Phil Hartman

**Phillip Edward Hartmann** (known professionally as **Phil Hartman**; September 24, 1948 – May 28, 1998) was a Canadian-born American graphic designer, artist, writer, comedian, voice artist, and actor. Hartman was born in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. In 1990 he moved to the United States with his family and became an American citizen. Hartman was a cast member of _Saturday Night Live_.

## Early life

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. One of his brothers is named John Hartman. His parents were Catholic and raised their children in that faith. As a middle child, Hartman found affection hard to earn and stated: "I suppose I didn't get what I wanted out of my family life, so I started seeking love and attention elsewhere."

## Career

Hartman got his start in show business as a performing member of the comedy troupe, _Groundlings_. Hartman then joined the cast of _Saturday Night Live_ in 1987, and stayed on the show for 8 years. Hartman also did prominent voice acting roles on _The Simpsons_ until his untimely death in 1998. He was also part of the main cast on the critically-acclaimed sitcom _NewsRadio_, until his murder. Hartman, before becoming an actor and performer, worked as an album designer and graphic artist for multiple rock bands such as Poco, America and Crosby, Stills and Nash, while also co-creating the signature logo for the latter group. Hartman had also co-created the character Pee-wee Herman together along with his fellow Groundlings member and associate Paul Reubens. Hartman also co-wrote the screenplay for the film _Pee-wee's Big Adventure_.

He had also appeared in multiple films such as _Coneheads_, _Kiki's Delivery Service_, _Cheech & Chong's Next Movie_, _House Guest_, _The Pagemaster_, _Small Soldiers_ and _Jingle All The Way_, among many others. Hartman was also a prolific voice actor who had voice roles in several cartoons, such as _Scooby Doo_, _The Simpsons_, _Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child_, _Darkwing Duck_ and _The Smurfs_.

One of Hartman's last notable projects was in the 1998 video game _Blasto_, released for the PlayStation.

## Death

On the evening of May 27, 1998, Brynn returned home and had a big fight with her husband. After the fight, Phil told her that if she ever used any drugs or abused their children, he would break up with her and take the children with him.
Later, on May 28, 1998 around 3:00 AM, while he slept in his bed, Phil died at the hands of his wife, Brynn Omdahl-Hartman, by a revolver. Brynn, intoxicated and under the influence of cocaine and alcohol, drove to the home of a friend and confessed to the murder. Returning to the house, with the couple's two children asleep inside, Mrs. Hartman put a gun to her head and ended her life around 6:30 AM. Phil Hartman was cremated days later, with his ashes spread over an island off the coast of Southern California.

The Hartmans' two children, Sean Edward Hartman (born in 1989) and Birgen Anika Hartman (born in 1992), were raised by their aunt and uncle, Katherine Omdahl (Brynn's sister) and Michael Wright in Minnesota.

## Other websites

- 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

## Infobox (person)

- **image**: Phil as Chick-1-1.jpg
- **caption**: Phil Hartman in character as Chick Hazard, Private Eye, circa 1978
- **birth place**: Brantford, Ontario, Canada
- **death place**: Encino, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- **death cause**: Homicide by shooting
- **birth name**: Philip Edward Hartmann
- **nationality**: Canadian American
- **education**: Westchester High School (Los Angeles), Westchester High School
- **alma mater**: California State University, Northridge
- **occupation**: Actor, voice actor, comedian, graphic artist, screenwriter
- **spouse**: Gretchen Lewis (1970–1972)
Lisa Strain (1982–1985)
Brynn Omdahl (1987–1998); 2 children
- **children**: Sean Edward (b. 1989)
Birgen Anika (b. 1992)
- **resting place**: Ashes scattered over Santa Catalina Island, California, Santa Catalina Island's Emerald Bay
- **years active**: 1969–1998