Philip Edward Hartman was a Canadian-born American comic actor, screenwriter and graphic artist, renowned for his eccentric sense of humour and satirical comedy.
Background
Phil Hartman was born Philip Edward Hartmann on September 24, 1948, in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. He was the fourth of eight children of Doris Marguerite (Wardell) and Rupert Loebig Hartmann, a salesman specializing in building materials. Hartman grew up in Connecticut and Southern California and described himself as a class clown. His parents were Catholic and raised their children in that faith.
Education
Hartman attended Westchester High School. After graduating, Hartman studied art at Santa Monica City College, dropping out in 1969 to become a roadie with a rock band. In 1972, he went back to school at California State University, Northridge to get a degree in graphic arts.
Hartman joined the comedy group "The Groundlings" in 1975 - while watching one of their performances, and impulsively climbed on stage and joined in with the cast. He met Paul Reubens, and began collaborating with him.
Hartman co-wrote the feature film "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" in 1978 for fellow Groundling, Paul Reubens. During his time working on Pee-wee Herman, he had a number of voice-over roles, including shows such as The Smurfs, Challenge of GoBots and The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo. He also voiced Henry Mitchell and George Wilson in Dennis the Menace as well as providing voice-over for advertisements.
Hartman also worked as a graphic artist, designing album covers for Poco's 1978 album "Legend", three albums by the band America, and the logo for Crosby, Stills and Nash.
In 1986, Hartman joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live". He was known backstage as "the Glue". He was there for eight seasons and became known for his impressions of over 70 characters including Frank Sinatra, Barbara Bush, Ronald Reagan and Ed McMahon.
From 1991 to 1998, Hartman supposed to provide his voice for one episode in the second season of ‘The Simpsons’, but the experience was so positive that he was eventually offered the recurring roles of Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure. He was also interested in making a live action film on Troy McClure. Following Hartman’s death, the showrunners Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein retired those characters.
Hartman left SNL in 1994 for a role in the ensemble comedy "NewsRadio" in which he played radio newsman Bill McNeal. Hartman also co-starred in several feature films, including "Greedy", "House Guest," "Blind Date," "The Three Amigos," "The Coneheads," "Quick Change," and "So I Married an Axe Murderer."
On May 28, 1998 police responded to Hartman's death.
Hartman married Gretchen Lewis in 1970, and they divorced sometime before 1972. He married real estate agent Lisa Strain in 1982, and their marriage lasted for three years. At last, he married Brynn Omdahl in 1987; the couple had two children together. However, their marriage was fractured, due in part to her drug use. On May 28, 1998, Brynn Hartman shot and killed Hartman while he slept in their Encino, Los Angeles home, then killed herself several hours later.
Father:
Rupert Hartman
Mother:
Doris M. Hartmann
Third wife:
Brynn Omdahl
Son:
Sean Edward Hartman
Son:
Birgen Hartman
First wife:
Gretchen Lewis
Second wife:
Lisa Strain
Sister:
Mary Hartman
Sister:
Sara Hartman
Sister:
Nancy Hartman
Sister:
Martha Hartman
Sister:
Jane Hartman
Brother:
John Hartman
Brother:
Paul Andrew Hartman
References
You Might Remember Me: The Life and Times of Phil Hartman
Both joyous tribute and serious biography, Mike Thomas' You Might Remember Me is a celebration of Phil Hartman's multi-faceted career and an exhaustively reported, warts-and-all examination of his often intriguing and sometimes complicated life―a powerful, humor-filled and disquieting portrait of a man who was loved by many, admired by millions and taken from them far too early.