Who was the TV star shot to death by his wife about 5-9 yrs. ago?

Answer 1

Phil Hartman

Answer 2

I believe you're thinking of Phil Hartman. He was on Saturday Night Live years ago, did voiceovers on The Simpsons and was in a movie or two. He was a very funny man and died an unfortunate death.

Answer 3

Phil Hartman?

Answer 4

Phil Hartman
On May 28th, 1998, Phil was shot to death while sleeping in his Encino, California home by his wife, Brynn Hartman. He was shot three times: in the forearm, neck, and head. Brynn left the house and later came back with a friend to show him the dead body. When her friend went to call 911, Brynn locked herself in the bedroom with Phil's lifeless body and stuck a second gun in her mouth and shot herself. It was later discovered by the coroner that Brynn had alcohol, cocaine and the antidepressant, Zoloft, in her system. It was a deadly cocktail that cost her and Phil their lives, and left their two children, Sean Edward (b. 1987) and Birgen (b. 1992) without parents.

Answer 5

Phil Hartman. He did a lot of voices on the Simpsons.

Answer 6

Are you thinking of Phil Hartman? His wife shot him in 1998 and then killed herself.

Answer 7

Unfortunately, it was Phil Hartman.

Answer 8

phil hartman

Answer 9

phil hartman

Answer 10

Phil Hartman from Saturday Night Live.


Death

Hartman was a victim of murder-suicide. He was murdered by his wife, Brynn, on May 28, 1998, in his Encino, California home, at the age of 49. While Phil slept, Brynn came into the bedroom with a revolver that reportedly Phil had given to her as a present, aimed it at Phil and shot him in the head, fatally wounding him. Death was presumably instant. She drove to the home of Ron Douglas, a friend of hers, and said "I shot Phil," after which she passed out. Douglas did not believe her, until he found the gun in her handbag. Brynn woke back up and drove the two back to Phil's house, where Douglas saw Phil's lifeless body. He called paramedics and the police, but when the police arrived Brynn fled to the bedroom where Phil was. Brynn pulled out a second revolver and committed suicide by shooting herself in the head. Douglas was allowed a brief look at the body, before going into the hallway and dialing 911.

Police dispatcher: Emergency operator 614.
Ron Douglas: Yeah, hi, this is 5065 Encino Blvd. And, um, I was called over to the residence. I think there's been a shooting here.
Dispatcher: OK, do you see a victim?
Douglas: Yes.
Dispatcher: OK, hold on for the paramedics, OK? One moment.
Douglas: OK.
Dispatcher: I want you to stay on the line.
Douglas: OK.
Fire dispatcher: Fire Department emergency operator, how may I help you?
Douglas: Yeah, hi, there's been a shooting at 5065 Encino Blvd.
Fire dispatcher: How many people are shot?
Douglas: Just one, and um ...
Fire dispatcher: Do you know what part of the body?
Douglas: I think around the head and the neck. I just got here.
Fire dispatcher: The person who shot him, is he still around?
Douglas: Yeah, she's his wife.
Fire dispatcher: (unintelligible) the wife shot him and they're both there?
Douglas: Yeah.
Fire dispatcher: Is she hurt at all?
Douglas: I'm not sure. I'm trying to calm her down. OK?
Police dispatcher: Hello, sir?
Douglas: Yeah.
Dispatcher: Did, uh, was this on purpose or was this an accident or what sir? Do you know what happened?
Douglas: I have no idea. ... She was drunk. She said she killed her husband and I didn't believe her.
Dispatcher: OK, are they both there right now?
Douglas: You're right. Now, can you trace this address because I'm not sure?
Dispatcher: All right, where's the weapon now?
Douglas: It's in my hand because, um, she brought it to my house.
Dispatcher: What's your name sir?
Douglas: My name's Ron, Ron Douglas.
Dispatcher: All right sir, we're going to get the officers on the way.
Douglas: OK.

When authorities arrived, the front door of the Hartman house was ajar. They escorted Douglas outside right away. They found Sean Hartman, age 9, and removed him as well. When police returned to remove Birgen, age 6, they heard a single gunshot from the master bedroom.

There were no signs of a struggle. Hartman was found wearing shorts and a T-shirt, lying sideways on the bed. His wife lay next to him with a gunshot wound to her head. She'd obtained a second revolver. Relatives of the Hartmans released a statement.

"Phil and Brynn were a loving couple, devoted to each other and their children. This tragedy is not indicative of who she was or who they were together."

Phil Hartman directed in his will that he be cremated. His ashes were scattered over Santa Catalina Island's Emerald Bay. It was further agreed that the first guardian who agreed to take care of Sean and Birgen would be awarded $50,000. According to the executor of Hartman's estate, Zoloft manufacturer Pfizer Inc. and Brynn Hartman's psychiatrist, Arthur Sorosky, were at fault for Hartman's death. A wrongful death suit would be filed against them both.

[edit] Response

Hartman was mourned greatly in Hollywood. NewsRadio produced a special episode where the cast tearfully mourned the death of Hartman's on-screen counterpart. Jon Lovitz joined the show in his place and stayed with it until its ultimate cancellation. Lovitz had been a Saturday Night Live cast member alongside Hartman for four seasons, and had also worked with Hartman when they both had cameos in the 1986 comedy Three Amigos. Lovitz and Hartman's former SNL colleagues also gave him an emotional remembrance at the SNL 25th Anniversary show in 2000. Hartman's nickname, coined by Adam Sandler, according to Jay Mohr's book Gasping for Airtime was "Glue", because of his way of working well with everyone, and keeping many episodes together. Hartman was widely praised for his efforts to help new writers and castmembers, as well as his professionalism on and off the set.

Out of respect, the writers on The Simpsons retired Hartman's characters, rather than finding another voice actor. The episode "Bart the Mother" marked his final appearance on the show, and was dedicated to him. On audio commentary tracks accompanying The Simpsons DVD releases, the appearance of a Hartman character uniformly evokes heartfelt praise from the writers, show runners, directors, and creators, et al., who are commenting. A number of major Simpsons players talk at length about their experience of Hartman as a rare combination of professionalism, effortless comedic facility, friendliness, and decency. The most frequent commentators often spoke of their practice to write a Hartman character into episodes whenever possible, simply to get him into the studio. On at least one occasion, the writers commenting say that they considered bringing Hartman in as a form of "cheating", as his voice acting could mine humor out of even a mediocre script. Hartman's death is mentioned by the writers only in the course of explaining that replacing him with another voice actor was not considered.

Hartman was appearing in a cliffhanger on the series 3rd Rock from the Sun at the time of his death. His character did not appear in the second episode of the cliffhanger.

At the time of his death, Hartman was preparing to voice Zapp Brannigan, a character on Simpsons creator Matt Groening's other animated series Futurama. Groening wrote the character specifically for him, but Hartman had nonetheless insisted on auditioning. After he died, the lead character, Philip J. Fry, was named in his honor. Billy West (the voice of Fry, among many other Futurama characters) took his place. West's original audition characterization formed the basis for Brannigan's voice, but by coincidence his portrayal bears many similarities to Hartman's own vocal stylings.

Hartman was posthumously nominated for an Emmy Award for his portrayal of Bill McNeal in NewsRadio, but lost out to actor David Hyde Pierce. Upon learning Hartman did not win the award, NewsRadio co-star Dave Foley joked "What's this guy gotta do to win an Emmy?"

Hartman died two weeks after Frank Sinatra, who he had done impressions of on SNL.

[edit] Family

Hartman and his wife Brynn had two children, Sean Edward Hartman (born 1987) and Birgen Hartman (born 1992). His children are being raised in Wisconsin by Brynn's sister and brother-in-law, who are unable to have children of their own. As guardians of Sean and Birgen, they were awarded $50,000 per Phil Hartman's will.[1] In May 2000, the Hartman children were awarded more than $10,000 each in a wrongful death suit. Per Phil Hartman's will, each will receive a third of their inheritance when they reach age 25 (or obtain a bachelor's degree from a four-year accredited university). They get half their inheritance when they turn thirty, and the remainder of Phil Hartman's assets when they turn 35.[2]

[edit] Simpsons roles