Phil Hartman: Encyclopedia II - Phil Hartman - Murder

Phil Hartman - Murder

Hartman was murdered on May 28, 1998 in his Encino, California home. As he slept, Hartman was shot twice in the head by his wife, Brynn, who, hours later, turned the gun on herself with a shot to the left temple. The reasons for the murder-suicide are unknown, although friends of the Hartmans speculated in the press that the combination of their marriage problems and Brynn's drug addictions probably contributed.

Hartman's murder caused considerable mourning in Hollywood. NewsRadio produced a special episode where the cast sincerely and tearfully mourned the death of Hartman's on-screen counterpart. After his death, comedian Jon Lovitz joined the show in his place and stayed with it until its ultimate cancellation. Lovitz had been a Saturday Night Live cast member alongside Hartman for four seasons. Coincidentally, Hartman died exactly two weeks after Frank Sinatra, someone Hartman had portrayed on Saturday Night Live often.

Out of respect, The Simpsons retired his characters, rather than finding another voice actor. At the time of his death, he was preparing to do the voice of several characters on Matt Groening's animated series Futurama. After he died, the lead character, Philip J. Fry, was named in his honor. The Simpsons dedicated the episode Bart the Mother to him. It was his final appearance on the show.

Hartman was posthumously nominated for an Emmy Award for his portrayal of Bill McNeal in NewsRadio, but lost out to actor David Hyde Pierce. Upon learning Hartman did not win the award, NewsRadio co-star Dave Foley remarked, "What's this guy gotta do to win an Emmy?"

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Murder", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki