Harvey Pekar, the writer inspired by the details of his own mundane existence and that of his fellow

In this 1986 file photo comic-book writer Harvey Pekar poses with a copy of his "American Splendor" in his Cleveland Heights, Ohio home. Pekar, whose comic was made into a 2003 film starring Paul Giammati, was been found dead in his Ohio home early Monday, July 12, 2010. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Cleveland to create comic books, including his best known “American Splendor” series, died Monday morning. He was 70 years old.

According to The Plain Dealer of Cleveland, Pekar was found dead by his wife, Joyce Brabner, at about 1 a.m. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.

Mr. Pekar had lived with lymphatic cancer since he was diagnosed in 1990, which he and Brabner chronicled in the graphic novel “Our Cancer Year.”

American Splendor, the autobiographical comic series where Pekar showed that comics could portray everyday feelings and not just superhero antics, was made into a movie in 2003 starring Paul Giamatti as Pekar.

Pekar also had short-lived fame on “Late Night with David Letterman” in the 80s, was banned from the show due to his on-air criticism of General Electric, which owned NBC at the time.