American actor, writer, graphic designer, and comedian Philip Edward “Phil” Hartman, who was born in Canada, was well known for his peculiar sense of humor and caustic humor. Despite being, by all accounts, a typical, calm, easy-going demeanor in real life, he was at his best portraying haughty, annoying, and nasty characters. Hartman started working as a graphic artist after completing his education. He engaged in the comedy lessons offered by the California-based improvisational comedy troupe “The Groundlings” in search of a more engaging outlet for his talents after becoming dissatisfied with his routine employment. He later joined the group and redesigned their logo in place of payment. He worked with Paul Reubens to develop the character of Pee-wee Herman. He joined the cast of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” in 1986, where he swiftly rose to fame thanks to his extraordinary talent for impersonating famous people. Other attractive offers soon began to flood in. He voiced Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz in “The Simpsons,” as well as Bill McNeal in “NewsRadio.” He was a rising screenwriter who had sold his first feature script at the time of his death in 1998, one of the busiest character actors in the business. Hartman was honored with a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2014.
Early Childhood & Life
The fourth of eight children to Doris Marguerite (née Wardell) and Rupert Loebig Hartmann, Philip Edward Hartmann was born on September 24, 1948, in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Later, he dropped the last ‘n’ from his last name to spell it “Hartman.” In 1958, his father, a seller of building supplies, brought the family to the US. Before moving to California, they spent a short time in Connecticut. He had two brothers, John and Paul Andrew, and five sisters, Mary, Sara, Nancy, Martha, and Jane.
He attended Westchester High School and comes from a Catholic background. After that, he went to Santa Monica City College, but in 1969, he left to join a rock band’s road crew.
He returned to California State University, Northridge in 1972 to finish his graphic arts degree. Following college, he found success as an entrepreneur, founding his own graphic design firm where he created the album covers for more than 40 bands, including Poco and America, as well as the Crosby, Stills & Nash logo.
Career of Phil Hartman
At the age of 27, Phil Hartman enrolled in The Groundlings’ evening comedy class in 1975. His creativity soon found a social outlet in comedy, and one night, after watching other troupe members perform, he went up to the stage and joined the show. He had advanced to become one of its stars by 1979. He first met Betty Fanning McCann, his future agent, after one of these performances.
Paul Reubens was one of his fellow performers with The Groundlings. They eventually grew close and collaborated on a number of tasks, including the creation of the Pee-wee Herman persona.
They put on a live production of “The Pee-wee Herman Show” in 1981, which HBO eventually aired. In addition, Hartman co-wrote the scripts for the Pee-Big wee’s Adventure movie from 1985 and the Pee-Playhouse wee’s spinoff from CBS, which aired from 1986 to 1990. The latter featured Hartman as the grubby Kap’n Karl.
He made his voice acting debut on television in 1979 with the Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo cartoons. In the musical action-drama “Stunt Rock,” which was released the same year, he made his debut the film.
He appeared in other tiny roles over the following several years in films like “The Six O’ Clock Follies” (1980), “The Gong Show Movie” (1980), “Pandemonium” (1982), and “Magnum, P.I.” (1984). He also provided the voice for a number of animated films, such as “Red Pepper” (1981), “The Little Rascals” (1982), and “The Dukes” (1983).
He provided the voices for both Henry Mitchell and George Wilson in “Dennis the Menace” (1986). He co-starred in films with Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short in “Three Amigos” (1986), with Bruce Willis in “Blind Date” (1987), with Bill Murray and Geena Davis in “Quick Change” (1990), and with Dan Aykroyd in “Coneheads.” He was at ease playing supporting roles (1993).
In the second season of “The Simpsons” (1991–1998), Hartman was originally just meant to lend his voice to one episode, but the experience was so beneficial that he was subsequently awarded the regular parts of Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure. Additionally, he was considering producing a live-action movie about Troy McClure. The showrunners Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein retired the characters after Hartman’s passing.
Bigger Works of Phil Hartman
Phil Hartman spent eight years (1986 to 1994) as a member of the SNL cast and writing staff. He was known as “The Glue” backstage for his helpful and considerate demeanor, and many of his fellow cast members credit him with keeping the performance together. He was also an excellent impersonator and performer of improvisation. He performed impersonations of people like Frank Sinatra, Ronald Reagan, Ed McMahon, Barbara Bush, Charlton Heston, Phil Donahue, and Bill Clinton during his time on the variety show; the last is largely regarded as his best performance.
On the NBC sitcom “NewsRadio,” he was chosen to play Evelyn William “Bill” McNeal (1995-98). McNeal is the news co-anchor for WYNX, the radio station where the narrative is set and is bombastic, egotistical, and disobedient. Hartman garnered a TV Land nomination for the part despite allegedly claiming that he based the character’s performance on himself with all ethics removed.
Recognition & Achievements
As a member of the writing staff for “Saturday Night Live,” Phil Hartman won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program in 1989.
The address of His Television Star is 6600 Hollywood Boulevard on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The celebration took place on August 26, 2014.
Moreover, he received a posthumous induction onto Canada’s Walk of Fame (class of 2012).
Individual Life of Phil Hartman
Phil Hartman married three times. In 1970, he wed Gretchen Lewis, his first wife. In 1972, there was a divorce from the marriage.
He wed Lisa Strain, a real estate salesperson, in 1982, and the two separated in 1985. From his first two marriages, he had no kids.
He went on a blind date with Brynn Omdahl (born Vicki Jo Omdahl), a former model and aspiring actress, and they got married in November 1987. It was a turbulent relationship that deteriorated over time as a result of Omdahl’s despair and long-term drug usage. Sean Edward, a boy, was born to her in 1989; Birgen Anika, a daughter, was born to her in 1992.
Omdahl was more frustrated as Hartman’s career prospered because she was still finding success on her own. He didn’t want to be apart from her, so he gave her many jobs and briefly thought about retiring. After returning from supper with friends on May 27, 1998, Omdahl got into a furious disagreement with her husband, who threatened to leave if she started using narcotics once more.
She fatally shot Hartman three times at 3 a.m. while she was under the effects of cocaine and alcohol. She locked herself in the bedroom, dialed her friends and the police, put the.38 caliber revolver in her mouth, and then pressed the trigger to terminate her life.
Hartman received citizenship in the United States in 1990.
Phil Hartman’s Net Worth
At the time of his passing, Phil Hartman, a Canadian-American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and graphic artist, had a $3 million net worth. From 1986 until 1994, Hartman, well known as “The Man of a Thousand Voices,” appeared as a cast member and writer on the NBC sketch comedy series “Saturday Night Live.” From 1995 until his passing in 1998, Hartman portrayed Bill McNeal on the highly regarded NBC sitcom “NewsRadio.” Phil played Captain Carl in “The Pee-wee Herman Show” (1981) and “Pee-Playhouse” wee’s (1986) after assisting Paul Reubens in creating the role of Pee-wee Herman as a member of The Groundlings. Phil also voiced Troy McClure, Lionel Hutz, and other characters on the Fox animated series “The Simpsons” from 1991 to 1998. In addition, he contributed writing to “The Pee-wee Herman Show,” “Pee-Playhouse,” wee’s, and the 1985 movie “Pee-Big wee’s Adventure.”