Robert Crumb

American Splendor Comic Book Writer Harvey Pekar Dies at 70

Underground comic book writer Harvey Pekar, best known as the inspiration for the film American Splendor, died Monday morning in his Cleveland Heights home, according to WTAM 1100 news radio station. He was 70. Although the cause of Pekar's death is not yet known, Cleveland Heights Police Capt. Michael Cannon said the writer had been suffering from prostate cancer, asthma, high blood pressure and depression. See other celebrities we've lost this year Pekar's American Splendor comic book series, which followed ...