Editing Phil Hartman (section)

==Murder==
On May 27, 1998, Hartman's wife, Brynn, visited the Italian restaurant [[Buca di Beppo]] in [[Encino, Los Angeles|Encino, California]], with producer and writer [[Christine Zander]], who said she was "in a good frame of mind"; they had drinks. After returning home, Brynn had a "heated" argument with Hartman, after which he went to bed.<ref name="surface"/> She entered his bedroom some time before {{nowrap|3:00 a.m.}} [[Pacific Time Zone|PDT]] on May 28, 1998, and, as he slept, she fatally shot him once between the eyes, once in the throat and once in the upper chest with a [[.38 Special|.38-caliber]] [[Smith & Wesson Model 15]] revolver.<ref name="surface"/> Hartman was 49 years old. Brynn was taking [[Zoloft]], had been drinking alcohol, and had recently used [[cocaine]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/TV/9806/08/brynn.hartman.drugged/index.html |title=Coroner: Hartman's wife on drugs, drunk |date=June 8, 1998 |access-date=August 25, 2021 |newspaper=CNN}}</ref>

Brynn then drove to the home of her friend Ron Douglas and confessed to the killing but he did not believe her. They drove back to the house in separate cars and she called another friend and confessed a second time.<ref name="surface"/><ref name="cnn">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/TV/9806/02/hartman|title=Police say Hartman's wife told friends about shooting|access-date=June 22, 2007|date=June 2, 1998|publisher=CNN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010827080110/http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/TV/9806/02/hartman/|archive-date=27 August 2001}}</ref> Upon seeing Hartman's body, Douglas called [[9-1-1]] at {{nowrap|6:20 a.m.}} The [[Los Angeles Police Department]] (LAPD) arrived and escorted Douglas and the Hartmans' two children from the premises, by which time Brynn had locked herself in the bedroom. Shortly afterward, she shot and killed herself with a .38-caliber [[Charter Arms#Products|Charter Arms Undercover]] revolver.<ref name="surface"/><ref name= "death">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/TV/9805/28/hartman/|title=Phil Hartman, wife die in apparent murder–suicide|access-date=May 25, 2007|date=May 28, 1998|publisher=CNN|archive-date=May 11, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070511134410/http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/TV/9805/28/hartman/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The LAPD stated Hartman's death was caused by "domestic discord" between the couple.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/TV/9805/28/hartman.update|title=Police: 'Domestic discord' behind Hartman slayings|access-date=June 22, 2007|date=May 28, 1998|publisher=CNN|archive-date=May 27, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050527013338/http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/TV/9805/28/hartman.update/|url-status=live}}</ref> A neighbor of the Hartmans told a [[CNN]] reporter that the couple had marital problems. Yet actor [[Steve Guttenberg]] said they had been "a very happy couple and they always had the appearance of being well-balanced".<ref name="death"/>

Brynn's brother, Gregory Omdahl, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in 1999 against both [[Pfizer]], the manufacturer of Zoloft, and his sister's [[psychiatrist]], Arthur Sorosky, who had provided samples of the antidepressant to Brynn.<ref>{{cite news|title=Makers of Antidepressant Sued In Hartman Deaths|date=May 29, 1999|work= [[Times Union (Albany)|The Times Union]]|page=A2}}</ref> Pfizer later settled the lawsuit without an admission of any wrongdoing.<ref name="abc_2019">{{cite news |last1=Yang |first1=Allie |last2=Gowen |first2=Gwen |last3=Lopez |first3=Ed |title=The man behind the laughter: 'SNL,' 'Simpsons' star Phil Hartman's life off-screen before his violent death |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/man-laughter-snl-simpsons-star-phil-hartmans-life/story?id=65642867 |access-date=14 October 2023 |work=ABC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219210846/https://abcnews.go.com/US/man-laughter-snl-simpsons-star-phil-hartmans-life/story?id=65642867 |archive-date=19 December 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Hartman's friend and former ''SNL'' colleague [[Jon Lovitz]] has accused Hartman's ''NewsRadio'' co-star [[Andy Dick]] of reintroducing Brynn to cocaine, causing her to relapse and suffer a nervous breakdown. Dick claimed to have known nothing of her condition.<ref name=dick/> Lovitz later said he no longer blamed Dick for Hartman's murder but in 2006, Lovitz claimed Dick had approached him at a restaurant and said, "I put the Phil Hartman hex on you. You're the next one to die." Lovitz then had him ejected from the restaurant.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.aol.com/entertainment/television/story/_a/did-jon-lovitz-pummel-andy-dick/20070718073609990001 |title='Hartman Hex' Led to Lovitz-Dick Dustup |date=July 18, 2007 |access-date=August 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100928145321/http://news.aol.com/entertainment/television/story/_a/did-jon-lovitz-pummel-andy-dick/20070718073609990001 |archive-date=September 28, 2010 |publisher=[[CBS News]]}}</ref><ref name="king"/> The following year at the [[Laugh Factory]] comedy club in Los Angeles, Lovitz and Dick had another argument with Lovitz slamming Dick's head into the bar.<ref name="king">{{cite interview|last=Lovitz|first=Jon|subject-link=Jon Lovitz|interviewer=[[Larry King]]|publisher=[[CNN]]|location=[[Los Angeles, California]]|date=July 20, 2007|work=Larry King Live|title=Interview}}</ref> Dick asserted he was not at fault in relation to Hartman's death.<ref name=dick>{{cite interview|last=Dick|first=Andy|subject-link=Andy Dick|interviewer=[[Tom Green]]|publisher=TomGreen.com|date=July 23, 2007|work=Tom Green's House Tonight|title=Interview}}</ref>

Brynn's sister Katharine Omdahl and brother-in-law Mike Wright raised the two Hartman children.<ref name="cnn"/> Hartman's will stipulated each child would inherit money over several years after turning 25. The total value of Hartman's estate was estimated at {{nowrap|$1.23 million}}.<ref name="cnn"/> In accordance with their wishes, both Hartman's and Brynn's bodies were [[cremation|cremated]] by [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale|Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuary, Glendale, California]], and their ashes were scattered over [[Santa Catalina Island, California|Santa Catalina Island]]'s Emerald Bay. A [[cenotaph]] with Hartman's and Brynn's names was installed at a cemetery in [[Thief River Falls, Minnesota]], where Brynn was born.<ref name="cnn"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/TV/9806/05/hartman/index.html|title=Family members hold private memorial for Hartmans|access-date=November 1, 2008|date=June 5, 1998|publisher=CNN|archive-date=August 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829032808/http://edition.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/TV/9806/05/hartman/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Response and legacy===
NBC executive [[Don Ohlmeyer]] stated that Hartman "was blessed with a tremendous gift for creating characters who made people laugh. Everyone who had the pleasure of working with Phil knows that he was a man of tremendous warmth, a true professional and a loyal friend."<ref name="death"/> Guttenberg expressed shock at Hartman's death and [[Steve Martin]] said he was "a deeply funny and very happy person".<ref name="death"/> [[Matt Groening]] called him "a master"<ref name="ew"/> and director [[Joe Dante]] said "He was one of those guys who was a dream to work with. I don't know anybody who didn't like him."<ref name=intel/> Dan Snierson of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' concluded that Hartman was "the last person you'd expect to read about in lurid headlines in your morning paper" and "a decidedly regular guy, beloved by everyone he worked with".<ref name="ew"/> In 2007, ''Entertainment Weekly'' ranked Hartman the 87th greatest television icon of all time,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20152957_20152958_20159463_13,00.html|title=Greatest TV Icons: Nos. 100–51|access-date=December 19, 2007|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203011443/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0%2C%2C20152957_20152958_20159463_13%2C00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and ''[[Maxim (magazine)|Maxim]]'' named him the top ''Saturday Night Live'' performer of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://maximonline.com/slideshows/index.aspx?slideId=3716&imgCollectId=194&src=jb203|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930165544/http://maximonline.com/slideshows/index.aspx?slideId=3716&imgCollectId=194&src=jb203|archive-date=September 30, 2007|title=The Best Saturday Night Live Performers|access-date=December 19, 2007|work=[[Maxim (magazine)|Maxim]]}}</ref>

On the day of Hartman's death, rehearsals for ''The Simpsons'' and that night's performance by [[The Groundlings]] were canceled.<ref name="ew"/> The [[NewsRadio season 5|season five]] premiere episode of ''NewsRadio'', "Bill Moves On" (aired September 23, the day before what would have been his 50th birthday) finds Hartman's character, Bill McNeal, has died of a heart attack, while the other characters reminisce about his life. Lovitz joined the show in his place beginning with the next episode.<ref name="finalep"/> An episode that ended a season of ''[[3rd Rock from the Sun]]'', where Hartman played a flamboyant recurring character who ends up kidnapping Harry was scrapped due it being a [[cliffhanger]] which would have been resolved in the subsequent season premiere, as well as to show respect for Hartman's death. A special episode of ''Saturday Night Live'' commemorating Hartman's work on the show aired on June 13, 1998, which ended with one of Hartman's performances showing a widow reflecting on her deceased husband played by Hartman.<ref>{{cite news|title=SNL Salutes Hartman|date=June 13, 1998|work=[[The Plain Dealer]]|page=3E}}</ref> Rather than substituting another voice actor, the writers of ''The Simpsons'' retired Hartman's characters.<ref name="inter">{{cite interview|last=Groening|first=Matt|subject-link=Matt Groening|interviewer=Terry Gross|title=Fresh Air|work=[[National Public Radio]]|publisher=[[WHYY-FM]]|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4249835|location=Philadelphia|date=December 29, 2004|access-date=November 9, 2008|archive-date=June 10, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610050752/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4249835|url-status=live}}</ref> His final appearance in the [[The Simpsons (season 10)|tenth season]] episode "[[Bart the Mother]]" is dedicated to him.<ref name="finalep">{{cite news|title=Tributes To A Star And His Voices|date=September 23, 1998|work=The Record|author=Rohan, Virginia|page=Y8}}</ref> ''[[Small Soldiers]]'' was dedicated to Hartman, being his final film to be released in movie theatres.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/163033/Small-Soldiers/overview|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101004902/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/163033/Small-Soldiers/overview|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 1, 2014|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Bhob Stewart|title=Small Soldiers (1998)|author-link=Bhob Stewart|date=2013|access-date=May 19, 2014}}</ref>

Hartman was preparing to voice [[Zapp Brannigan]], a character written specifically for him on Groening's second animated series ''[[Futurama]]'', at the time of his death.<ref name="west"/> Even though the role was specifically made for him, Hartman still insisted on trying out for the role. About a week before his death, he auditioned for Groening and ''Futurama'' executive producer [[David X. Cohen]]. Groening wrote that Hartman "blew us away with his performances".<ref name="simpsons comics">{{ cite comic | writer=Groening, Matt | story =The Bongo Beat: Phil Hartman (1948–1998) | title = [[List of The Simpsons comics#Simpsons Comics|Simpsons Comics]] | issue = 37|url=https://www.simpsonsarchive.com/guides/comics_artists_phil-hartman.html | date = June 1998| publisher =[[Bongo Comics]] | page = | id =}}</ref> After Hartman's death, [[Billy West]] took over the role.<ref name="west"/> Though Cohen credits West with using his own take on the character,<ref>[[David X. Cohen]]; [[Matt Groening]] (2002). Commentary for "[[Love's Labors Lost in Space]]", in ''Futurama: Season 1'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox</ref> West later said that he purposely tweaked Zapp's voice to better match Hartman's intended portrayal.<ref name="west">{{cite web|url=http://www.aoltv.com/2006/06/15/billy-west-the-tv-squad-interview/|title=Billy West: The TV Squad Interview|access-date=September 27, 2014|date=June 15, 2006|author=Keller, Joel|work=[[TV Squad]]|archive-date=July 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712175554/http://www.aoltv.com/2006/06/15/billy-west-the-tv-squad-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref> Hartman was planning to appear with Lovitz in the [[indie film]] ''The Day of Swine and Roses,'' scheduled to begin production in August 1998.<ref name="ew"/>

In 2002, Laugh.com and Hartman's brother John published the album ''Flat TV'', a selection of comedy sketches recorded by Hartman in the 1970s, which had been kept in storage. John Hartmann commented: "I'm putting this out there because I'm dedicating my life to fulfilling his dreams. This [album] is my brother doing what he loved."<ref>{{cite news|title=Hartman's brother releases posthumous CD|work=[[The Hamilton Spectator]]|date=December 13, 2002|agency=Associated Press|page=D06}}</ref> ''Flat TV'' was optioned for an animated adaptation by [[Michael "Ffish" Hemschoot]]'s animation company [[Worker Studio]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=Adams|first=Erik|title=Phil Hartman's Flat TV lets the late comic performer voice one final cartoon|date=May 8, 2013 |url=https://www.avclub.com/phil-hartman-s-flat-tv-lets-the-late-comic-performer-vo-1798237961|publisher=Onion Inc.|access-date=May 8, 2013|archive-date=June 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606185427/http://www.avclub.com/articles/phil-hartmans-flat-tv-lets-the-late-comic-performe%2C97471/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Worker Studio|title=Phil Hartman's Flat TV, Comedy Album In Development as Animated Film at Worker Studio|url=http://www.worker-studio.com/phil-hartmans-flat-tv.html|publisher=Worker Studio LLC|access-date=May 8, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203030902/http://www.worker-studio.com/phil-hartmans-flat-tv.html|archive-date=December 3, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The deal came about after [[Michael T. Scott]], a partner in the company, posted online a handwritten letter he had received from Hartman in 1997, leading to a correspondence between Scott and Paul Hartmann.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cangialosi|first=Jason|title=From Fan Letter to Feature Film: 'Phil Hartman's Flat TV'|url=http://voices.yahoo.com/from-fan-letter-feature-film-phil-hartmans-flat-12256829.html?cat=49|publisher=Yahoo!|access-date=July 29, 2013|date=July 29, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204054346/http://voices.yahoo.com/from-fan-letter-feature-film-phil-hartmans-flat-12256829.html?cat=49|archive-date=December 4, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

A campaign was started on [[Facebook]] by Alex Stevens in 2007, and endorsed by Hartman's brother Paul, to have Phil inducted to [[Canada's Walk of Fame]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2616170&auth=SUSAN%20GAMBLE|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402185626/http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2616170&auth=SUSAN%20GAMBLE|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 2, 2012|title=No star yet for Hartman|author=Gamble, Susan|work=[[Brantford Expositor]]|access-date=August 4, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/arts/story.html?id=2731706|title=First Person: A brother's quest to enshrine Phil Hartman on Canada's Walk of Fame|work=[[National Post]]|date=March 26, 2010|access-date=September 18, 2011|author1=Kaplan, Ben|author2=Hartmann, Paul}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Among the campaign's numerous publicity events, Ben Miner of the [[Sirius XM Radio]] channel [[Laugh Attack]] dedicated the month of April 2012 to Hartman. The campaign ended in success and Hartman was inducted on September 22, 2012, to the Walk of Fame, with Paul accepting the award on his late brother's behalf. Hartman was also awarded the Cineplex Legends Award.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/1213597--phil-hartman-comedian-gets-a-star-on-canada-s-walk-of-fame?bn=1|title=Phil Hartman: Comedian gets a star on Canada's Walk of Fame|work=[[Toronto Star]]|date=June 19, 2012|access-date=June 19, 2012|author=Wong, Tony|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417082511/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2012/06/19/phil_hartman_comedian_gets_a_star_on_canadas_walk_of_fame.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/all/Randy+Bachman+Sarah+McLachlan+Phil+Hartman+stars/7284186/story.html|title=Randy Bachman, Sarah McLachlan, Phil Hartman get stars on Canada's Walk of Fame|author=Patch, Nick|date=September 23, 2012|work=Global News}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In June 2013, it was announced that Hartman would receive a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]], which was unveiled on August 26, 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2013/biz/awards/walk-of-fame-announces-2014-honorees-1200500182/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|title=Walk of Fame Announces 2014 Honorees|author=Tepper, Allegra|access-date=August 20, 2014|date=June 20, 2013|archive-date=September 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925050300/http://variety.com/2013/biz/awards/walk-of-fame-announces-2014-honorees-1200500182/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Hartman To Get Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame|url=http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/08/23/hartman-to-get-star-on-hollywood-walk-of-fame/|access-date=August 26, 2014|publisher=CBS|date=August 23, 2014|archive-date=August 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812113830/http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/08/23/hartman-to-get-star-on-hollywood-walk-of-fame/|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, a special prize at the [[Canadian Comedy Awards]] was named for Hartman. Beginning with the 13th Canadian Comedy Awards in 2012, the Phil Hartman Award was awarded to "an individual who helps to better the Canadian comedy community".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arts.nationalpost.com/2012/06/07/cancelled-series-michael-tuesdays-thursdays-leads-canadian-comedy-awards-nominees/|title=Cancelled series Michael: Tuesdays & Thursdays leads Canadian Comedy Awards nominees|work=[[National Post]]|access-date=June 8, 2012|date=June 7, 2012|last=Phan | first=Rachel|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129202147/http://arts.nationalpost.com/2012/06/07/cancelled-series-michael-tuesdays-thursdays-leads-canadian-comedy-awards-nominees/|archive-date=January 29, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 2015, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine ranked Hartman as one of the ten greatest ''Saturday Night Live'' cast members throughout the show's forty-year history, coming in seventh on its list of all 141 members.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/lists/saturday-night-live-all-141-cast-members-ranked-20150211/7-phil-hartman-20150211|title=7. Phil Hartman|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=February 11, 2015|access-date=August 23, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924225344/http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/lists/saturday-night-live-all-141-cast-members-ranked-20150211/7-phil-hartman-20150211|url-status=live}}</ref>