Comedian Brody Stevens was found dead Friday afternoon at his San Fernando Valley home, where he reportedly took his own life, according to several celebrity news websites.
The 48-year-old entertainer, who memorably played a cop in the film “The Hangover,” was found dead about 1 p.m., according to The Blast, which first reported the death and said it was being investigated as a suicide by hanging. Stevens had reportedly struggled with depression and bipolar disorder.
Stevens performed two days ago in Burbank at the Festival of Friendship and did a set later that night at the Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip, according to TMZ.com.
The coroner’s office reported being called to the 12300 block of Magnolia Boulevard in Valley Village, where a man in his 40s was found unresponsive and was pronounced dead at 12:53 p.m. They withheld his name pending the completion of family notifications.
Tributes began appearing Friday afternoon on Twitter from fellow comedians, including Patton Oswalt, who wrote: “If you are depressed or feeling suicidal please please please please please reach out to ANYONE. I never get to see Brody Stevens again. I can’t stand this.”
Tom Arnold said on his Twitter page, “I’m sad about the suicide of my friend Brody Stevens. I could tell 50 hilarious Brody stories from just his time as audience warm up on Best Damn Sports Show Period. Audiences loved him. Or hated him. Brody cared. He didn’t hide it. That was the funniest Brody Stevens. #RIPBrody.”
Whitney Cummings tweeted: “I love you so much Brody Stevens. Nobody has been nicer in comedy than you. My heart is shattered.”
On Thursday, Stevens, an avid baseball fan who as a student athlete had pitched for the Arizona State University Sun Devils, tweeted: “I’m ready to get back on the festival circuit.”