Template:Short description Template:Use Canadian English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person
Philip Edward Hartman (Template:Né; September 24, 1948 – May 28, 1998) was a Canadian-American comedian, actor, screenwriter and graphic designer. Hartman was born in Brantford, Ontario, and his family moved to the United States when he was ten years old. After graduating from California State University, Northridge, with a degree in graphic arts, he designed album covers for bands including Poco and America. In 1975, Hartman joined the comedy group the Groundlings, where he helped Paul Reubens develop his character Pee-wee Herman. Hartman co-wrote the film Pee-wee's Big Adventure and made recurring appearances as Captain Carl on Reubens' show Pee-wee's Playhouse.
In 1986, Hartman joined the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL) as a cast member and stayed for eight seasons. Nicknamed "Glue" for his ability to hold the show together and help other cast members, he won a Primetime Emmy Award for his SNL work in 1989. After leaving SNL in 1994, Hartman starred as Bill McNeal in the sitcom NewsRadio. He also voiced Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure on The Simpsons, and appeared in the films Houseguest (1995), Sgt. Bilko (1996), Jingle All the Way (1996), and Small Soldiers (1998).
After two divorces, Hartman married Brynn Omdahl in 1987, with whom he had two children. Their marriage was troubled due to Phil's busy work schedule and Brynn's substance abuse and domestic violence. In 1998, while Phil was sleeping in his bed, Brynn shot and killed him, and later killed herself. In the weeks following his murder, Hartman was celebrated in a wave of tributes. Dan Snierson of Entertainment Weekly wrote that Hartman was "the last person you'd expect to read about in lurid headlines in your morning paper ... a decidedly regular guy, beloved by everyone he worked with".<ref name="ew"/> He was posthumously inducted into the Canada and Hollywood Walks of Fame in 2012 and 2014, respectively.
Early lifeEdit
Phil Hartman was born Philip Edward Hartmann (later dropping one "n")<ref name="cbs profile"/> on September 24, 1948, in Brantford, Ontario.<ref name="bookof"/><ref name="atlanta">Template:Cite news</ref> He was the fourth of eight children of Doris Marguerite (née Wardell; July 17, 1919 – April 15, 2001) and Rupert Loebig Hartmann (November 8, 1914 – April 30, 1998),<ref>U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935–2014</ref> who sold building materials.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The family was Catholic.<ref name="bookof"/><ref name="surface">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="bh"/> As a child, Hartman found affection hard to earn: "I suppose I didn't get what I wanted out of my family life, so I started seeking love and attention elsewhere."<ref name="cbs profile"/>
Hartman was 10 years old when his family moved to the United States.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They first lived in Lewiston, Maine, then Meriden, Connecticut, and then on the West Coast, where he attended Westchester High School and frequently acted as the class clown.Template:Efn After graduating, he studied art at Santa Monica City College, dropping out in 1969 to become a roadie with a rock band.<ref name="cbs profile"/> He returned to school in 1972 to study graphic arts at California State University, Northridge. He developed and operated his own graphic art business, creating more than 40 album covers for bands including Poco and America, as well as advertising and the logo for Crosby, Stills & Nash.Template:Efn In the late 1970s, he made his first television appearance on an episode of The Dating Game, where he won.
CareerEdit
The Groundlings and Pee-Wee Herman (1975–1985)Edit
Working alone as a graphic artist, Hartman frequently amused himself with "flights of voice fantasies".<ref name="jerk"/> In 1975, seeking a more social outlet for his talents, he began attending evening comedy classes by the California-based improvisational comedy group The Groundlings.<ref name="atlanta"/><ref name="bh"/><ref name=van/> While watching one of their performances, he impulsively decided to climb on stage and join the cast.<ref name="bookof"/><ref name="jerk"/><ref name="leavesnl"/> His first onscreen appearance was in 1978's Stunt Rock, an Australian film directed in Los Angeles by Brian Trenchard-Smith.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} A young Phil Hartman cameos, part of a larger group of Groundlings cadets that filled in as extras</ref> After several years of training, paying his way by redesigning the group's logo and merchandise, Hartman formally joined The Groundlings and by 1979 was one of the show's stars.<ref name=van/>
There Hartman befriended Paul Reubens, with whom he often collaborated on comedic material. Together they created the character Pee-wee Herman and developed The Pee-wee Herman Show, a live stage show that subsequently aired on HBO in 1981.<ref name="jerk"/> Hartman played Captain Carl in the show, and reprised the role for the children's TV show Pee-wee's Playhouse.<ref name="jerk"/> Reubens and Hartman made cameos in the 1980 film Cheech and Chong's Next Movie.<ref name="bh">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Hartman co-wrote the script of the 1985 feature film Pee-wee's Big Adventure and had a cameo role as a reporter.<ref name="ew"/><ref name="atlanta"/> He had considered quitting acting at the age of 36 due to the challenges of finding work; but the success of Pee-wee's Big Adventure changed his mind.<ref name="hamilton">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="newfaces">Template:Cite news</ref> After a creative disagreement with Reubens, he left the Pee-Wee Herman project to pursue other roles.<ref name="jerk">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="bottle"/><ref name=nice/>
Hartman took more small roles in 1986 films such as Jumpin' Jack Flash and Three Amigos. He also worked as a voice actor in animated television programs, including The Smurfs, Challenge of the GoBots, The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo, and in Dennis the Menace as Henry Mitchell and George Wilson and most of the adult male characters. After season 1, Hartman (who by this point had joined the cast of Saturday Night Live) was replaced by Maurice LaMarche.<ref name="cbs profile"/> He developed a strong persona providing voice-overs for advertisements.<ref name="leavesnl"/>
Saturday Night Live (1986–1994)Edit
Hartman successfully auditioned to join NBC's variety show Saturday Night Live (SNL) in its 12th season, which began on October 11, 1986.<ref name="ew"/> He had been recommended for the show by fellow Groundlings and SNL cast members Jon Lovitz<ref name="NYTimes">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Laraine Newman, as well as Jumpin' Jack Flash director Penny Marshall.<ref name="EWMerry">Template:Cite magazine</ref> He told the Los Angeles Times, "I wanted to do [SNL] because I wanted to get the exposure that would give me box-office credibility so I can write movies for myself."<ref name="newfaces"/> In his eight seasons with the show Hartman became known for his impressions, and performed as over 70 different characters. Hartman's original SNL characters include Eugene, the Anal Retentive Chef and Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer.<ref name="cbs profile"/> His impressions include Frank Sinatra, Ronald Reagan, Ed McMahon, Barbara Bush, Charlton Heston, Kelsey Grammer, Michael Caine, Oliver Stone, Phil Donahue, Telly Savalas, Barry Humphries, Kirk Douglas and Bill ClintonTemplate:Mdashthe latter considered his best-known impression.<ref name="ew"/><ref name="cad"/>
Hartman first performed his Clinton impression on an episode of The Tonight Show.<ref name="dallas"/> When he met Clinton in 1993, Hartman remarked, "I guess I owe you a few apologies",<ref name="dallas"/> adding later that he "sometimes [felt] a twinge of guilt about [his Clinton impression]".<ref name="cad"/> Clinton showed good humor and sent Hartman a signed photo with the text: "You're not the president, but you play one on TV. And you're OK, mostly."Template:Efn<ref name="cad"/> Hartman copied the president's "post-nasal drip" and the "slight scratchiness" in his voice, as well as his open, "less intimidating" hand gestures. Hartman opted against wearing a larger prosthetic nose when portraying Clinton, as he thought it would be distracting. He instead wore a wig, dyed his eyebrows brighter, and used makeup to highlight his nose.<ref name=van/> In one of Hartman's sketches as Clinton, the president-elect visits a McDonald's restaurant and explains his economic policies and support for Operation Restore Hope, the military intervention in Somalia, by the metaphor of eating other customers' food.<ref name="dallas"/>
At SNL, Hartman's nickname of "Glue" was coined by Adam Sandler according to Jay Mohr's book Gasping for Airtime.<ref name="van">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> However, according to You Might Remember Me: The Life and Times of Phil Hartman by Mike Thomas, author and staff writer for the Chicago Sun-Times, the nickname was created by SNL cast member and Hartman's frequent on-screen collaborator Jan Hooks.Template:Sfn Hartman was very helpful to other cast members. For example, he aided Hooks in overcoming her stage fright.<ref name=hooks/> SNL creator Lorne Michaels explained the name: "He kind of held the show together. He gave to everybody and demanded very little. He was very low-maintenance."<ref name="surface"/> Michaels added that Hartman was "the least appreciated" cast member by commentators outside the show, and praised his ability "to do five or six parts in a show where you're playing support or you're doing remarkable character work".<ref name="cbs profile"/> Hartman won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program for SNL in 1989, sharing the award with the show's other writers. He was nominated in the same category in 1987, and individually in 1994 for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program.<ref name="Emmys"/>
By 1993, almost every cast member who was there during Hartman's first year on SNL had left the show, including Jon Lovitz, Jan Hooks and Dana Carvey. Hartman said he felt "like an athlete who's watched all his World Series teammates get traded off into other directions ... It was hard to watch them leave because I sort of felt we were all part of the team that saved the show."<ref name="leavesnl"/> This cast turnover contributed to his leaving the show in 1994.<ref name="cad"/> Hartman said he thought it was time to leave because the show was "getting less sophisticated" and his style of humor did not fit with the less intellectual comedy of newer cast members like Adam Sandler.<ref name="EWMerry" /> Hartman had originally planned to leave the show in 1991, but Michaels persuaded him to stay to raise his profile; his portrayal of Clinton contributed to this goal.<ref name="leavesnl">Template:Cite news</ref> Jay Leno offered him the role of his sidekick on The Tonight Show but Hartman opted to stay on SNL.<ref name="king2">Template:Cite interview</ref><ref name="adman">Template:Cite news</ref> NBC persuaded him to stay on SNL by promising him his own comedy–variety show The Phil Show.<ref name="cad"/> He planned to "reinvent the variety form" with "a hybrid, very fast-paced, high energy [show] with sketches, impersonations, pet acts, and performers showcasing their talents". Hartman was to be the show's executive producer and head writer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Before production began, however, the network decided that variety shows were too unpopular and canceled the series. In a 1996 interview, Hartman noted he was glad, as he "would've been sweatin' blood each week trying to make it work".<ref name="cad">Template:Cite news</ref> In 1998, he admitted he missed working on SNL, but had enjoyed the move from New York City to Southern California.<ref name="bottle"/>
NewsRadio (1995–1998)Edit
Hartman became one of the stars of the NBC sitcom NewsRadio in 1995, portraying radio news anchor Bill McNeal. He signed up after being attracted by the show's writing and use of an ensemble cast,<ref name=van/><ref name="newsradiocancel"/> and joked that he based McNeal on himself with "any ethics and character" removed.<ref name="bottle"/> Hartman made roughly Template:US$ per episode of NewsRadio.<ref name="surface"/> Although the show was critically acclaimed, it was never a ratings hit and cancellation was a regular threat. After the completion of the fourth season, Hartman commented, "We seem to have limited appeal. We're on the edge here, not sure we're going to be picked up or not", but added he was "99 percent sure" the series would be renewed for a fifth season.<ref name="newsradiocancel">Template:Cite news</ref> Hartman had publicly lambasted NBC's decision to repeatedly move NewsRadio into different timeslots, but later regretted his comments, saying, "this is a sitcom, for crying out loud, not brain surgery".<ref name="bottle"/> He also stated that if the sitcom were cancelled "it just will open up other opportunities for me".<ref name="newsradiocancel"/> Although the show was renewed for a fifth season, Hartman was killed before production began.<ref name="finalep"/> Ken Tucker praised Hartman's performance as McNeal: "A lesser performer ... would have played him as a variation on The Mary Tyler Moore ShowTemplate:'s Ted Baxter, because that's what Bill was, on paper. But Hartman gave infinite variety to Bill's self-centeredness, turning him devious, cowardly, squeamish, and foolishly bold from week to week."<ref name="kentucker">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Hartman was posthumously nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1998 for his work on NewsRadio. David Hyde Pierce won the award for his performance on Frasier.<ref name="Emmys">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The Simpsons (1991–1998)Edit
Hartman provided the voices for numerous characters on the Fox animated series The Simpsons, appearing in 52 episodes.<ref name="ew"/> He made his first appearance in the second season episode "Bart Gets Hit by a Car". Although he was originally brought in for a one-time appearance, Hartman enjoyed working on The Simpsons and the staff wrote additional parts for him. He voiced the recurring characters Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure, as well as several background characters.<ref>Groening, Matt; Brooks, James L.; Jean, Al; Cartwright, Nancy. (2003). Commentary for "Bart the Murderer", in The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> His favorite part was that of McClure,<ref name=nice/> and he often used this voice to entertain the audience between takes while taping episodes of NewsRadio. He remarked, "My favorite fans are Troy McClure fans."<ref name="bottle">Template:Cite news</ref> He added "It's the one thing that I do in my life that's almost an avocation. I do it for the pure love of it."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Hartman was popular among the staff of The Simpsons. Showrunners Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein said they enjoyed his work, and used him as much as possible when working on the show. To give Hartman a larger role, they developed the episode "A Fish Called Selma", which focuses on Troy McClure and expands the character's backstory.<ref name="fcs">Weinstein, Josh; Oakley, Bill; Silverman, David; Goldblum, Jeff. (2006). Commentary for "A Fish Called Selma", in The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox</ref> The Simpsons creator Matt Groening said that he "took [Hartman] for granted because he nailed the joke every time",<ref name="ew"/> and that his voice acting could produce "the maximum amount of humor" with any line he was given.<ref name="inter"/> Before his death, Hartman had expressed an interest in making a live action film about Troy McClure. Many of The Simpsons production staff expressed enthusiasm for the project and offered to help.<ref>Oakley, Bill. (2006). Commentary for "Homerpalooza", in The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox</ref> Hartman said he was "looking forward to [McClure's] live-action movie, publicizing his Betty Ford appearances",<ref name="jerk"/> and "would love nothing more" than making a film and was prepared to buy the film rights himself in order to make it happen.<ref name=nice/>
Other workEdit
Hartman's first starring film role came in 1995's Houseguest, alongside Sinbad.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Other films include Greedy, Coneheads, Sgt. Bilko, So I Married an Axe Murderer, CB4, Jingle All the Way, the English Disney/GKIDS dub of Kiki's Delivery Service, and Small Soldiers, the latter of which is his final theatrically released film.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At the same time, he preferred working on television.<ref name="leavesnl"/> His other television roles include appearances on episodes of The John Larroquette Show, The Dana Carvey Show, 3rd Rock from the Sun,<ref name="ew"/> and the HBO TV film The Second Civil War as the President of the United States.<ref name="dallas"/> He made a considerable amount of money from television advertising,<ref name="king2"/> earning $300,000 for a series of four commercials for the soft drink Slice.<ref name="adman"/> He also appeared in advertisements for McDonald's (as Hugh McAttack) and 1-800-Collect (as Max Jerome),<ref name="salon">Template:Cite news</ref> as well as British advertisements for Golden Wonder's Pot Noodle, including Computer Graphic.<ref name="York">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Hartman wrote a number of screenplays that were never produced.<ref name="king2"/> In 1986, he began writing a screenplay for a film titled Mr. Fix-It,<ref name="newfaces"/> and completed the final draft in 1991. Robert Zemeckis was signed to produce the film, with Gil Bettman hired to direct. Hartman called it "a sort of a merger of horror and comedy, like Beetlejuice and Throw Momma From the Train", adding, "It's an American nightmare about a family torn asunder. They live next to a toxic dump site, their water supply is poisoned, the mother and son go insane and try to murder each other, the father's face is torn off in a terrible disfiguring accident in the first act. It's heavy stuff, but it's got a good message and a positive, upbeat ending." Zemeckis could not secure studio backing, however, and the project collapsed.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Another film idea involving Hartman's Groundlings character Chick Hazard, Private Eye was also canceled.<ref name="newfaces"/>
StyleEdit
In contrast to his real-life personality, which was described as "a regular guy and, by all accounts, one of show business's most low-key, decent people",<ref name=intel>Template:Cite news</ref> Hartman often played seedy, vain or unpleasant characters as well as comedic villains.<ref name="nice">Template:Cite news</ref> He described his standard character repertoire as the "jerky guy" and "the weasel parade",<ref name="jerk"/> citing Lionel Hutz, Bill McNeal, Troy McClure, and Ted Maltin from Jingle All the Way as examples.<ref name=nice/> Hartman enjoyed playing such roles because he "just want[ed] to be funny, and villains tend to be funny because their foibles are all there to see".<ref name=nice/>
He often played supporting roles, rather than the lead part. He said: "[T]hroughout my career, I've never been a huge star, but I've made steady progress and that's the way I like it"<ref name="cad"/> and "It's fun coming in as the second or third lead. If the movie or TV show bombs, you aren't to blame."<ref name="jerk"/> Hartman was considered a "utility player" on SNL with a "kind of Everyman quality" which enabled him to appear in the majority of sketches, often in very distinct roles.<ref name=van/> Jan Hooks stated of his work on SNL: "Phil never had an ounce of competition. He was a team player. It was a privilege for him, I believe, to play support and do it very well. He was never insulted, no matter how small the role may have been."<ref name=hooks/> He was disciplined in his performances, studying the scripts beforehand. Hooks added: "Phil knew how to listen. And he knew how to look you in the eye, and he knew the power of being able to lay back and let somebody else be funny, and then do the reactions. I think Phil was more of an actor than a comedian."<ref name=hooks/> Film critic Pauline Kael declared that "Phil Hartman and Jan Hooks on Saturday Night Live are two of the best comic actors I've ever seen."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Writer and acting coach Paul Ryan noted Hartman's work ethic with his impressions. He assembled a collection of video footage of the figure he was preparing to impersonate and watched this continually until he "completely embodied the person". Ryan concluded that "what made [Hartman's impressions] so funny and spot on was Phil's ability to add that perfect touch that only comes from trial and error and practicing in front of audiences and fellow actors."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Hartman described this process as "technical".<ref name=van/> Journalist Lyle V. Harris said Hartman showed a "rare talent for morphing into... anybody he wanted to be".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Ken Tucker summarized Hartman's comedic style: "He could momentarily fool audiences into thinking he was the straight man, but then he'd cock an eyebrow and give his voice an ironic lilt that delivered a punchline like a fast slider—you barely saw it coming until you started laughing."<ref name="kentucker"/> Hartman claimed that he borrowed his style from actor Bill Murray: "He's been a great influence on me – when he did that smarmy thing in Ghostbusters, then the same sort of thing in Groundhog Day. I tried to imitate it. I couldn't. I wasn't good enough. But I discovered an element of something else, so in a sick kind of way I made myself a career by doing a bad imitation of another comic."<ref name="jerk"/>
Personal lifeEdit
Hartman married Gretchen Lewis in 1970 and they divorced in September 1972.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He married real estate agent Lisa Strain in 1982, and their marriage lasted three years. Strain told People magazine that Hartman was reclusive off screen and "would disappear emotionally ... he'd be in his own world. That passivity made you crazy."<ref name="surface" /> In 1987, Hartman married former model and aspiring actress Brynn Omdahl (born Vicki Jo Omdahl, April 11, 1958 – May 28, 1998), having met her on a blind date the previous year.<ref name="bookof" /><ref name="surface" /> They had two children, Sean and Birgen Hartman. The marriage had difficulties; she was reportedly intimidated by his success and was frustrated that she could not find any on her own, although neither party wanted a divorce. She was reported to have been jealous and often verbally or physically abusive, even sending a letter to his ex-wife, threatening to "rip [Strain's] eyes out" if she spoke to him again.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Hartman considered retiring to save the marriage.<ref name="surface" />
Hartman tried to get Brynn acting roles, but she became progressively reliant on alcohol and narcotics, entering rehab several times. On multiple occasions, he removed their children from the household to stay with friends or family because of her drug- and alcohol-fueled outbursts.<ref name="bookof" /> Because of his close friendship with SNL associate Jan Hooks, Brynn "joked" on occasion Hooks and Hartman were married "on some other level".<ref name="hooks">Template:Cite news</ref> Brynn had written threatening letters addressed to Hooks, warning her to not get close to her husband, but they appeared to have never even been sent, being discovered in her belongings following her death.
Stephen Root, Hartman's NewsRadio co-star, said few people knew "the real Phil Hartman", as he was "one of those people who never seemed to come out of character", but he nevertheless gave the impression of a family man who cared deeply for his children.<ref name=must>Template:Cite book</ref> Hartman befriended Joe Rogan during his time on NewsRadio and confided his marital problems to him. Rogan said that he encouraged Hartman to divorce Brynn five times, but "[Hartman] loved his kids and didn't want to leave".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Hartman stated in 1997 that, though a non-practicing Catholic, he displayed a sense of religiousness.<ref name="Rember">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In his spare time, he enjoyed driving, flying, sailing, marksmanship, and playing the guitar.<ref name="ew" /><ref name="bookof" />
MurderEdit
On May 27, 1998, Hartman's wife, Brynn, visited the Italian restaurant Buca di Beppo in Encino, California, with producer and writer Christine Zander, who said she was "in a good frame of mind"; they had drinks. After returning home, Brynn had a "heated" argument with Hartman, after which he went to bed.<ref name="surface"/> She entered his bedroom some time before Template:Nowrap PDT on May 28, 1998, and, as he slept, she fatally shot him once between the eyes, once in the throat and once in the upper chest with a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson Model 15 revolver.<ref name="surface"/> Hartman was 49 years old. Brynn was taking Zoloft, had been drinking alcohol, and had recently used cocaine.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Brynn then drove to the home of her friend Ron Douglas and confessed to the killing but he did not believe her. They drove back to the house in separate cars and she called another friend and confessed a second time.<ref name="surface"/><ref name="cnn">Template:Cite news</ref> Upon seeing Hartman's body, Douglas called 9-1-1 at Template:Nowrap The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) arrived and escorted Douglas and the Hartmans' two children from the premises, by which time Brynn had locked herself in the bedroom. Shortly afterward, she shot and killed herself with a .38-caliber Charter Arms Undercover revolver.<ref name="surface"/><ref name= "death">Template:Cite news</ref>
The LAPD stated Hartman's death was caused by "domestic discord" between the couple.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A neighbor of the Hartmans told a CNN reporter that the couple had marital problems. Yet actor Steve Guttenberg said they had been "a very happy couple and they always had the appearance of being well-balanced".<ref name="death"/>
Brynn's brother, Gregory Omdahl, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in 1999 against both Pfizer, the manufacturer of Zoloft, and his sister's psychiatrist, Arthur Sorosky, who had provided samples of the antidepressant to Brynn.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Pfizer later settled the lawsuit without an admission of any wrongdoing.<ref name="abc_2019">Template:Cite news</ref> Hartman's friend and former SNL colleague Jon Lovitz has accused Hartman's NewsRadio co-star Andy Dick of reintroducing Brynn to cocaine, causing her to relapse and suffer a nervous breakdown. Dick claimed to have known nothing of her condition.<ref name=dick/> Lovitz later said he no longer blamed Dick for Hartman's murder but in 2006, Lovitz claimed Dick had approached him at a restaurant and said, "I put the Phil Hartman hex on you. You're the next one to die." Lovitz then had him ejected from the restaurant.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="king"/> The following year at the Laugh Factory comedy club in Los Angeles, Lovitz and Dick had another argument with Lovitz slamming Dick's head into the bar.<ref name="king">Template:Cite interview</ref> Dick asserted he was not at fault in relation to Hartman's death.<ref name=dick>Template:Cite interview</ref>
Brynn's sister Katharine Omdahl and brother-in-law Mike Wright raised the two Hartman children.<ref name="cnn"/> Hartman's will stipulated each child would inherit money over several years after turning 25. The total value of Hartman's estate was estimated at Template:Nowrap.<ref name="cnn"/> In accordance with their wishes, both Hartman's and Brynn's bodies were cremated by Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuary, Glendale, California, and their ashes were scattered over Santa Catalina Island's Emerald Bay. A cenotaph with Hartman's and Brynn's names was installed at a cemetery in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, where Brynn was born.<ref name="cnn"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Response and legacyEdit
NBC executive Don Ohlmeyer stated that Hartman "was blessed with a tremendous gift for creating characters who made people laugh. Everyone who had the pleasure of working with Phil knows that he was a man of tremendous warmth, a true professional and a loyal friend."<ref name="death"/> Guttenberg expressed shock at Hartman's death and Steve Martin said he was "a deeply funny and very happy person".<ref name="death"/> Matt Groening called him "a master"<ref name="ew"/> and director Joe Dante said "He was one of those guys who was a dream to work with. I don't know anybody who didn't like him."<ref name=intel/> Dan Snierson of Entertainment Weekly concluded that Hartman was "the last person you'd expect to read about in lurid headlines in your morning paper" and "a decidedly regular guy, beloved by everyone he worked with".<ref name="ew"/> In 2007, Entertainment Weekly ranked Hartman the 87th greatest television icon of all time,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and Maxim named him the top Saturday Night Live performer of all time.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On the day of Hartman's death, rehearsals for The Simpsons and that night's performance by The Groundlings were canceled.<ref name="ew"/> The season five premiere episode of NewsRadio, "Bill Moves On" (aired September 23, the day before what would have been his 50th birthday) finds Hartman's character, Bill McNeal, has died of a heart attack, while the other characters reminisce about his life. Lovitz joined the show in his place beginning with the next episode.<ref name="finalep"/> An episode that ended a season of 3rd Rock from the Sun, where Hartman played a flamboyant recurring character who ends up kidnapping Harry was scrapped due it being a cliffhanger that would have been resolved in the subsequent season premiere, as well as to show respect for Hartman's death. A special episode of Saturday Night Live commemorating Hartman's work on the show aired on June 13, 1998, which ended with one of Hartman's performances showing a widow reflecting on her deceased husband played by Hartman.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Rather than substituting another voice actor, the writers of The Simpsons retired Hartman's characters.<ref name="inter">Template:Cite interview</ref> His final appearance in the tenth season episode "Bart the Mother" is dedicated to him.<ref name="finalep">Template:Cite news</ref> Small Soldiers was dedicated to Hartman, being his final film to be released in movie theatres.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Hartman was preparing to voice Zapp Brannigan, a character written specifically for him on Groening's second animated series Futurama, at the time of his death.<ref name="west"/> Even though the role was specifically made for him, Hartman still insisted on trying out for the role. About a week before his death, he auditioned for Groening and Futurama executive producer David X. Cohen. Groening wrote that Hartman "blew us away with his performances".<ref name="simpsons comics">Template:Cite comic</ref> After Hartman's death, Billy West took over the role.<ref name="west"/> Though Cohen credits West with using his own take on the character,<ref>David X. Cohen; Matt Groening (2002). Commentary for "Love's Labors Lost in Space", in Futurama: Season 1 [DVD]. 20th Century Fox</ref> West later said that he purposely tweaked Zapp's voice to better match Hartman's intended portrayal.<ref name="west">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Hartman was planning to appear with Lovitz in the indie film The Day of Swine and Roses, scheduled to begin production in August 1998.<ref name="ew"/>
In 2002, Laugh.com and Hartman's brother John published the album Flat TV, a selection of comedy sketches recorded by Hartman in the 1970s, which had been kept in storage. John Hartman commented: "I'm putting this out there because I'm dedicating my life to fulfilling his dreams. This [album] is my brother doing what he loved."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Flat TV was optioned for an animated adaptation by Michael "Ffish" Hemschoot's animation company Worker Studio in 2013.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The deal came about after Michael T. Scott, a partner in the company, posted online a handwritten letter he had received from Hartman in 1997, leading to a correspondence between Scott and Paul Hartmann.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
A campaign was started on Facebook by Alex Stevens in 2007, and endorsed by Hartman's brother Paul, to have Phil inducted to Canada's Walk of Fame.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> Among the campaign's numerous publicity events, Ben Miner of the Sirius XM Radio channel Laugh Attack dedicated the month of April 2012 to Hartman. The campaign ended in success and Hartman was inducted on September 22, 2012, to the Walk of Fame, with Paul accepting the award on his late brother's behalf. Hartman was also awarded the Cineplex Legends Award.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> In June 2013, it was announced that Hartman would receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which was unveiled on August 26, 2014.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Additionally, a special prize at the Canadian Comedy Awards was named for Hartman. Beginning with the 13th Canadian Comedy Awards in 2012, the Phil Hartman Award was awarded to "an individual who helps to better the Canadian comedy community".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2015, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Hartman as one of the ten greatest Saturday Night Live cast members throughout the show's forty-year history, coming in seventh on its list of all 141 members.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
FilmographyEdit
FilmEdit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Stunt RockTemplate:Sfn | Monique's Assistant | ||
| 1980 | The Gong Show MovieTemplate:Sfn | Man at airport with gun | Credited as Phil Hartmann | |
| Cheech & Chong's Next MovieTemplate:Sfn | Actor being filmed in the background | |||
| 1982 | Pandemonium<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Reporter | Credited as Phil Hartmann |
| 1984 | Weekend Pass<ref>Template:Citation</ref> | Joe Chicago | ||
| 1985 | Pee-wee's Big AdventureTemplate:Sfn | Reporter / Rodeo announcer | Also co-writer | |
| 1986 | Last ResortTemplate:Sfn | Jean-Michel | ||
| Jumpin' Jack FlashTemplate:Sfn | Fred | Credited as Phil E. Hartmann | ||
| Three Amigos!Template:Sfn | Sam | |||
| 1987 | Blind DateTemplate:Sfn | Ted Davis | ||
| The Brave Little ToasterTemplate:Sfn<ref name="btva">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref> |
Peter Lorre Hanging lamp (credited), Jack Nicholson air conditioner (uncredited) | Voice | |
| Amazon Women on the Moon<ref name=":0" /> | Baseball announcer | |||
| 1989 | Fletch LivesTemplate:Sfn | Bly manager | ||
| How I Got into College | Bennedict | |||
| 1990 | Quick Change | Hal Edison | ||
| 1993 | Loaded Weapon 1<ref name=":0" /> | Officer Davis | ||
| CB4Template:Sfn | Virgil Robinson | |||
| ConeheadsTemplate:Sfn | Marlax | |||
| So I Married an Axe MurdererTemplate:Sfn | John "Vicky" Johnson | |||
| 1994 | GreedyTemplate:Sfn | Frank McTeague | ||
| The Pagemaster<ref name="btva" /> | Tom Morgan | Voice | ||
| 1995 | The Crazysitter<ref name=":0" /> | The Salesman | ||
| HouseguestTemplate:Sfn | Gary Young | |||
| Stuart Saves His Family | Announcer | Uncredited | ||
| 1996 | Sgt. BilkoTemplate:Sfn | Major Colin Thorn | ||
| Jingle All the WayTemplate:Sfn | Ted Maltin | |||
| 1998 | Kiki's Delivery ServiceTemplate:Sfn<ref name="btva" /> | Jiji | Voice, Disney English dub; Posthumously released, dedicated in memory | |
| Small SoldiersTemplate:Sfn | Phil Fimple | Posthumously released, dedicated in memory | ||
| Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night<ref name=":0" /> | Chauncey | Voice, direct-to-video; Posthumously released (final film role) |
TelevisionEdit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-DooTemplate:Sfn | Additional voices | ||
| 1980 | The Six O'Clock Follies<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Unnamed role | |
| 1981 | The Pee-wee Herman ShowTemplate:Sfn | Captain Carl / Monsieur LeCroc | Television special; also writer | |
| The SmurfsTemplate:Sfn | Additional voices | |||
| 1982 | The Little Rascals | |||
| 1983 | The Pop 'N Rocker Game | Announcer | ||
| The DukesTemplate:Sfn | Various voices | 7 episodes | ||
| 1984 | Challenge of the GoBots<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
||
| The New Scooby Doo Mysteries | ||||
| Pink Panther and Sons | ||||
| Magnum, P.I.Template:Sfn | Newsreader | Episode: "The Legacy of Garwood Huddle" | ||
| 1985 | Sara | Drake | Episode: "27 Candles" | |
| The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-DooTemplate:Sfn | Additional voices | Episode: "It's a Wonderful Scoob" | ||
| The Jetsons<ref>Template:Citation</ref> | School Patrol robots / Executive Vice-president | Voice, episode: "Boy George" | ||
| 1986 | Dennis the MenaceTemplate:Sfn | Henry Mitchell / George Wilson / Various voices | ||
| Pee-wee's PlayhouseTemplate:Sfn | Captain Carl | 6 episodes | ||
| 1986–1994 | Saturday Night Live<ref name=":0" /> | Various characters | 155 episodes; also writer | |
| 1987 | DuckTalesTemplate:Sfn | Captain Frye | Voice, episode: "Scrooge's Pet" | |
| Foofur | Additional voices | |||
| 1988 | Fantastic Max | |||
| 1990 | Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventures | Episode: "One Sweet and Sour Chinese Adventure to Go" | ||
| On the Television | Various characters | Episode: "M. Superior" | ||
| TaleSpin<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Ace London | Voice, episode: "Mach One for the Gipper" | |
| The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda | Additional voices | |||
| Gravedale High | Billy Headstone | Voice, episode: "Cleo's Pen Pal" | ||
| Tiny Toon Adventures<ref name=":1" /><ref name="btva" /> | Octavius | Voice, episode: "Whale's Tales" | ||
| 1991 | Captain Planet and the Planeteers<ref name=":1" /> | Dimitri the Russian Ambassador / TV Reporter | Voice, episode: "Mind Pollution" | |
| Sesame Street | Employee of the ABC Moving Company | Episode: 2800 | ||
| Empty Nest<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Tim Cornell | Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" | |
| Darkwing Duck<ref name=":0" /> | Paddywhack | Voice, episode: "The Haunting of Mr. Banana Brain" | ||
| One Special Victory | Mike Rutten | Television film | ||
| 1991–1998 | The SimpsonsTemplate:Sfn | Troy McClure / Lionel Hutz / Various others | Voice, 52 episodes | |
| 1991–1993 | Tom & Jerry Kids<ref name=":0" /> | Calaboose Cal | Voice | |
| 1992 | Fish Police | Inspector C. Bass | Voice, episode: "A Fish Out of Water" | |
| Parker Lewis Can't Lose | Phil Diamond | Episode: "Lewis and Son" | ||
| Eek! The Cat<ref name=":1" /> | Monkeynaut #1 / Psycho Bunny | Voice, 2 episodes | ||
| 1993 | Daybreak | Man in abstinence commercial | Uncredited; Television film | |
| Droopy, Master Detective | Additional voices | |||
| Animaniacs<ref name=":1" /><ref name="btva" /> | Dan Anchorman | Voice, episode: "Broadcast Nuisance" | ||
| The Twelve Days of Christmas | Additional voices | Television film | ||
| The Larry Sanders Show<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Himself | Episode: "The Stalker" | |
| 1994 | How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Host | TV Short |
| The Critic<ref name=":0" /> | Various voices | Episode: "Eyes on the Prize" | ||
| 1995 | The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Various characters | Television special |
| The John Larroquette Show<ref name=":0" /> | Otto Friedling | Episode: "A Moveable Feast" | ||
| The Ren & Stimpy ShowTemplate:Sfn | American pig / Sid the Clown | Voice, 2 episodes: "Space Dogged", "Stimpy's Pet" | ||
| Night Stand with Dick Dietrick | Gunther Johann | Episode: "Illegal Alien Star Search" | ||
| 1995–1998 | NewsRadioTemplate:Sfn | Bill McNeal | 75 episodes | |
| 1996 | The Dana Carvey Show<ref name=":0" /> | Larry King | Episode: "The Mountain Dew Dana Carvey Show" | |
| Caroline in the City | Host | Uncredited; Episode: "Caroline and the Letter" | ||
| Seinfeld<ref>Seinfeld Season 8: Notes About Nothing - "The Package" (DVD). Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. 2007.</ref> | Man on phone | Episode: "The Package"; uncredited | ||
| Saturday Night Live<ref name=":0" /> | Himself (host) / various roles | 2 episodes | ||
| 1996, 1998 | 3rd Rock from the SunTemplate:Sfn | Phillip / Randy | ||
| 1997 | The Second Civil WarTemplate:Sfn | President of the United States | Television film | |
| 1999 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child<ref name=":0" /> | Game show host | Voice, episode: "The Empress's Nightingale"; Posthumously aired (final appearance) |
Video gamesEdit
| Year | Title | Voice roles |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Virtual Springfield | Troy McClure Lionel Hutz |
| 1998 | Blasto | Captain Blasto<ref name="btva" /> |
TheaterEdit
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | The Pee-wee Herman Show | Captain Carl / Monsieur LeCroq |
| Year | Title | Voice roles |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter | T.O.M. 2000 |
| 1998 | The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management) | Morris |
DiscographyEdit
The following is a list of albums for which Hartman designed the covers.
{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst||date=__DATE__ |$B=Template:AmboxTemplate:Main other }} 1974
1975
1976
1977
1979
- America, Silent Letter
1980
NotesEdit
ReferencesEdit
Book sourcesEdit
External linksEdit
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- Phil Hartman at Yahoo! Movies
- Phil Hartman at The New York Times
- Hartman's autopsy and death certificate
- Phil Hartman's final night: The tragic death of a "Saturday Night Live" genius, Mike Thomas, Salon, September 21, 2014
Template:EmmyAward ComedyVarietyMusicWriting 1980s Template:Authority control Template:Featured article