Phil Hartman

Philip "Phil" Edward Hartman (originally Hartmann) (September 24, 1948 – May 28, 1998) was a graphic artist, writer, actor and comedian born in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. He was also one of several notable graduates from Westchester High School in Los Angeles, California. Hartman became a U.S. citizen in the early 1990s. The exact timing of his switch from "Hartmann" to "Hartman" is unknown, but all of his acting credits after 1986 were as "Hartman."

Television career

In 1986, Hartman joined the cast of NBC's popular variety show Saturday Night Live and stayed for eight seasons, which was a record at the time. Hartman was known for his impressions, which included Ronald Reagan, Charlton Heston, Frank Sinatra, Telly Savalas, Ed McMahon, Michael Caine, Jack Nicholson, Barbara Bush, Burt Reynolds, Phil Donahue, and former president Bill Clinton, which was perhaps his best-known impression. His other Saturday Night Live characters included Frankenstein and Unfrozen Cave Man Lawyer. Also in 1986, Hartman was chosen to play the role of Captain Carl, one of Pee-Wee Herman's close friends and famed sea captain in the first season of Pee-Wee's Playhouse.

Related Topics:
1986 - NBC - Saturday Night Live - Ronald Reagan - Charlton Heston - Frank Sinatra - Telly Savalas - Ed McMahon - Michael Caine - Jack Nicholson - Barbara Bush - Burt Reynolds - Phil Donahue - Bill Clinton - Frankenstein - Unfrozen Cave Man Lawyer - Captain Carl - Pee-Wee Herman - Pee-Wee's Playhouse

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From 1991 to 1998, Hartman also provided the voices for a number of characters on the popular animated series, The Simpsons, including dubious attorney Lionel Hutz and B-movie actor Troy McClure.

Related Topics:
1991 - 1998 - Voices - Animated series - The Simpsons - Attorney - Lionel Hutz - B-movie - Troy McClure

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In 1994, Hartman left SNL. In 1995, he became one of the stars of the NBC sitcom NewsRadio, where he portrayed radio newsman Bill McNeal.

Related Topics:
1994 - 1995 - Sitcom - NewsRadio

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His last role was in the English version of Hayao Miyazaki's Kiki's Delivery Service, where he provided the voice of Jiji the cat.

Related Topics:
English - Hayao Miyazaki - Kiki's Delivery Service

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