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Phil Hartman (TV Actor, Impressionist, Age 49) Obituary
Cynthia Littleton
Phil Hartman, a regular on NBC's "NewsRadio" who had risen to fame on "Saturday Night Live," died May 28 at his Encino, Calif., home in what police are calling a murder-suicide. Hartman's wife, Brynn, also died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The 49-year-old Hartman, who was shot while sleeping, had apparently been dead for hours when officers from the Los Angeles Police Dept.'s West Valley Division were sent to the house in response to a "shots fired" call at around 6 20 a.m. Police spokesman Lt. Anthony Alba said detectives were investigating the crime as "a murder-suicide," and were trying to determine the motive.
Aside from being a member of the "NewsRadio" ensemble cast, the comic actor did frequent voice work on Fox's "The Simpsons." He also was a key player in the cliffhanger season wrap of NBC's "3rd Rock From the Sun," and is one of the leads of DreamWorks' summer film "Small Soldiers."
Detectives from LAPD's elite Robbery-Homicide Division gathered evidence late last week at the Hartmans' $1.4 million, 4,000-square-foot gated home, as throngs of reporters and news crews camped outside.
Someone had called 911 to report the sound of gunfire coming from inside the two-story house in the San Fernando Valley suburb of Los Angeles.
As officers arrived, they observed a 9-year-old-the couple's son--standing in the open doorway and immediately removed him. When the officers entered the house to locate the boy's 6-year-old sister, they heard a gunshot coming from the master bedroom. They discovered the body of Hartman on the bed and his wife on the floor, dead from an apparent gunshot wound to the head.
Hartman appeared to have been dead "for awhile," Alba told Variety. The actor's brother was called to the home to help identify the victims.
There was no word from "NewsRadio" producer Brillstein-Grey Communications or NBC on the future of the sitcom, headed into its fifth season this fall.
As a guest star in the season finale of Carsey-Werner Co.'s "3rd Rock," Hartman kidnapped the character played by regular French Stewart. A rep for Carsey-Werner said next season's opening episode had not yet been shot, nor had a decision been made about how to resolve the storyline.
Hartman's death also leaves a vocal void on Fox's "Simpsons." The actor breathed life into such characters as fading B-movie star-cum-infomercial host Troy McClure and shyster lawyer Lionel Hutz. Hartman's last recording session for "The Simpsons" was April 22 as McClure, according to Fox. The episode will air this fall.
Hartman was born Sept. 24, 1948, in Branford, Ontario, Canada. Along with seven siblings, he was raised in Connecticut and L.A. After studying graphic design at Cal State Northridge in Los Angeles, he designed album covers before joining the L.A. improv comedy group the Groundlings in 1975.
While there, he worked with such performers as Paul Reubens, which led to his co-writing credit on the 1985 feature "Pee-wee's Big Adventure."
Hartman's popularity surged during his run as a regular on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" from 1986-94. His extensive repertoire of impressions and his dead-on characterizations of luminaries ranging from Frank Sinatra to Ted Kennedy to the Rev. Jimmy Swaggart made him a fan favorite.
His feature credits included "Jingle All the Way," "Sgt. Bilko," "Coneheads," "House Guest," "So I Married an Ax Murderer" and "Blind Date." Hartman was widely seen and heard in the advertising world, both as a voiceover personality and on-camera celeb pitchman. His recent commercial work included radio and TV spots for telco giant MCI Communications, McDonalds, Cheetos snacks and Glendale Federal Bank.
Hartman's real-life persona ran counter to the self-centered characters he frequently played. He was generous with his time, often hosting or participating in charity events, such as Nancy Davis' Race To Erase MS. Hartman and Lisa Rinna recently appeared on VH1 to help raise money for the charity through commercials encouraging viewers to call in pledges.
"Everyone at NBC mourns the tragic passing of Phil Hartman," said NBC West Coast prexy Don Ohlmeyer.
"Small Soldiers" director Joe Dante said the actor had done a day's looping on the project less than a week ago, ending his contribution to the picture, "and that's the last time I saw him."
Variety June 1, 1998
COPYRIGHT 1998 Cahners Publishing Company in association with The Gale Group and LookSmart. COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group
http://articles.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1312/is_n4_v371/ai_20778832
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