Harris Wittels
A brilliantly funny writer and comedian who gave a name to our most annoying form of self-promotion: the humblebrag.
1984–2015 (age 31)·American actor, comedian, writer, and musician·Birthday: April 20·Millennials
Biography
Harris Wittels was a comedy insider's comedy insider, a writer whose sharp, absurdist voice shaped beloved shows and who became a cult favorite through podcast appearances. A Houston native, he broke in as a writer on The Sarah Silverman Program, where his talent for blending sincerity with silliness flourished. He found his professional home on Parks and Recreation, rising to executive producer and penning some of the show's most heartfelt and hilarious moments, often for the character of Harris (named after him). Off-screen, he became a beloved fixture on the comedy podcast scene, especially Comedy Bang! Bang!, where his segments like 'Harris's Foam Corner' showcased his relentless joke-writing. His coinage of the word 'humblebrag' in 2010 captured a modern social phenomenon, proving his cultural antenna was perfectly tuned. His death in 2015 cut short a career that was radiating outward from writers' rooms to a growing audience who adored his unique, unvarnished comedic persona.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Harris was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Harris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Harris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2015Died at 31
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
Key Achievements
- Coined the term 'humblebrag,' which was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2016.
- Served as an executive producer and writer for the acclaimed NBC series Parks and Recreation.
- Was a frequent and beloved guest on the podcast Comedy Bang! Bang!, creating popular recurring segments.
- Wrote for The Sarah Silverman Program, earning a Writers Guild of America Award nomination.
Did You Know?
The character of Harris, the animal control worker played by Brett Gelman on Parks and Recreation, was named after him.
He was a talented musician and played bass in the band Don't Stop or We'll Die with Paul Rust and Michael Cassady.
He published a book titled Humblebrag: The Art of False Modesty.
He had a recurring role as a dimwitted drug dealer named Harris on the HBO series Eastbound & Down.
““A humblebrag is a specific type of bragging which masks the boasting part of a statement in a faux-humble guise.””
