Editing Phil Hartman (section)

==Career==

===The Groundlings and Pee-Wee Herman (1975–1985)===
Working alone as a graphic artist, Hartman frequently amused himself with "flights of voice fantasies".<ref name="jerk"/> In 1975, seeking a more social outlet for his talents, he began attending evening comedy classes by the California-based improvisational comedy group [[The Groundlings]].<ref name="atlanta"/><ref name="bh"/><ref name=van/> While watching one of their performances, he impulsively decided to climb on stage and join the cast.<ref name="bookof"/><ref name="jerk"/><ref name="leavesnl"/> His first onscreen appearance was in 1978's ''[[Stunt Rock]]'', an Australian film directed in Los Angeles by [[Brian Trenchard-Smith]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Orndorf |first=Brian |date=2009-10-26 |title=Stunt Rock - 2-Disc Special Edition |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/40331/stunt-rock-2-disc-special-edition/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118035250/https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/40331/stunt-rock-2-disc-special-edition/ |archive-date=November 18, 2018 |website=[[DVD Talk]]}} A young Phil Hartman cameos, part of a larger group of Groundlings cadets that filled in as extras</ref> After several years of training, paying his way by redesigning the group's logo and merchandise, Hartman formally joined The Groundlings and by 1979 was one of the show's stars.<ref name=van/>

There Hartman befriended [[Paul Reubens]], with whom he often collaborated on comedic material. Together they created the character [[Pee-wee Herman]] and developed ''[[The Pee-wee Herman Show]]'', a live stage show that subsequently aired on [[HBO]] in 1981.<ref name="jerk"/> Hartman played [[Captain Carl]] in the show, and reprised the role for the children's TV show ''[[Pee-wee's Playhouse]]''.<ref name="jerk"/> Reubens and Hartman made cameos in the 1980 film ''[[Cheech and Chong's Next Movie]]''.<ref name="bh">{{cite news |author=Knutzen |first=Eirik |date=1997-06-29 |title=TV book |page=TV 11 |work=[[Boston Herald]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Short |first=Christopher |date=2006-07-11 |title=Playhouse Party – Cartoon Network reanimates Pee-wee Herman Hartman then co-wrote the script of the 1985 feature film |page=Life 1 |work=[[The Gazette (Colorado Springs)|The Gazette]]}}</ref> Hartman co-wrote the script of the 1985 feature film ''[[Pee-wee's Big Adventure]]'' and had a cameo role as a reporter.<ref name="ew"/><ref name="atlanta"/> He had considered quitting acting at the age of 36 due to the challenges of finding work; but the success of ''Pee-wee's Big Adventure'' changed his mind.<ref name="hamilton">{{cite news |author=Thomas |first=Bob |date=1995-08-22 |title='No spikes, no sudden downfalls': Slow and steady wins the race for Phil Hartman |page=D3 |work=[[The Hamilton Spectator]]}}</ref><ref name="newfaces">{{Cite news |date=1986-09-30 |title=Four New Faces on 'Saturday Night' |page=44 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> After a creative disagreement with Reubens, he left the Pee-Wee Herman project to pursue other roles.<ref name="jerk">{{cite web |last=Thompson |first=Bob |date=1996-12-01 |title=The Jerky Guy |url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/H/Hartman_Phil/1996/12/01/758979.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711225150/http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/H/Hartman_Phil/1996/12/01/758979.html |archive-date=2012-07-11 |access-date=2008-08-04 |publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer|Canoe]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="bottle"/><ref name=nice/>

Hartman took more small roles in 1986 films such as ''[[Jumpin' Jack Flash (film)|Jumpin' Jack Flash]]'' and ''[[Three Amigos]]''. He also worked as a voice actor in animated television programs, including ''[[The Smurfs (1981 TV series)|The Smurfs]]'', ''[[Challenge of the GoBots]]'', ''[[The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo]],'' and in ''[[Dennis the Menace (1986 TV series)|Dennis the Menace]]'' as Henry Mitchell and George Wilson and most of the adult male characters. After season 1, Hartman (who by this point had joined the cast of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'') was replaced by [[Maurice LaMarche]].<ref name="cbs profile"/> He developed a strong persona providing voice-overs for advertisements.<ref name="leavesnl"/>

===''Saturday Night Live'' (1986–1994)===
Hartman successfully auditioned to join [[NBC]]'s variety show ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' (''SNL'') in its [[Saturday Night Live (season 12)|12th season]], which began on October 11, 1986.<ref name="ew"/> He had been recommended for the show by fellow Groundlings and ''SNL'' cast members [[Jon Lovitz]]<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite web |author=Carter |first=Bill |date=1998-10-07 |title=A Hard Job to Accept: A Slain Buddy's Show |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/07/arts/a-hard-job-to-accept-a-slain-buddy-s-show.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527075654/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/07/arts/a-hard-job-to-accept-a-slain-buddy-s-show.html |archive-date=2015-05-27 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> and [[Laraine Newman]], as well as ''Jumpin' Jack Flash'' director [[Penny Marshall]].<ref name="EWMerry">{{cite magazine |author=Cagle |first=Jess |date=1994-03-11 |title=Merry Hartman, Merry Hartman |url=https://ew.com/article/1994/03/11/merry-hartman-merry-hartman/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026043948/https://ew.com/article/1994/03/11/merry-hartman-merry-hartman/ |archive-date=2015-10-26}}</ref> He told the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', "I wanted to do [''SNL''] because I wanted to get the exposure that would give me box-office credibility so I can write movies for myself."<ref name="newfaces"/> In his eight seasons with the show Hartman became known for his impressions, and performed as over 70 different characters. Hartman's original ''SNL'' characters include [[Eugene, the Anal Retentive Chef]] and [[Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer]].<ref name="cbs profile"/> His impressions include [[Frank Sinatra]], [[Ronald Reagan]], [[Ed McMahon]], [[Barbara Bush]], [[Charlton Heston]], [[Kelsey Grammer]], [[Michael Caine]], [[Oliver Stone]], [[Phil Donahue]], [[Telly Savalas]], [[Barry Humphries]], [[Kirk Douglas]] and [[Bill Clinton]]{{mdash}}the latter considered his best-known impression.<ref name="ew"/><ref name="cad"/>

Hartman first performed his Clinton impression on an episode of ''[[The Tonight Show]]''.<ref name="dallas"/> When he met Clinton in 1993, Hartman remarked, "I guess I owe you a few apologies",<ref name="dallas"/> adding later that he "sometimes [felt] a twinge of guilt about [his Clinton impression]".<ref name="cad"/> Clinton showed good humor and sent Hartman a signed photo with the text: "You're not the president, but you play one on TV. And you're OK, mostly."{{efn|This is a reference to a prominent [[Vicks]] cough syrup advertisement, in which actor, [[Peter Bergman]] states, "I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV."}}<ref name="cad"/> Hartman copied the president's "post-nasal drip" and the "slight scratchiness" in his voice, as well as his open, "less intimidating" hand gestures. Hartman opted against wearing a larger prosthetic nose when portraying Clinton, as he thought it would be distracting. He instead wore a wig, dyed his eyebrows brighter, and used makeup to highlight his nose.<ref name=van/> In one of Hartman's sketches as Clinton, the president-elect visits a [[McDonald's]] restaurant and explains his economic policies and support for [[Operation Restore Hope]], the military intervention in Somalia, by the metaphor of eating other customers' food.<ref name="dallas"/>
[[File:ClintonHartman.jpg|thumb|right|Hartman appears as [[Bill Clinton]] on ''Saturday Night Live''<ref name="dallas">{{cite news |author=Bark |first=Ed |date=1998-05-29 |title=Hartman was actor who put on many faces—Impersonation of Clinton among most memorable |page=25A |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Political impersonations always a hit on 'Saturday Night Live'|date=October 18, 2008|work=[[The Grand Rapids Press]]|author=Reimink, Troy|page=A2}}</ref>]]
At ''SNL'', Hartman's nickname of "Glue" was coined by [[Adam Sandler]] according to [[Jay Mohr]]'s book ''[[Gasping for Airtime]]''.<ref name="van">{{cite news |author=Rice |first=Darcy |date=August 1996 |title=100 Flavors of Vanilla |pages=34–40 |work=[[Orange Coast Magazine]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Mohr |first=Jay |url=https://archive.org/details/gaspingforairtim00mohr/page/164 |title=Gasping for Airtime |publisher=Hyperion |year=2004 |isbn=1-4013-0006-5 |page=[https://archive.org/details/gaspingforairtim00mohr/page/164 164] |author-link=Jay Mohr}}</ref> However, according to ''You Might Remember Me: The Life and Times of Phil Hartman'' by Mike Thomas, author and staff writer for the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', the nickname was created by ''SNL'' cast member and Hartman's frequent on-screen collaborator [[Jan Hooks]].{{sfn|Thomas|2014|p=1}} Hartman was very helpful to other cast members. For example, he aided Hooks in overcoming her [[stage fright]].<ref name=hooks/> ''SNL'' creator [[Lorne Michaels]] explained the name: "He kind of held the show together. He gave to everybody and demanded very little. He was very low-maintenance."<ref name="surface"/> Michaels added that Hartman was "the least appreciated" cast member by commentators outside the show, and praised his ability "to do five or six parts in a show where you're playing support or you're doing remarkable character work".<ref name="cbs profile"/> Hartman won the [[Primetime Emmy Award]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program|Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program]] for ''SNL'' in 1989, sharing the award with the show's other writers. He was nominated in the same category in 1987, and individually in 1994 for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program|Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program]].<ref name="Emmys"/>

By 1993, almost every cast member who was there during Hartman's first year on ''SNL'' had left the show, including Jon Lovitz, Jan Hooks and [[Dana Carvey]]. Hartman said he felt "like an athlete who's watched all his [[World Series]] teammates get traded off into other directions ... It was hard to watch them leave because I sort of felt we were all part of the team that saved the show."<ref name="leavesnl"/> This cast turnover contributed to his leaving the show in 1994.<ref name="cad"/> Hartman said he thought it was time to leave because the show was "getting less sophisticated" and his style of humor did not fit with the less intellectual comedy of newer cast members like [[Adam Sandler]].<ref name="EWMerry" /> Hartman had originally planned to leave the show in 1991, but Michaels persuaded him to stay to raise his profile; his portrayal of Clinton contributed to this goal.<ref name="leavesnl">{{cite news |author=Rosenthal |first=Phil |date=1993-11-23 |title='SNL's' Grand Old Man—With Friends Gone, Hartman Prepares To Make His Exit |page=L1 |work=[[Los Angeles Daily News]]}}</ref> [[Jay Leno]] offered him the role of his sidekick on ''The Tonight Show'' but Hartman opted to stay on ''SNL''.<ref name="king2">{{cite interview |last=Hartmann |first=John |interviewer=[[Larry King]] |title=Interview |work=[[Larry King Live]] |publisher=[[CNN]] |location=[[Los Angeles, California]] |date=2003-02-20}}</ref><ref name="adman">{{cite news |author=Boss |first=Kitt |date=1992-10-01 |title=Phil Hartman Makes Like A Primo Pitchman |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19921001/1516047/phil-hartman-makes-like-a-primo-pitchman |url-status=live |access-date=2010-01-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712204428/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19921001&slug=1516047 |archive-date=2015-07-12}}</ref> NBC persuaded him to stay on ''SNL'' by promising him his own comedy–variety show ''The Phil Show''.<ref name="cad"/> He planned to "reinvent the variety form" with "a hybrid, very fast-paced, high energy [show] with sketches, impersonations, pet acts, and performers showcasing their talents". Hartman was to be the show's executive producer and head writer.<ref>{{cite news |author=Tribune Media Services |date=1994-07-31 |title=Hartman's Departure Spawns Variety Show |page=10 |work=[[Sun-Sentinel]]}}</ref> Before production began, however, the network decided that variety shows were too unpopular and canceled the series. In a 1996 interview, Hartman noted he was glad, as he "would've been sweatin' blood each week trying to make it work".<ref name="cad">{{cite news |author=Freeman |first=John |date=1996-03-08 |title='NewsRadio's' McNeal livin' it up as despicable cad |page=E-1 |work=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]}}</ref> In 1998, he admitted he missed working on ''SNL'', but had enjoyed the move from New York City to Southern California.<ref name="bottle"/>

===''NewsRadio'' (1995–1998)===
Hartman became one of the stars of the NBC [[situation comedy|sitcom]] ''[[NewsRadio]]'' in 1995, portraying radio news anchor Bill McNeal. He signed up after being attracted by the show's writing and use of an [[ensemble cast]],<ref name=van/><ref name="newsradiocancel"/> and joked that he based McNeal on himself with "any ethics and character" removed.<ref name="bottle"/> Hartman made roughly {{US$|50000|1995}} per episode of ''NewsRadio''.<ref name="surface"/> Although the show was critically acclaimed, it was never a ratings hit and cancellation was a regular threat. After the completion of the fourth season, Hartman commented, "We seem to have limited appeal. We're on the edge here, not sure we're going to be picked up or not", but added he was "99&nbsp;percent sure" the series would be renewed for a fifth season.<ref name="newsradiocancel">{{cite news|title=Good News/Phil Hartman brings back the Titanic on 'NewsRadio'|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=August 11, 1998|author=McDaniel, Mike|page=1}}</ref> Hartman had publicly lambasted NBC's decision to repeatedly move ''NewsRadio'' into different timeslots, but later regretted his comments, saying, "this is a sitcom, for crying out loud, not brain surgery".<ref name="bottle"/> He also stated that if the sitcom were cancelled "it just will open up other opportunities for me".<ref name="newsradiocancel"/> Although the show was renewed for a fifth season, Hartman was killed before production began.<ref name="finalep"/> [[Ken Tucker]] praised Hartman's performance as McNeal: "A lesser performer ... would have played him as a variation on ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]''{{'}}s [[Ted Baxter]], because that's what Bill was, on paper. But Hartman gave infinite variety to Bill's self-centeredness, turning him devious, cowardly, squeamish, and foolishly bold from week to week."<ref name="kentucker">{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1998/05/29/phil-hartman-remembered/|title=Hartman Remembered|access-date=October 28, 2008|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|author=Tucker, Ken|date=May 29, 1998|archive-date=October 12, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012094008/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,83524,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Hartman was posthumously nominated for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor - Comedy Series|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series]] in 1998 for his work on ''NewsRadio''. [[David Hyde Pierce]] won the award for his performance on ''[[Frasier]]''.<ref name="Emmys">{{cite web |title=Primetime Emmy Awards Advanced Search |url=http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904172046/http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search |archive-date=2013-09-04 |access-date=2008-10-31 |publisher=[[Primetime Emmy Awards]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www1.salon.com/ent/glow/1998/07/23glow.html|title=Blue glow|access-date=June 22, 2007|date=June 23, 1998|work=[[Salon.com]]|author=Millman, Joyce|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728193325/http://www.salon.com/ent/glow/1998/07/23glow.html|archive-date=July 28, 2009|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

===''The Simpsons'' (1991–1998)===
Hartman provided the [[voice actor|voices]] for numerous characters on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] animated series ''[[The Simpsons]]'', appearing in 52 episodes.<ref name="ew"/> He made his first appearance in the [[The Simpsons (season 2)|second season]] episode "[[Bart Gets Hit by a Car]]". Although he was originally brought in for a one-time appearance, Hartman enjoyed working on ''The Simpsons'' and the staff wrote additional parts for him. He voiced the recurring characters [[Lionel Hutz]] and [[Troy McClure]], as well as several background characters.<ref>[[Matt Groening|Groening, Matt]]; [[James L. Brooks|Brooks, James L.]]; [[Al Jean|Jean, Al]]; [[Nancy Cartwright|Cartwright, Nancy]]. (2003). Commentary for "[[Bart the Murderer]]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> His favorite part was that of McClure,<ref name=nice/> and he often used this voice to entertain the audience between takes while taping episodes of ''NewsRadio''. He remarked, "My favorite fans are Troy McClure fans."<ref name="bottle">{{cite news |author=Rohan |first=Virginia |date=1998-02-24 |title=Out of the Bottle—Along With Many Amusing Characters, Phil Hartman of 'Newsradio' Unleashes the Rare Exception |page=Y-01 |work=[[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]]}}</ref> He added "It's the one thing that I do in my life that's almost an avocation. I do it for the pure love of it."<ref>{{cite news|title=No raise ... no big deal|date=May 11, 1998|page=1|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref>

Hartman was popular among the staff of ''The Simpsons''. [[Showrunners]] [[Bill Oakley]] and [[Josh Weinstein]] said they enjoyed his work, and used him as much as possible when working on the show. To give Hartman a larger role, they developed the episode "[[A Fish Called Selma]]", which focuses on Troy McClure and expands the character's backstory.<ref name="fcs">[[Josh Weinstein|Weinstein, Josh]]; [[Bill Oakley|Oakley, Bill]]; [[David Silverman (animator)|Silverman, David]]; [[Jeff Goldblum|Goldblum, Jeff]]. (2006). Commentary for "[[A Fish Called Selma]]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox</ref> ''The Simpsons'' creator [[Matt Groening]] said that he "took [Hartman] for granted because he nailed the joke every time",<ref name="ew"/> and that his voice acting could produce "the maximum amount of humor" with any line he was given.<ref name="inter"/> Before his death, Hartman had expressed an interest in making a [[live action]] film about Troy McClure. Many of ''The Simpsons'' production staff expressed enthusiasm for the project and offered to help.<ref>Oakley, Bill. (2006). Commentary for "[[Homerpalooza]]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox</ref> Hartman said he was "looking forward to [McClure's] live-action movie, publicizing his [[Betty Ford clinic|Betty Ford]] appearances",<ref name="jerk"/> and "would love nothing more" than making a film and was prepared to buy the film rights himself in order to make it happen.<ref name=nice/>

===Other work===
Hartman's first starring film role came in 1995's ''[[Houseguest]]'', alongside [[Sinbad (entertainer)|Sinbad]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Hartman, Sinbad Play it for Laughs in 'Houseguest'|date=May 29, 1994|author=Vancheri, Barbara|work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|page=C-14}}</ref> Other films include ''[[Greedy (film)|Greedy]]'', ''[[Coneheads (film)|Coneheads]]'', ''[[Sgt. Bilko]]'', ''[[So I Married an Axe Murderer]]'', ''[[CB4]]'', ''[[Jingle All the Way]]'', the English [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]]/[[GKIDS]] dub of ''[[Kiki's Delivery Service]]'', and ''[[Small Soldiers]]'', the latter of which is his final theatrically released film.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://movies.nytimes.com/person/93625/Phil-Hartman/filmography|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417235824/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/93625/Phil-Hartman/filmography|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 17, 2008|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=2008|title=Phil Hartman Filmography|access-date=August 16, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=1998's top closing moments|work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]|date=December 6, 1998|page=Arts 1|author=Philpot, Robert}}</ref> At the same time, he preferred working on television.<ref name="leavesnl"/> His other television roles include appearances on episodes of ''[[The John Larroquette Show]]'', ''[[The Dana Carvey Show]]'', ''[[3rd Rock from the Sun]]'',<ref name="ew"/> and the HBO TV film ''[[The Second Civil War]]'' as the [[President of the United States]].<ref name="dallas"/> He made a considerable amount of money from television advertising,<ref name="king2"/> earning $300,000 for a series of four commercials for the soft drink [[Slice (soft drink)|Slice]].<ref name="adman"/> He also appeared in advertisements for McDonald's (as Hugh McAttack) and [[1-800-Collect]] (as Max Jerome),<ref name="salon">{{cite news|url=http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/feature/1998/05/28feature.html|title=Phil Hartman 1948–1998|work=Salon.com|author=Millman, Joyce|date=May 28, 1998|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604193802/http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/feature/1998/05/28feature.html|archive-date=June 4, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> as well as British advertisements for [[Golden Wonder]]'s [[Pot Noodle]], including ''[[Computer Graphic (advertisement)|Computer Graphic]]''.<ref name="York">{{cite journal |last1=York |first1=Peter |title=You know you want it... |journal=[[The Independent|The Independent: Media Weekly]] |date=May 2, 2005 |page=13}}</ref>

Hartman wrote a number of screenplays that were never produced.<ref name="king2"/> In 1986, he began writing a screenplay for a film titled ''Mr. Fix-It'',<ref name="newfaces"/> and completed the final draft in 1991. [[Robert Zemeckis]] was signed to produce the film, with Gil Bettman hired to direct. Hartman called it "a sort of a merger of horror and comedy, like ''[[Beetlejuice]]'' and ''[[Throw Momma From the Train]]''", adding, "It's an American nightmare about a family torn asunder. They live next to a toxic dump site, their water supply is poisoned, the mother and son go insane and try to murder each other, the father's face is torn off in a terrible disfiguring accident in the first act. It's heavy stuff, but it's got a good message and a positive, upbeat ending." Zemeckis could not secure studio backing, however, and the project collapsed.<ref>{{cite news|title='SNL' Co-star Looking For Studio|date=October 9, 1991|page=5E|work=[[Tribune Media Services]]}}</ref> Another film idea involving Hartman's Groundlings character Chick Hazard, Private Eye was also canceled.<ref name="newfaces"/>