'Eastbound & Down' Co-Creator Ben Best Dead at 46, One Day Before His Birthday

Photo: Mark Mainz/Getty

Ben Best, a co-creator behind the HBO comedyEastbound & Downstarring Danny McBride, has died. He was 46.

A cause of death has not been disclosed.

“We lost him the day before he would have turned 47. A hell of a friend and a creative force. He inspired us and made us laugh. Charming and hilarious. Gone way too soon. We love and miss you,” the statement concluded.

Best met both McBride and Hill when they were students at the UNC School of the Arts in North Carolina,according to Deadline. He also had a cowriting credit on the 2011 comedyYour Highness, which costarred McBride,James Franco, andNatalie Portman.

As an actor, Best portrayed Quince Danbury in 2007’sSuperbad, and also appeared in the 2009Will FerrellfilmLand of the Lost.

His other acting credits include 2009’sObserve and Reportas well as the 2008Ashton Kutcher-Cameron Diazromantic comedyWhat Happens in Vegas.

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Best’sObserve and ReportcostarSeth Rogentook to Twitter on Sunday afternoon to pay homage to the fallen star, writing, “RIP Ben Best. I remember seeing him as Chuck The Truck in Foot Fist Way and thinking ‘I have to work with this man.’ "

He added, “I’m honored I got work with him, and even more so and that I got to hang out with him and just be in his company. Watch Foot Fist Way today and bask in his genius.”

source: people.com