Harvey Pekar (70) was found dead in his home early Monday morning. An autopsy will later conclude the cause of death.

Harvey Pekar was an award winning comic book writer who celebrated the working class everyman. He is most known for his autobiographical comic book series “American Splendor” (which he started after becoming friends with comic artist Robert Crumb, who became the first artist to illustrate American Splendor) as well as his book length autobiographical “Our Cancer Year” which he wrote with his wife after being diagnosed with lymphatic cancer in 1990. In addition to being a cancer survivor, he was also diagnosed with high blood pressure, asthma, and depression which fueled his art but made often made his life painful.

He has worked on numerous projects, and has received critical acclaim for his achievements including The American Book Award in 1987 for his American Splendor anthology and the Harvey Award in 1995 for “Our Cancer Year”.

There was also a film made about his life also titled “American Splendor” which came out in 2003 featuring Paul Giamatti as Pekar, the film also had great reviews and response and earned a renewed interest in Pekar’s work.

He often saw the funny parts in boring everyday life, things that most people do not write about. He will be missed.