The first and only time I cried when I heard a celebrity died was on May 28, 1998, when news broke that actor Phil Hartman had been shot and murdered by his wife, who soon after shot herself, too (their two kids, nine-year-old Sean and six-year-old Birgen were in the house at the time).
I refer to Hartman as an “actor” rather than a “comedian” because he was much more than someone who could just make you laugh, and that’s what separated him from the pack. He had a unique ability to convincingly play intelligent, pompous jerks, while reportedly being one hell of a nice guy in real life.
But goddamn, he could make you laugh, too.
Hartman’s first notable role was as Captain Carl on “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” which eventually led to him being cast on “Saturday Night Live” in 1986. Backstage, he was referred to as The Glue because, according to Lorne Michaels, “He kind of held the show together.” Usually I hate admitting that Lorne Michaels is right about anything, but he was spot-on about Hartman. During the mid- to late-1980s, “SNL” was in a state of flux, still trying to recover from Eddie Murphy (and Joe Piscopo, to a lesser extent) leaving, and while Hartman was never the flashiest of cast members, he was the most consistent. He never half-assed any of his skits, never made the show about him, even though he was by far the best thing about it, and ended up with some of the series’ best characters, like Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer and Bill Clinton. He stayed on “SNL” until 1994, picking up three Emmy nominations (and one win for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music, or Comedy Program, the show’s first since 1977, when Belushi was a cast member) along the way.
While still working at Studio 8H, however, he found a side gig that ended up becoming his most recognizable and famous role: “Hi, I’m Troy McClure, you might remember me from such TV spin-offs as ‘Son of Sanford and Son’ and ‘After Mannix.’” Hartman already had an impressive history of voice actor work, including in The Brave Little Toaster (as the horrifying Air Conditioner), “TaleSpin,” and “Tiny Toon Adventures,” before he was asked to do a one-time role on “The Simpsons.” Everything you need to know about the kind of characters Hartman excelled at playing can be found in his first line on the show, then in its second season: “Hutz is the name, Mr. Simpson. Lionel Hutz, attorney at law. Here’s my card. It turns into a sponge when you put it in water.”
Hartman played likable not-quite-bad guys, who were cocky but never hated. In other words: hacks. Troy McClure, who Hartman said was his favorite role, is the best example of this. He was a big-time movie star (appearing in such films as The Erotic Adventures of Hercules, Christmas Ape Goes to Summer Camp, Calling All Quakers…god, this is fun…Here Comes the Coast Guard, Look Who’s Still Oinking…OK, I’ll stop, after one more…and Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die) who lost almost everything, because of a supposed fish-fetish scandal. Without any artistic credibility, he’s forced to hawk subpar products and host telethons, like the Juice Loosener and Out with Gout ’88. Unlike Hartman, who knew from the start that he was never going to be an A-list name, McClure considered himself the second coming of Brando, the guy who could save Hitler Doesn’t Live Here Anymore from itself and ended up with nothing better than a sham marriage to Selma Bouvier. I bet that’s why Hartman loved the part: it was his sly jab at both Hollywood for being so full of itself and at himself, for knowing that although he’d never be a marquee name, he’dalso never sink to the career lows of his characters, like starring in “Firecrackers: The Silent Killers.”
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Nicely done. I was working nights when he was killed, so I was sleeping in. My mother woke me, telling me to turn on the tv. She was as big a fan as I was, and it depressed us both terribly. Gotta make sure I call her tomorrow. Thanks.
well done, josh, well done.
“Lionel Hutz, court-appointed attorney. I’ll be defending you on the charge of… Murder One! Wow! Even if I lose, I’ll be famous!”
Nice post.
And it says something about Hartman’s acting abilities that he could do scenes opposite a scorchingly hot Khandi Alexander and I would actually look at him. Every now and then.
“We’ve drawn judge splicer. He’s had it in for me since I kinda ran over his dog. Well, replace the word kinda with repeatedly and the word dog with son.”
best. lionel hutz. ever.
I’m actor Troy McClure. You might remember me from such self-help videos as “Smoke Yourself Thin” and “Get Confident, Stupid.”
Couldn’t agree more. Phil Hartman was always special to me. That cast of SNL with Hartman, Jan Hooks, Nora Dunn, Kevin Nealon, Mike Myers, Jon Lovitz, David Spade, and Chris Farley is the reason I still forgive SNL for rarely being funny anymore. I didn’t cry when he died but I did tear up when he was singing his goodbye song on the last episode of SNL on which he appeared.
“That’s why you’re the judge and I’m the law… talking.. guy.”
Anyone seen the Simpsons this season? Oof. It’s tough to watch. Really makes me miss the good old days with Phil.
I’ll always remember him from such driver’s ed films as ‘Alice’s Adventures through the Windshield Glass’ and ‘The Decapitation of Larry Leadfoot.’
/well-written tribute, Josh. RIP Phil.
I hate being sad so is there a way to shift this conversation to how much Andy Dick deserves to die? My rage will clean up the sad very quickly.
Hartman also voiced one of my favorite one-time characters: Smooth Jimmy Apollo.
“Well, folks, when you’re right 52% of the time, you’re wrong 48% of the time.”
“Why didn’t you say that before?!?”
“Hi, I’m Troy McClure. You might remember me from such public service videos as ‘Designated Drivers, the Lifesaving Nerds’ and ‘Phony Tornado Alarms Reduce Readiness.’”
“That’s why you’re the judge and I’m the….law talking guy”.
Well said, and thanks for putting this post together.
My favorite Phil Hartman was when he played Reagan as a mastermind genius on SNL
It should also be note that Hartman was originally supposed to play Zapp Branigan on Futurama, but unfortunately died before the show started. Billy West has said that the voice he does for Zapp is clearly just him doing Hartman.
So he’s even sort of posthumously voicing the best character on a show he was never on.
Second best post I’ve read anywhere in ages… First best being the post following Bin Laden’s death.
So now you’ve tied my memory of Phil Hartman to Osama Bin Laden. Thanks for that.
For some reason, I always remember the sketch where Hartman plays Frank Sinatra bragging about having had sex with all the first ladies.
Nancy Reagan: “Tell me I’m the best, Frankie! Tell me I’m the best!”
Frank Sinatra: “You got the best rack. But a man could eat off Bess Truman’s ass.”
The AV Club had a roundtable on the best one-line deliveries in TV and movies, and one of them picked Hartman’s delivery of “fair enough” at the end of this News Radio clip. (Skip to 4:15 for the line, and Maura Tierney in a bra.)
The Machiavellian-behind-closed-doors Reagan is my favorite SNL character of all time. RIP Phil.
Agreed, Manny and Buddy.
“BACK TO WORK!”
“The Sinatra Group,” FTW.
To this day, I still refer to Sinead O’Connor as “Shinehead.”
“The Sinatra Group,” FTW.
I forgot about that one. Chris Rock as Luther Campbell mumbles something, and Hartman’s Sinatra points at his ear and says “Once more around, pal. Sounds like pops and buzzes from here.”
Great article,except for the fact that now I’m all sad and stuff.
Lisa:” but your card says:Works on contingency. No Money Down.”
Hutz:” No, it says: Works on contingency? No,Money Down.”
Sinatra:”You dont scare me, I got chunks of guys like you in my stool!”
Highly underrated was Hartman’s cameo in ‘So I Married An Axe Murderer’ as the tour guide at Alcatraz… good stuff
[movieclips.com]
Sounds like all you really miss is quality episodes of the Simpsons and your lost youth, not Hartman. Way to make this all about you.
@fwapping pillows Can’t I miss all three?
RIP, Phil. We truly miss you. I know everybody will join me in pouring out some Rocket Fuel Malt Liquor (DAMN!) in your honor.
[www.youtube.com]
I went to High School blocks away from where he lived/was killed. We were out on the field when the helicopters were swarming the area.
Eerie feeling, and it was unbelievable at the time. He was amazing, and still hilarious. RIP.
@fwapping: “Way to make this all about you.”
My, you’re an idiot.
He also was originally cast as the voice of Zapp Brannigan. My god, just imagine how even more awesome that character would be if he was still with us.
@josh – yes you can, but it feels wrong to write an article about the tragic loss of Hartman and have it turn into another exultation of the Simpsons. I loved the beginning of the article. But honestly, the last line you wrote sounds like the end of a sports guy or Reilly column, in the worst way possible. Pandering, misplaced sense of humor and strength in true weakness, and desperately trying to be poignant when the point didn’t need to be about you to be put in perspective. An icon who was impossible not to love was lost for no reason. Do you really think that this making you cry and that you’re willing to admit that to nameless hordes is the coup de grace to explaining the greatness of Phil Hartman?
Lisa: Mr. Hutz, why are you burning your personal papers?
Hutz: As of this moment, Lionel Hutz no longer exists. Say hello to Miguel Sanchez!
@fwapping
First, that’s just, like, your opinion man.
Second, when dealing with issues that affect a writer on a personal level, what would you rather him do? Would this piece have been better had he stayed in the background, a voiceless chorus merely echoing what the rest of the testimonials in print and online have already said? Or should he, as someone clearly affected by Hartman’s passing, give an example of how Hartman was more than a comedian, a face on the screen, a voice to a plethora of yellow cartoon characters? You take issue with his admitting he cried as though it’s some ploy to garner sympathy for himself when it is really a testament to Hartman’s impact on so many people, including the author. He’s not “desperately trying to be poignant”–he’s stating a fact that, when included with the myriad examples included of Hartman’s indelible work, brings into focus both the broad and personal.
Third, you must be a fucking riot at parties. And before you call me out on it, I’m not one either, but people still talk to me at shindigs because I only rain on douchebags’ parades.
“I’ve got chunks of guys like you in my stool!” is a phrase I’d use in sports, often. It’s clean enough not to draw a flag or warning from a ref, assholish enough to irritate the bujeezus out of the target, and funny enough to keep you from looking like a psycho.
I like to imagine that Phil wrote all his funny lines himself. I know that’s not true, but he inhabited his characters so much, it feels true.
Often when I watch a post-Phil Simpsons, I think, “This episode really needs Lionel Hutz,” or “This would be a perfect place for Troy McClure to do a PSA appearance.” But it can’t happen. And that makes me sadder than I should be, watching the Simpsons.
Think about it–The Simpsons was still in its Golden Age when Phil died. Imagine how much funnier for how much longer it would’ve been.
He made two funny shows much, much funnier. He taught me how to imitate Bill Clinton’s voice well enough that I fooled the DNC headquarters in Chicago in a prank call in 1996. He was, from everything I’ve heard, a genuinely nice guy.
I’m not sure why this memoriam is 13 years after his death, but good job. And much respect to all the other Troy/Lionel fans in this thread.
The Sinatra Group is easily SNL’s best sketch. Put Phil in the driver’s seat and go!
“Steve, kick his ass.” “Sure thing, Frank.”
To add on to the trivia about how he was originally supposed to play Zapp Brannigan in Futurama, Fry ended up with the first name Phillip as a tribute to Phil.
I had given up on SNL, after Christopher Guest, Billy Crystal, Rich Hall, and Martin Short all left.
Then one night I tuned in out of curiosity and boredom to see the new cast – and this guy came out and did a perfect Phil Donahue, telling the women in his audience that they were trapped in exploitative relationships because they LIKED being abused.
So, so good. Calling him “the glue” was an understatement.
I have 9th grade acting class read his Rocket Fuel Malt Liquor sketch. It probably isn’t the best choice, but I still laugh when I show them the clips!
@fwapping pillows
wrong blog troll, go play somewhere else
I’ll always remember the commercial he did for Colon Blow
I’ll always love his part of Bruce Willis’ brother in “Blind Date” and as the annoying cousin in “Greedy”. look them up. Phil doesn’t have big parts in these films, but he definitely steals the show in every scene he’s in.
“Lead Paint – Delicious But Deadly”
Another little watched gem was the Michael J. Fox treat “Greedy”. He oozed in that movie.
“The White Boom Boom
Nicely done. I was working nights when he was killed, so I was sleeping in. My mother woke me, telling me to turn on the tv. She was as big a fan as I was, and it depressed us both terribly. Gotta make sure I call her tomorrow. Thanks.”
HAHAHAHA
“Another time I was cut from the high school football team, and my mother said, “Central’s lost a fullback, but the McNeals have gained a daughter. In front of the other players, too! Priceless! Good times.”
Sorry just reading this. Hartman is the only celebrity whose death made me shed a tear. damn it sucks.
Hartman’s death, like Lennon’s, was so senseless. RIP…
I don’t think any TV episode has made me more sad than the first episode of NewsRadio after Phil died. The rest of the actors were trying to so hard to not be emotional but you could easily tell they were very upset about this and it made us, the viewer, sad as well. I know that the last season of NewsRadio is regarded as the worst season, but that first episode of that season is probably the best because of this. RIP Phil Hartman… ;(
missed and will never be forgotten Phil Hartman the best there ever was. http://www.dailystooge.com
From Ric The Real Stooge
So say we all!
Hartman was genius, period. NewsRadio was proof of that in and of itself. SNL and The Simpsons on top of that make him a master. Cheers, Phil, we miss you.
i used to think Joe Rogan was funny, Andy Dick too….it was just Phil dragging them along on News Radio. RIP Phil…I miss you