Patton Oswalt’s wife Michelle McNamara dies suddenly at 46

MICHELLE McNamara, a crime writer and wife of comedian and actor Patton Oswalt, has died suddenly at her home in Los Angeles.

FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2012 file photo, Patton Oswalt, left, and his wife Michelle Eileen McNamara arrive at the 17th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards in Los Angeles. McNamara, a crime writer and wife of comedian and actor Patton Oswalt, has died, according to a publicist for Oswalt. She was 46. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)

MICHELLE McNamara, a crime writer and wife of comedian and actor Patton Oswalt, has died at her home in Los Angeles, according to Oswalt’s publicist. McNamara was 46.

Kevin McLaughlin of Main Stage Public Relations said Friday that McNamara died in her sleep Thursday. No cause was given but McLaughlin said her passing “was a complete shock to her family and friends, who loved her dearly.”

Famous face ... Patton Oswalt, Jon Cryer and Ashton Kutcher in Two and a Half Men. Picture: CBS

McNamara graduated from the University of Notre Dame and received a master’s degree in creative writing from the University of Minnesota. She founded the website True Crime Diary, which covers both breaking stories and cold cases.

In a 2007 online interview, McNamara said she started the blog almost as a lark. “I wanted to get more involved in the cases that were fuelling my own curiosity,” she said.

She didn’t focus on the big celebrity murder case but ones that were smaller and out of the public eye. She wrote about the Golden State Killer and the 1976 murder of nurse Melanie Howell.

In love ... Patton Oswalt and Michelle McNamara. Picture: Splash

“It’s the ones that really don’t get that much attention that interest me because I think what’s interesting about them is there’s more stuff to be unearthed that hasn’t been in the public yet and you can do it.”

Oswalt is a comedian whose TV credits include Veep, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and The King of Queens and films including Magnolia, Starsky & Hutch and Ratatouille.

McNamara and Oswalt married in 2005.

Besides her husband, McNamara is survived by a 7-year-old daughter, Alice.

I didn't know Michelle McNamara, but @pattonoswalt's stand-up made me feel like I did. Devestating. Love to him and his family.

— Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) April 23, 2016

Breaks my heart to hear the news about Michelle McNamara. Love to you and Alice @pattonoswalt

— Olivia Munn (@oliviamunn) April 23, 2016

One of my favorite dinners was with @pattonoswalt and Michelle. I felt greedy, I couldn't get enough of her stories. All my love to you

— Kristen Schaal (@kristenschaaled) April 23, 2016

@pattonoswalt You and your family are in my thought & prayers. Im so so sorry.

— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) April 23, 2016

My heart is heavy for you @pattonoswalt I can't.

— christina applegate (@1capplegate) April 23, 2016

Awful news. Thoughts with wonderful @pattonoswalt and their family https://t.co/oHJqZc96Al

— mia farrow (@MiaFarrow) April 23, 2016