Phil Hartman, a well-known actor and comedian, who gained fame for his performances on Saturday Night Live and his voice acting on The Simpsons, met a tragic end when his wife took his life in a shocking murder-suicide.
Born in 1948, Hartman grew up as one of eight children to Doris and Rupert Hartmann.
He often joked that being a middle child inspired him to pursue a career in comedy and acting.
According to CBS News, he once said, “I suppose I didn't get what I wanted out of my family life, so I started seeking love and attention elsewhere.”
The Hartman family eventually moved from Canada to the East Coast and settled in California after a brief stay in Maine and Connecticut.
After graduating from Westchester High School, Phil briefly attended Santa Monica City College but dropped out in 1969.
During this time, he worked as a roadie for various rock bands and even appeared on The Dating Game show, although not in the same episode as serial killer Rodney Alcala.
Hartman later returned to college and earned a degree in graphic design from California State University, Northridge.
He put his skills to use designing album covers for bands like Crosby, Stills, and Nash.
Throughout his career, Phil Hartman made significant contributions to movies and TV shows.
He co-created the character Pee-wee Herman with Paul Reubens and became a beloved figure on The Simpsons, lending his voice to memorable characters such as Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz.
He also joined the cast of the popular NBC sketch series Saturday Night Live, where he showcased his talent for impressions, imitating celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Phil Donahue, and Bill Clinton.
People magazine reported that executive producer Lorne Michaels referred to Hartman as “Glue” on set because he held the show together and was low-maintenance.
In addition to his work on SNL and The Simpsons, Hartman appeared in numerous films, including Jingle All The Way, and took on various voice-over roles.
One notable example is his portrayal of Henry Mitchell and George Wilson in Dennis the Menace cartoons.
Despite his professional success, Phil Hartman's personal life was troubled, particularly his relationship with his third wife, Brynn, a model and actress with whom he had two children.
To outsiders, the couple seemed happy, always holding hands and enjoying each other's company.
However, those close to them knew about the underlying problems.
According to Steve Small, an attorney who represented Hartman in previous divorces, Brynn had difficulty controlling her anger, and Phil had to restrain her at times.
While some of Phil's friends disapproved of Brynn due to her reported substance use issues, the couple remained together, although they separated on several occasions.
Brynn allegedly even threatened to kill one of Phil's former wives, as reported by the New York Daily News.
On May 28, 1998, tragedy struck as Brynn's substance abuse played a role in the murder-suicide that unfolded in their Encino home.
After a disagreement over Brynn's drug usage, she shot Phil three times with a .38-caliber handgun while their children slept upstairs.
Following the murder, Brynn went to a friend's house in a distressed state and confessed to killing her husband.
Doubtful, the friend accompanied her back to the Hartman residence, where they discovered Phil's lifeless body and called 911.
When the police arrived, they found the couple's young children unharmed.
As they were escorting the children out of the house, a single shot was heard from a bedroom, indicating that Brynn had taken her own life.
A toxicology report later revealed that she had a blood alcohol content of .12 percent and traces of cocaine and Zoloft in her system at the time of her death.
The comedy world was deeply saddened by the tragic events.
Mike Scully, executive producer of The Simpsons, expressed his grief, stating that Phil was a joy to work with and always brought laughter into the room.
This heartbreaking story serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the devastating impact that domestic troubles can have on individuals and their loved ones.
The legacy of Phil Hartman's talent and contributions to the entertainment industry will always be remembered, even as we reflect on the tragic circumstances that cut his life short.
(Originally published on January 3, 2018; updated on May 23, 2023)
