Prologue: The Life, Carrer, and Tragedy of Phil Hartman (1948-1998)
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May 27th, 1998
Hartman Residence
Encino, Los Angeles, USA
“Phil! I'm sorry! Just please listen to me for a sec-!”
“No Brynn, We can't keep on doing this.” Phil Hartman said to his wife in a stern tone, eyeing her with concern in his eyes as they stood in the hallway which held the stairs to the upstairs.
“Those drugs are going to ruin your life! You need to get off of them! I don’t want the kids to see you like this, I don’t want you like see this. I want to help you!” his expression soon replaced by that of frustration.
“Tomorrow, I’m calling the rehab center again to sort you out, and If you refuse...I don’t know what we’re going to do.”
“But-!”
“And no buts! It's that, or it's over.”
Hartman proceeded to march up the stairs, enter his bedroom, and slam the door shut in frustration, he had just had another argument with his wife after he had found out that she was doing cocaine again, he confronted her when she returned home after a night out with a friend, in which he warned her that if she did fell back into her drug addiction, he would leave her, and likely take the kids. Despite what he said though, as harsh at is was, Phil still loved Brynn, he just wanted her to get away from the stuff that was obviously going to ruin her life.
He meet Brynn when she was a model on a blind date in 86', and the two got married soon afterward, and had Sean and Birgen, their two kids. She had been known to have an alcohol and drugs addiction in the past and tried to stop it a few years ago, but all of that came crashing down in 97' when some sick fuck gave her cocaine as a Christmas present, and soon enough she relapsed back into addiction. He was going to try to call one of the rehab centers again, to see if they could try to help his wife get back onto her feet again, if they couldn't, well, he simply didn't know what to do at that point.
With a depressed sigh, he climbed into bed and drifted off to sleep.
...
Phil Edward Hartmann was born on September 24, 1948, in Ontario, Canada. He was the fourth of eight children of Doris Marguerite (Wardell) and Rupert Loebig Hartmann, a salesman specializing in building materials. His parents were Catholic and raised their children in that faith. As a child Hartman found affection hard to earn and stated: "I suppose I didn't get what I wanted out of my family life, so I started seeking love and attention elsewhere."
Hartman was ten years old when his parents decided to pack up and move the family to the United States. There, Hartman attended Westchester High School and frequently acted like the class clown. After graduating, Hartman studied art at Santa Monica City College, dropping out in 1969. In the late 1970s, Hartman made his first television appearance on an episode of
The Dating Game; he won but unfortunately was stood up by the girl.
Working alone as a graphic artist, Hartman frequently amused himself with "flights of voice fantasies". Citing the need for a more social outlet for his talents, Hartman, aged 27, began in 1975 to attend evening comedy classes run by the California-based improvisational comedy group The Groundlings. While watching one of the troupe's performances, Hartman impulsively decided to climb on stage and join the cast. His first movie appearance was in the 1978 film Stunt Rock directed by Brian Trenchard Smith. After several years of training, paying his way by re-designing the group's logo and merchandise, Hartman formally joined the cast of The Groundlings; by 1979 he had become one of the show's stars.
Hartman met fellow comedian Paul Reubens and the two became friends, often collaborating on writing and comedic material. Together they created the character Pee-wee Herman and developed The Pee-wee Herman Show, a stage performance which also aired on HBO in 1981. Hartman played Captain Carl on The Pee-wee Herman Show and returned in the role for the children's show Pee-wee's Playhouse. Reubens and Hartman made cameos in the 1980 film Cheech & Chong's Next Movie. Although he had considered quitting acting at the age of 36 due to limited opportunities, the success of Pee-wee's Big Adventure brought new possibilities and changed his mind. After a creative falling-out with Reubens, Hartman left the Pee-Wee Herman project to pursue other roles.
In 1986, Hartman successfully auditioned for NBC's variety show Saturday Night Live (SNL) and joined the cast and writing staff. In his eight seasons with the show Hartman became known for his impressions, and performed as over 70 different characters. Hartman's original Saturday Night Live characters included Eugene, the Anal Retentive Chef and Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer. His impressions included Singer Frank Sinatra, Former POTUS Ronald Reagan,
Who Do You Trust? Host Ed McMahon, Former First Lady Barbara Bush, Actor Charlton Heston, Television Host Phil Donahue and Current POTUS Bill Clinton; the last was often considered his best-known impression on the show. He later left the programme in 1994, after 8 years of service.
In the 90s Hartman joined
The Simpsons, one of the most popular animated television shows at the time, portraying many lovable characters such as the corrupt lawyer Lionel Hutz, prolific actor Troy McClure, intimidating Fat Tony, and conning Lyle Lanny. Along with this, he signed up for the new live action show
Newsradio, in which he potrayed the bombastic Bill McNeal. Each of his portrayals gained praise from fans who enjoyed his wacky, funny personality and quips. He would go on to win several awards for his comedic talent and skill on both shows.
Stephen Root, Hartman's
NewsRadio co-star, felt that few people knew "the real Phil Hartman" as he was "one of those people who never seemed to come out of character," but he nevertheless gave the impression of a family man who cared deeply for his children, an image that would soon change in his later life. In his spare time, Hartman enjoyed driving, flying, sailing, marksmanship, and playing the guitar.
Hartman married his first wife, Gretchen Lewis, in 1970, but divorced sometime before 1972. He then married real estate agent Lisa Strain in 1982, but their marriage lasted three years. Strain told
People that Hartman was reclusive off screen and "would disappear emotionally ... he'd be in his own world. That passivity made you crazy."
And then, there was Hartman's third wife.
Vicki Jo Omdahl was born in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. On May 20, 1977, she married Douglas Iver Torfin, but they later divorced. Later, she met Hartman while working as a Catalina swimsuit model. At the time, Phil's career was near its highest point. On November 25, 1987, she married Phil. They had two children: Sean Edward Hartman (born 1987) and Birgen Hartman (born 1992).
The marriage had difficulties, Brynn reportedly felt intimidated by her husband's success and was frustrated she could not find any on her own – although neither party wanted a divorce, Hartman considered retiring to save the marriage. He tried to get Brynn acting roles but she became progressively more reliant on narcotics and alcohol, entering rehab several times. Because of his close friendship with SNL associate Jan Hooks, Brynn joked on occasion that Hooks and Hartman were married "on some other level".
But in the middle of the Height of Hartman's career, things would come to a halt, as on May 28th, 1998, an event would happen that would not only forever affect Hartman, but also the rest of the entertainment world.
...
Hartman suddenly found himself awoken from his slumber when he heard the sound of something smashing to the ground, along with the muffled cussing of his wife, coming from the hallway. He slowly sat up from his bed, looking to his left he saw that it was still 2 AM according to the alarm clock, much to his annoyance, he got up and went to investigate what was going on.
"
If Brynn has...started again...I swear." Phil thought, as he approached and opened the door.
What happened next caused everything to change.
Brynn stood at the doorway, a look of drunken rage on her face, with some white powder on her nose. Hartman, now furious, was about to yell at her when he stopped mid-shout and froze as he saw what was in her hand -- A .38 caliber handgun, her finger on the trigger, pointing right at him.
Hartman, shocked at what he was seeing, had no time to gawk or ask what he was looking at, as he tried to grab the gun out of his wife's hand, but she kept her grip as the two struggled.
“Brynn what the hell-! ARRGH!”
A surge of burning pain entered Hartman's stomach as Brynn had pulled the trigger, he frooze as he realized that he had just been shot, he then yelled again as a second bullet rang into his stomach, his fist reflexed and punched the gun upwards as a result, a third gunshot ringing out afterward.
The last sound Hartman would hear before he would stumble and fall backward and smack his head on the bedroom floor and be knocked unconscious would be the bang of a fourth gunshot and then the crash of a window shattering. His vision and hearing both going blurry, before going black altogether.
...
When he came to, Phil found himself staring at a bright light. Thinking he was in heaven, he opened his eyes further to see that he was actually in a hospital, lying in a bed. As he tried to sit up, he groaned and clenched his stomach area, remembering that he was shot there. He looked up to see that there was a doctor standing outside the door through the window, talking to someone, who then turned to glance inside the room, his eyes widening as his gaze met Phil's "Oh my god!".
The doctor rushed inside, accompanying him was a nurse and a police officer, all of whom had faces of grim or sadness, "Mr. Hartman, you are very lucky to have of survived, you had lost quite alot of blood in your stomach area, but we managed to stop the bleeding and get you on painkillers."
Hartman did not say anything, to confused at his situation.
"We are very glad you are okay Mister Phil, we'll get you bandaged up and you will be able to see your family," The nurse said, trying to be supportive.
The police officer cleared his throat and then asked; "Mr. Hartman, we need to know what had happened in your home before you were shot, the neighbors had called the police when they heard your window shatter, thinking it was a home invasion, before we-", Phil interrupted the officer with a question.
"Wh-...What about Vicki? Is...is she alright?"
The policeman's frown got only sadder, as his uncertain eyes met with the famous comedian's, he felt a lump rise in his throat as he hesitated to bring the bad news to the man who made him and his family smile when they would watch Television, but he couldn't just ignore the man's question. With a few more seconds of hesitation, Officer Jonathan Parker told Hartman what had happened.
"Sir, we discovered your wife Vicki sprawled out on the bedroom floor, she had been shot by her own gun, where the bullet entered her skull and through her brain...she was pronounced dead on sight."
It was at that moment when Hartman suddenly fainted, his heart nearly having an attack from shock, panic, and guilt. Doctors tried their best to wake him back up, but Hartman was once again unconscious...
Rest in Peace
Brynn Hartman
April 11, 1958 – May 28, 1998
