Actor, comedian, and graphic artist Phil Hartman did many different voices, characters, and impressions. He played pivotal roles on Saturday Night Live, The Simpsons, and NewsRadio. Tragically, Hartman was murdered by his wife in 1998.
Career
Hartman joined The Groundlings, an improvisational comedy group in Los Angeles in 1975. There he met one of his life long friends actor Paul Reubens, who was best know for playing Pee-Wee Herman. Together they worked on Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Cheech and Chong's Next Movie, and more.
He joined the crew of Saturday Night Live in 1986 and won the hearts of viewers for eight years. His best impressions were of Bill Clinton, Ed McMahon, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jack Nicholson, and Burt Reynolds.
Hartman left Saturday Night Live in 1994 and joined the television comedy sitcom cast of NewsRadio playing the role of "Bill McNeal" on NBC. He stayed until his death in 1998, and the show was ultimately canceled after the new host couldn't bring the same style of humor to the viewers.
Graphic Art
Throughout his career he was called upon by rock bands to design CD album art and logo. Some of the artists he worked with are America, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and Firesign Theatre.
His Death
His wife Brynn Hartman entered the room where Mr. Hartman was sleeping and shot him with a revolver on May 28, 1998. After she went to a friends house to tell them what happened, then returned to the crime scene with the police and committed suicide.
Featured Video
Phil Hartman Timeline
Note: The majority of the links in this timeline are to IMDb, which has pop-ups.
September 24, 1948: Born
1982: Pandemonium
1984: Weekend Pass
1985: Pee-wee's Big Adventure
1986-1994: Saturday Night Live
1986: ¡Three Amigos!
1987: Blind Date
1989: Fletch Lives
1991-1998: The Simpsons
1993: Loaded Weapon 1
1993: Coneheads
1994: The Pagemaster
1995-1998: NewsRadio
1995: Houseguest
1996: Sgt. Bilko
1996: Jingle All the Way
1998: Small Soldiers
May 28, 1998: Murdered by wife, Brynn Hartman
