Phil Hartman

Phil Hartman Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: September 24, 1948

Death Date: May 28, 1998

Birth Place: Brantford, Ontario, Canada

As a comedic character actor virtually without peer, Phil Hartman was revered for his talents as an artist, actor, vocal performer and teacher, while serving as something of a surrogate parent to a wide swath of comedians who were lucky enough to work alongside him. Hartman received national attention for his eight-year stint on "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 1975- ), where he became famous for over-the-top characters like the Anal Retentive Chef and Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer, as well as his impersonations of Frank Sinatra, Ed McMahon and Bill Clinton; the latter widely considered to be his best. After being labeled "the glue" that held together the cast that brought the show back into prominence in the late 1980s into the next decade, he left in 1994 to star on the hit sitcom, "NewsRadio" (NBC, 1995-99), on which he played a pompous and egocentric news radio host to great comedic effect, as well as continuing to contribute his unique voice to "The Simpson" (Fox, 1989- ), most famously as washed-up infomercial actor Troy McClure. He worked in film and TV for almost two decades, and often mused on his unique celebrity as a household name but not yet a star. Nevertheless, he was grateful for his successes and confident that the right role would one day come. Tragically, Hartman was killed in a murder-suicide committed by his wife in 1998, a heinous act that was widely and genuinely mourned throughout Hollywood and beyond.

Credits

Small SoldiersStream

Actor
Phil Fimple
Movie
1998
49%

Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night

Voice
Chauncey
Movie
1998

The Second Civil War

Actor
The President
Movie
1997

The Dana Carvey ShowStream

Guest Star
Series
1996
80%

3rd Rock from the SunStream

Guest Star
Series
1996

Sgt. Bilko

Actor
Maj. Colin Thorn
Movie
1996

Jingle All the WayStream

Actor
Ted Maltin
Movie
1996
19%

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

Voice
Show
1995

NewsRadioStream

Actor
Bill McNeal
Series
1995
95%

Un Pequeño Diablillo

Actor
Movie
1995

Houseguest

Actor
Gary Young
Movie
1995

The Crazysitter

Actor
The Salesman
Movie
1995

The CriticStream

Guest Voice
Series
1994
85%

GreedyStream

Actor
Frank
Movie
1994
32%

The John Larroquette Show

Guest Star
Series
1993

Bob Hope: The First 90 Years

Actor
Show
1993

National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1

Actor
Comic Cop
Movie
1993

CB4

Actor
Virgil Robinson
Movie
1993

Darkwing Duck

Guest Voice
Show
1991

The Ren & Stimpy ShowStream

Guest Voice
Announcer
Series
1991

The Ren & Stimpy ShowStream

Voice
Clown
Series
1991

Tom & Jerry Kids

Voice
Show
1990

The SimpsonsStream

Guest Voice
Lionel Hutz
Series
1989
85%

Fletch LivesStream

Actor
Bly Manager
Movie
1989
37%

Kiki's Delivery Service

Voice
Jiji
Movie
1989

Dennis the Menace: Dennis the Movie Star

Voice
George Wilson
Movie
1988

DuckTalesStream

Guest Voice
Captain Frye
Series
1987

The Brave Little Toaster

Voice
Air Conditioner / Hanging Lamp
Movie
1987

Amazon Women on the Moon

Actor
Baseball Announcer
Movie
1987

La Tostadorcita Valiente Va a la Escuela

Voice
Movie
1987

Blind Date

Actor
Ted Davis
Movie
1987

Pee-wee's PlayhouseStream

Actor
Captain Carl
Series
1986

Last Resort

Actor
Jean-Michel
Movie
1986

Jumpin' Jack FlashStream

Actor
Fred
Movie
1986
27%

Dennis the Menace

Voice
Show
1985

Pee-wee's Big AdventureStream

Screenwriter
Movie
1985
88%

Pandemonium

Actor
Reporter
Movie
1982

The Pee-wee Herman ShowStream

Actor
Special
1981

Saturday Night LiveStream

Actor
Series
1975

Saturday Night LiveStream

Host
Series
1975

The Dick Cavett ShowStream

Guest
Talk
1968

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