Phil Hartman

Known for ActingBorn 1948-09-24Died 1998-05-28Brantford, Ontario, Canada

Philip Edward Hartman (né Hartmann; September 24, 1948 – May 28, 1998) was a Canadian-born American comedian, actor, screenwriter, and graphic designer. Hartman was born in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, 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 until 1994. 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. He also starred as Bill McNeal in the sitcom NewsRadio, voiced Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure on The Simpsons, and appeared in supporting roles in the films Houseguest, Sgt. Bilko, Jingle All the Way, and Small Soldiers. After two divorces, Hartman married Brynn Omdahl in 1987, with whom he had two children. However, their marriage was troubled due to his busy work schedule and her drug and alcohol abuse. In 1998, while Hartman was sleeping in his bed, Omdahl 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". He was posthumously inducted into the Canada and Hollywood Walks of Fame in 2012 and 2014.Read more

Movies & web series

The Continental: Anticipation

Behind Closed Doors with Natalie Morales

Going, Going, Almost Gone! Animals in Danger

The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show

Seinfeld

Skateboard Madness

Saturday Night Live in the '80s: Lost and Found

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman

Animaniacs

One Special Victory

The Simpsons

Our Time

Saturday Night Live: 15th Anniversary

Tiny Toon Adventures

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farley

The Larry Sanders Show

DuckTales

The Ren & Stimpy Show

3rd Rock from the Sun

TaleSpin

NewsRadio

Darkwing Duck

The Critic

The Last Days of Phil Hartman

The Pee-wee Herman Show

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition

Magnum, P.I.

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Simpsons: Too Hot For TV

Pee-wee's Playhouse

Night Stand with Dick Dietrick

The Jetsons

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dana Carvey

Gravedale High

Bobby's World

Eek! The Cat

The Brave Little Toaster

The Six O'Clock Follies

The John Larroquette Show

Spaceballs

Saturday Night Live

Quick Change

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures

Small Soldiers

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Dennis the Menace

Ruthless People

Tom & Jerry Kids Show