Amy Poehler remembers 'Parks and Recreation' producer Harris Wittels

Amy Poehler remembered Parks and Recreation co-executive producer, Harris Wittels, while attending a Variety unite4humanity event she was being honored at saying she had “lost a friend.” Wittels was found dead Thursday in his home, and according to the Los Angeles Police Department, the cause of death appears to be an overdose. He was 30 years old.

“I lost a dear, young friend in my life who was struggling with addiction,” said Poehler, who later remarked, “I don’t really feel like telling any jokes. I’m kind of sad.”

Wittels wrote 12 episodes of the show including “Prom,” “The Treaty,” and “Road Trip.” He also guest-starred on the NBC series as a Pawnee Animal Control employee named Harris who made his most recent appearance in the Feb. 10 episode “The Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show.”

“I’m sharing it with you because life and death live so close together, and we walk that fine line everyday,” Poehler said. “When things happen in our lives, we turn to the people that we love…and we lean on people, in a hope that we will ease our pain.”

The writer, comedian, and producer was also remembered by Poehler’s organization “Smart Girls at the Party” on Twitter, saying he would be “dearly missed.”