Fairfax columnist Sam de Brito found dead in North Bondi home

Popular columnist and author Sam de Brito has been found dead in a North Bondi home on Monday morning.

Police are not treating his death as suspicious or a suicide, according to Fairfax.

"The family and friends of the writer and journalist Sam de Brito have been devastated by his sudden death this morning," his family said in a statement.

"Sam, 46, has revelled in parenthood and was a wonderful and devoted father to his young daughter, Anoushka.

"He will also be remembered as a loving son, brother, nephew, uncle, cousin and friend, as well as a distinguished columnist and author.

"His family asks for privacy at this time as they grieve for the loss of Sam and await the results of a coroner's report."

The 46-year-old father-of-one, one of the Sydney Morning Herald's most respected columnists, worked as a writer for more than 20 years.

He penned five books, including No Tattoos Before You're Thirty, Hello Darkness and The Lost Boys and started his column All Men Are Liars in 2006. His last column was published just yesterday.

In 2007, de Brito told Cream magazine that he was attracted to dark characters and dysfunctional scenes.

“That’s what I enjoy reading, and it’s what I enjoy writing," he said.

"Maybe it’s because I’ve had my fair share of dysfunction in my life ... Really, I just write about whatever is consuming me or concerning me.”

After the birth of his child, life changed for de Brito.

“I’m a single father now; I’ve got a little girl; and the last thing on my mind are f***in’ drugs.

“I go and probably drink too much at times, but I find it counterproductive to my creativity.”

He wrote, directed and starred in the 1998 comedy film Revenge, Inc. His other writing credits include episodes for TV shows Water Rats and Stingers.

Morning news break – October 12