Andrew Breitbart Dies After Collapsing Near Westwood Home

Andrew Breitbart, a prominent political blogger and journalist who founded several websites, died unexpectedly after collapsing near his Westwood home just after midnight Thursday. He was 43.

Breitbart's father-in-law told the Associated Press that someone called 911 after they saw Breitbart collapse. He was taken to UCLA Medical Center but could not be revived. An announcement on his website BigJournalism.com says Breitbart died of natural causes.

A watch commander at the Los Angeles County coroner's office told the Associated Press the cause of death is unknown and an autopsy is likely.

Breitbart is well known in the media community for his work at the Drudge Report and in the early days of The Huffington Post. Matt Drudge, editor of Drudge Report, posted a personal statement on his website:

DEAR READER: In the first decade of the DRUDGEREPORT Andrew Breitbart was a constant source of energy, passion and commitment. We shared a love of headlines, a love of the news, an excitement about what's happening. I don't think there was a single day during that time when we did not flash each other or laugh with each other, or challenge each other. I still see him in my mind's eye in Venice Beach, the sunny day I met him. He was in his mid 20's. It was all there. He had a wonderful, loving family and we all feel great sadness for them today.

Arianna Huffington, editor of The Huffington Post Media Group, also responded to Breitbart's death:

I was asked many times this morning for my thoughts on what Andrew meant to the political world, but all I can think of at the moment is what Andrew meant to me as a friend, starting from when we worked together -- his passion, his exuberance, his fearlessness. And above all, what I'm thinking of at the moment is his amazing wife Susie and their four beautiful young children. My love and thoughts are with them right now.

The Huffington Post compiled a list of tweets about Breitbart's death from prominent politicians and journalists. Click here to see it.

Westwood-Century City Patch is following this story and will update it with more developments. If you have memories of Andrew Breitbart that you'd like to share, please post them in the comments below. You can also email them to saraf@patch.com.