Phil Hartman | |
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Phil Hartman in character as Chick Hazard, Private Eye, c. 1978
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Born |
Philip Edward Hartmann September 24, 1948 Brantford, Ontario, Canada |
Died | May 28, 1998 Encino, Los Angeles, California, US |
(aged 49)
Cause of death | Homicide by shooting |
Nationality | Canadian American |
Education |
Westchester High School California State University, Northridge |
Occupation | Actor, voice actor, comedian, graphic artist, screenwriter |
Years active | 1975–1998 |
Spouse(s) |
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Children | 2 |
Philip Edward "Phil" Hartman (September 24, 1948 – May 28, 1998; born Hartmann) was a Canadian-American actor, voice actor, comedian, screenwriter and graphic artist. Born in Brantford, Ontario, Hartman and his family moved to the United States in 1958. After graduating from California State University, Northridge, with a degree in graphic arts, he designed album covers for bands like Poco and America. Feeling the need for a more creative outlet, Hartman joined the comedy group The Groundlings in 1975 and there helped comedian Paul Reubens develop his character Pee-wee Herman. Hartman co-wrote the screenplay for the film Pee-wee's Big Adventure and made recurring appearances on Reubens' show Pee-wee's Playhouse.
Hartman garnered fame in 1986 when he joined the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live. He won fame for his impressions, particularly of President Bill Clinton, and he stayed on the show for eight seasons. Given the moniker "The Glue" for his ability to hold the show together and help other cast members, Hartman won a Primetime Emmy Award for his SNL work in 1989. In 1995, after scrapping plans for his own variety show, he starred as Bill McNeal in the NBC sitcom NewsRadio. He had voice roles on The Simpsons, from seasons 2–10 as Lionel Hutz, Troy McClure, and others, and appeared in the films Houseguest, Sgt. Bilko, Jingle All the Way, Small Soldiers and the English dub of Kiki's Delivery Service.