History of Phil Hartman in Timeline
"Philip Edward Hartman was a multi-talented Canadian-American artist. Born in Brantford, Ontario, he made a significant impact on American comedy and entertainment. After moving to the U.S. at age ten, he initially pursued graphic design, creating album art for notable bands. His career took a turn towards comedy when he joined 'The Groundlings'. There, he collaborated with Paul Reubens, shaping the iconic character 'Pee-wee Herman', contributing to the film 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure', and becoming a recognizable figure on 'Pee-wee's Playhouse'."
November 8, 1914: Birth of Rupert Loebig Hartmann
Phil Hartman's father, Rupert Loebig Hartmann, was born on November 8, 1914.
July 17, 1919: Birth of Doris Marguerite Wardell
Phil Hartman's mother, Doris Marguerite Wardell, was born on July 17, 1919.
September 24, 1948: Birth of Phil Hartman
On September 24, 1948, Phil Hartman was born as Philip Edward Hartmann in Brantford, Ontario, Canada.
April 11, 1958: Birth of Brynn Omdahl
Brynn Omdahl, who would later marry Phil Hartman, was born on April 11, 1958.
1969: Hartman Drops Out of College
In 1969, Phil Hartman made the decision to drop out of Santa Monica City College to work as a roadie for a rock band.
1970: Marriage to Gretchen Lewis
Phil Hartman married Gretchen Lewis in 1970.
September 1972: Divorce from Gretchen Lewis
Phil Hartman and his first wife, Gretchen Lewis, divorced in September 1972.
1972: Hartman Returns to College
After working as a roadie, Phil Hartman decided to return to college in 1972. He enrolled at California State University, Northridge, to study graphic arts.
1975: Hartman Joins The Groundlings
In 1975, Hartman decided to pursue comedy and joined the comedy group The Groundlings.
1975: Hartman Explores Comedy with The Groundlings
Seeking a more social outlet for his talent, Phil Hartman began attending evening comedy classes by The Groundlings in 1975.
1978: Hartman's First On-Screen Appearance
Phil Hartman made his first on-screen appearance in the Australian film "Stunt Rock", directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith, in 1978.
1979: Hartman Becomes a Star with The Groundlings
After years of training and contributing to The Groundlings, Phil Hartman officially joined the group and rose to become one of their stars by 1979.
1980: Cameo Appearance in "Cheech and Chong's Next Movie"
Paul Reubens and Phil Hartman made a cameo appearance in the film "Cheech and Chong's Next Movie" in 1980.
1981: The Pee-wee Herman Show Premieres on HBO
"The Pee-wee Herman Show", created by Paul Reubens and Phil Hartman, debuted on HBO in 1981.
1982: Marriage to Lisa Strain
Phil Hartman married real estate agent Lisa Strain in 1982. Their marriage lasted for three years.
1985: Release of "Pee-wee's Big Adventure"
"Pee-wee's Big Adventure", co-written by and featuring a cameo appearance by Phil Hartman, hit theaters in 1985.
October 11, 1986: Hartman's Debut on "Saturday Night Live"
Phil Hartman's first appearance on "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) marked the beginning of his eight-season run on the show, which premiered on October 11, 1986.
1986: Start of "Mr. Fix-It" Screenplay
Phil Hartman began writing the screenplay for a film titled "Mr. Fix-It" in 1986.
1986: Hartman Joins Saturday Night Live
Phil Hartman joined the cast of the renowned sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) in 1986.
1986: Hartman Takes on Various Roles
Phil Hartman took on several small acting roles in films and lent his voice to various animated television programs in 1986.
1987: Hartman Marries Brynn Omdahl
Phil Hartman married Brynn Omdahl in 1987.
1987: Primetime Emmy Award Nomination
Phil Hartman received his first Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 1987 in the category of Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program for his work on SNL.
1989: Primetime Emmy Award Win
In 1989, Phil Hartman won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program for his work on SNL, sharing the award with the show's other writers.
1989: First Appearance on "Late Night with David Letterman"
Phil Hartman made his first appearance on "Late Night with David Letterman" in 1989, showcasing his fluency in German.
1989: Hartman Wins a Primetime Emmy Award
Phil Hartman's exceptional work on "Saturday Night Live" earned him a Primetime Emmy Award in 1989.
1991: Completion of "Mr. Fix-It" Screenplay
In 1991, Phil Hartman completed the final draft of his screenplay, "Mr. Fix-It." However, despite director Gil Bettman and producer Robert Zemeckis attached, the project failed to secure studio backing.
1991: Planned Departure from SNL
Phil Hartman had planned to leave SNL in 1991 but was persuaded by Lorne Michaels to stay to raise his profile.
1993: Cast Turnover on SNL
By 1993, many of the original cast members from when Phil Hartman started on SNL had left the show, including big names like Jon Lovitz, Jan Hooks, and Dana Carvey.
1993: Hartman Meets President Clinton
Phil Hartman had the opportunity to meet President Bill Clinton, whom he famously impersonated, in 1993.
1994: Hartman Leaves SNL
After eight seasons, Phil Hartman departed from "Saturday Night Live" in 1994.
1994: Primetime Emmy Award Nomination
Phil Hartman was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program in 1994.
1995: Joining NewsRadio
Phil Hartman joined the cast of the NBC sitcom NewsRadio in 1995, portraying the character of radio news anchor Bill McNeal.
1995: Starring Film Role in "Houseguest"
Phil Hartman landed his first starring film role in the 1995 movie "Houseguest," where he appeared alongside Sinbad.
1996: Reflection on "The Phil Show" Cancellation
In a 1996 interview, Hartman expressed relief that his comedy-variety show, "The Phil Show," was canceled by NBC before production began, believing it would have been incredibly challenging to make it work.
1996: Final Appearance on "Late Show with David Letterman"
Phil Hartman made his last appearance on "Late Show with David Letterman" in 1996, marking 13 appearances on Letterman's shows between 1989 and 1996.
1997: Religious Views
In 1997, Phil Hartman stated that he identified as a non-practicing Catholic but still maintained a sense of religiousness.
1997: Correspondence with Michael T. Scott
In 1997, Phil Hartman wrote a handwritten letter to Michael T. Scott, who would later become a partner at Worker Studio. This letter resurfaced in 2013 and led to the "Flat TV" adaptation deal.
April 30, 1998: Death of Rupert Loebig Hartmann
Rupert Loebig Hartmann, Phil Hartman's father, passed away on April 30, 1998.
May 27, 1998: Dinner with Christine Zander
On May 27, 1998, Brynn Hartman had dinner with producer and writer Christine Zander at Buca di Beppo in Encino, California. Zander described Brynn as being "in a good frame of mind" during the outing.
May 28, 1998: Tragic Death
In the early hours of May 28, 1998, Phil Hartman was fatally shot by his wife, Brynn, in their home. He was 49 years old.
May 28, 1998: Death of Phil Hartman
Phil Hartman tragically passed away on May 28, 1998.
June 13, 1998: Tributes and Dedications
On June 13, 1998, a special episode of Saturday Night Live aired to commemorate Phil Hartman's work on the show. The episode concluded with one of Hartman's performances, adding a poignant layer of remembrance.
August 1998: Posthumous Casting and Projects
In August 1998, Phil Hartman was scheduled to begin production on the indie film "The Day of Swine and Roses" alongside Jon Lovitz, showcasing his continued involvement in various projects up until his death.
1998: Missing SNL and Enjoying California Life
In 1998, Phil Hartman admitted that while he missed working on SNL, he enjoyed the change of pace and lifestyle that came with moving from New York City to Southern California.
1998: Tragedy Strikes the Hartman Family
In a heartbreaking incident in 1998, Phil Hartman was shot and killed by his wife, Brynn, who then took her own life.
1998: Posthumous Emmy Nomination
Phil Hartman received a posthumous Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 1998 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Bill McNeal on NewsRadio.
1999: Wrongful Death Lawsuit
In 1999, Brynn Hartman's brother, Gregory Omdahl, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Pfizer, the manufacturer of Zoloft, and her psychiatrist, Arthur Sorosky, who had provided her with Zoloft samples.
April 15, 2001: Death of Doris Marguerite Wardell
Doris Marguerite Wardell, Phil Hartman's mother, passed away on April 15, 2001.
2002: Release of "Flat TV"
In 2002, Laugh.com and John Hartman, Phil Hartman's brother, released "Flat TV," a comedy album featuring sketches recorded by Hartman in the 1970s. The album provided a glimpse into his early comedic work.
2006: Jon Lovitz's Allegations Against Andy Dick
In 2006, Phil Hartman's friend and former SNL colleague, Jon Lovitz, alleged that Andy Dick had reintroduced Brynn Hartman to cocaine, leading to a relapse and nervous breakdown. Lovitz later retracted his blame towards Dick but claimed that Dick had confronted him about Hartman's death.
2007: Posthumous Recognition
In 2007, Entertainment Weekly ranked Phil Hartman as the 87th greatest television icon of all time, solidifying his legacy as a comedic legend.
April 2012: Sirius XM Tribute
In April 2012, Ben Miner of the Sirius XM Radio channel Laugh Attack dedicated the entire month to Phil Hartman, showcasing his enduring impact on the comedy world.
September 22, 2012: Canada's Walk of Fame Induction
On September 22, 2012, Phil Hartman was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame, honoring his contributions to the entertainment industry and his Canadian heritage.
2012: Posthumous Induction into Canada's Walk of Fame
Phil Hartman was honored posthumously with an induction into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2012.
June 2013: Announcement of Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
In June 2013, it was announced that Phil Hartman would receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing his significant contributions to the entertainment industry.
2013: "Flat TV" Animation Adaptation
In 2013, "Flat TV" was optioned for an animated adaptation by Worker Studio, showcasing the enduring legacy of Hartman's comedic material.
August 26, 2014: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
On August 26, 2014, Phil Hartman received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, cementing his status as a prominent figure in the entertainment world.
2014: Posthumous Induction into the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 2014, Phil Hartman received a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2015: Rolling Stone Ranking
In 2015, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Phil Hartman as the seventh greatest Saturday Night Live cast member out of 141, solidifying his place among the show's most iconic performers.
