Conservative firebrand Andrew Breitbart died last night at the age of 43. The shocking news was announced on his Big Government website.

Andrew passed away unexpectedly from natural causes shortly after midnight this morning in Los Angeles.

We have lost a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a dear friend, a patriot and a happy warrior.

Andrew lived boldly, so that we more timid souls would dare to live freely and fully, and fight for the fragile liberty he showed us how to love.

This is a stunning and terrible loss. What a sad day.

Here’s his speech from CPAC last month – Andrew Breitbart at his finest.

Update: There’s an outpouring of hate from the left in the comments over at the Washington Post. Why am I not surprised?

Update 2: The Washington Examiner captured some of the left’s celebratory comments from twitter.

NBC San Diego has more details regarding Breitbart’s death.

Breitbart was walking near his home in Brentwood, Calif just after midnight Thursday when he collapsed according to his father-in-law Orson Bean. Someone saw Breitbart fall and called 911. Emergency crews tried to revive him and rushed him to the emergency room at UCLA Medical Center, Bean said.

He is survived by his wife Susannah Bean Breitbart, 41, and four children.

My heart and prayers go out to his family.

Now I’ll get back to work, as Peter Ingemi noted, he wouldn’t want us sitting around crying all day.

On the left there are plenty of people celebrating … but the line from Spartacus was never more true than today: He’ll be back and he’ll be millions.

I know because I’m one of those millions, and if you are a blogger or radio host on the right who have gotten involved in the last few years, so are you.

Update 3: Final thought from Stacy McCain.

“… our own sense of loss of our friend and ally — a powerful and innovative force conservative New Media — is inconsequential compared to the fathomless pain experienced by Andrew’s wife and four children, who should be in our prayers.”

Indeed. Also, keep Stacy’s family in your prayers as they deal with a medical emergency.

Update: Linked by Da TechGuy, who posted some great video and pictures of Breitbart.

Update: Linked by Republican Redefined and Poh Diaries.

Update: Nice Deb has a compilation of some of Breitbart’s memorable moments, and Dan Collins explains his side of the story in the rift with Glen Beck. Also be sure to see Dan Riehl’s post about the side of the man most of the public didn’t see.

Update: Linked by Katy Pundit. There’s also a huge memeorandum thread.