't help but love him. He had the most ridiculous opinions on everything from food to dating to music and he'd defend them to no end. He loved to make ridiculous boasts that he insisted he could achieve."

Wittels, Ansari said, was a "romantic" at heart. 

"His Tinder profile said, 'I make money. I'll buy you a couch,'" he added. "We asked him why and he said, 'Girls love couches.'"

Ansari said he and others knew Harris had battled addiction but that he was getting treated for it. They planned to move to New York together in March and continue working together.

"Bye Harris," he wrote. "I miss you and I'm glad I got to enjoy your genuinely amazing and original presence. I wish I got to you know even more. I hope people reading this realize what a incredibly unique man you were, and what brutal a loss it is for those who knew you and also for those who never had the pleasure."