Photographer Glen E. Friedman reported today on his Idealist blog that Paul Cullen, aka "Baby Paul" – the youngest member of the 1970s era Z-Boys team and the Dogtown skate scene that Friedman's photos helped make legendary – died this week, reportedly of a heroin overdose.

Friedman remembers him as he was back in the day, writing,

"He was several years younger than me. He was like a mascot for the original Zephyr team, he was a shredder, the original mini-shredder (before Bella Horvath, before Eric Dressen, before "Mini-Shred"). Photogenic, energetic, and a pure menace to society (I say that in the most admiring way)"

Sadly, Friedman also notes that Cullen struggled with addiction throughout his life. He apparently died of a heroin overdose on Sunday night, and leaves behind a young daughter, Brianne, and a long legacy as one of the pionners who helped define skateboarding for several generations.

Photos above by Glen E. Friedman, via idealistpropaganda.blogspot.com and available in his book with C.R. Stecyk III, Dogtown: The Legend of the Z-Boys