Daily Show Writer Dies in Crash

Kevin Bleyer, a four-time Primetime Emmy Award winning writer for 'The Daily Show,' died Sunday in a car accident in Millrift, Pennsylvania. He was 54 years old.

His family reported that the crash occurred on a rural road near his country home. Bleyer had lived in New York City for the past 20 years before this incident.

Bleyer spent nine years as a writer on 'The Daily Show.' He also served as a writer for 'Politically Incorrect' with Bill Maher and Dennis Miller for eight years. His writing credits extended to Disney+ 'The Right Stuff,' Fox 'Sleepy Hollow,' and Bravo 'Significant Others.'

Beyond television, Bleyer executive produced Studio 7, the first political satire news show in Central Asia, while living in Kyrgyzstan in 2013. Upon his return, he co-founded Pilot Media Initiatives. The organization sponsors civics-minded media programs in countries with democratic challenges. He helped launch political satire shows in North Macedonia, Nigeria, Moldova, Kenya, Jordan, and Estonia.

He worked as a writer and producer for NBC News 'Today Show' and as a supervising producer for MSNBC 'Ronan Farrow Daily.' Bleyer contributed as a speechwriter to President Barack Obama, including addresses at the White House Correspondents Dinners. He also served as deputy chief speechwriter for New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Bleyer's books include 'Me the People: One Man's Selfless Quest to Rewrite the Constitution of the United States of America' and the co-authored bestseller 'Earth: The Book.' He co-authored 'How to Sweet-Talk a Shark' with Bill Richardson. He was the voice of the Onion Radio News and held a weekly column in the Daily Beast.

Before his death, he was developing a pilot about New York City politics for Appian Way and HBO. Born in Bethesda, Maryland, and raised in Seattle, he began his career as a child actor. He appeared in commercials for Aim toothpaste and the film 'Twice in a Lifetime' before graduating from Stanford University.

He is survived by his wife, Nella Vera; his father, Dr. Archie Bleyer; his brother Keith Bleyer; sister-in-law Kelly Schulz-Bleyer; nephew Evan Bleyer; and niece Lauren Bleyer. His wife described him as a man whose humor and curiosity made the world more joyful and adventurous.