Parks and Recreation Tragedies: Most Shocking Deaths Through the Years

Parks and Recreation fans have mourned the deaths of some of the show’s most memorable cast members — and their loved ones — over the years.

NBC viewers tuned in weekly to watch the mockumentary series, which aired from 2009 to 2015, about employees working for the parks department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Parks and Recreation featured a stacked cast that included Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Nick Offerman, Aziz Ansari, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott, Rob Lowe, Retta and Billy Eichner.

Since the sitcom came to an end, the cast has been struck by tragedy. Harris Wittels, who many remember as an animal control employee, died in 2015 at age 30 after an overdose. Before his death, Wittels candidly discussed how he developed a drug addiction when he was 12 years old.

The Parks and Recreation cast was hit with another surprising death when Jonathan Joss was shot in June 2025 after an alleged altercation with a neighbor. Officers detained their suspect, Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, after he initially fled the scene in a vehicle. He was booked for murder amid Joss’ husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, claiming the incident was the result of a hate crime.

Authorities, however, denied that Joss’ death was a result of a hate crime after conducting an investigation. Several of Joss’ costars — including Chris Pratt — paid tribute to the actor, who played Ken Hotate.

“Damn. RIP Jonathan. Always such a kind dude,” Pratt wrote via his Instagram Stories. “Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.”

Keep scrolling for the most heartbreaking Parks and Recreation tragedies over the years:

Jonathan Joss

Joss was killed in June 2025 after an alleged altercation with a neighbor in San Antonio, Texas. Authorities were dispatched to a shooting where they found Joss lying “near the roadway.”

There were “life saving measures” attempted while waiting for EMS, but Joss was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene when paramedics arrived.

Offerman released a statement about how Joss’ former costars were mourning his death, saying, “The cast has been texting together about it all day and we’re just heartbroken. Jonathan was such a sweet guy and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. A terrible tragedy.”

Aubrey Plaza’s Husband Jeff Baena

Plaza suffered a loss when her husband died by suicide in January 2025 at age 47.

“This is an unimaginable tragedy,” a rep said in a statement to Us Weekly on behalf of Plaza and family members. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.”

Helen Slayton-Hughes

Slayton-Hughes, who played Ethel, died in her sleep at age 92 in December 2022.

James Greene

Before his death at 91 in 2018, Greene was best known for playing Councilman Milton a.k.a the oldest member of Pawnee’s city council.

Brent Briscoe

For Parks and Rec viewers, Briscoe was known for his role as the beloved owner of JJ’s Diner. He was hospitalized in 2017 after suffering a fall, which led to internal bleeding and heart complications. The side effects resulted in Briscoe’s death at age 56.

Windell Middlebrooks

Middlebrooks played Brian in one episode of Parks and Recreation in 2009. He was found unconscious at his home in 2015 and was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital. The cause of death was ruled to be a fatal pulmonary embolism at age 36.

Harris Wittels

Wittels, who was an executive producer on the show and made a cameo, died in 2015 by suicide at age 30. Poehler delivered a speech in Wittels’ honor hours after news broke about his passing.

“So today, I lost a friend,” she said at a Unite4Humanity’s event in February 2015. “I lost a dear, young man in my life who was struggling with addiction and who died just a few hours before we came. Jane [Aronson] and I sat and talked about it, and I’m sharing it with you because life and death live so closely together and we walk that fine line every day. At the end of the day, when things happen in our lives and we turn to people that we love and we turn to family and community for support, we lean on people and hope that they will ease our pain.”

Glenne Headly

Headly portrayed Ben’s mother in one episode of Parks and Rec in 2012. She died of complications from a pulmonary embolism at 62 in 2017.