American Splendor Author Harvey Pekar To Undergo Autopsy in Cleveland

Paul Giamatti, who played Pekar in the 2003 film adaptation of his classic, autobiographical work American Splendor said: “Harvey was one of the most compassionate and empathetic human beings I’ve ever met. He had a huge brain and an even bigger soul. And he was hilarious. He was a great artist, a true American poet, and there is no one to replace him.” Mr. Pekar, 70, was found dead in his home in Cleveland Heights, Ohio today. He is said to have been suffering from multiple medical problems including prostate cancer, asthma, high blood pressure and depression. Mr. Pekar had previously survived non-Hodgkins lymphoma and, in collaboration with his third wife Joyce Brabner, wrote about their experiences in the graphic novel Our Cancer Year.