Tragic Legacy Of Phil Hartman: A Comedian's Rise And Fall

Saturday Night Live has produced far too many legendary comedy actors and long, fruitful careers to lend its title to any kind of curse, but the iconic variety sketch series has seen tragedy befall a fair number of its alumni. And few tragedies were as shocking or heartbreaking as the death of Phil Hartman, who was shot to death in his sleep by his wife in the late night hours of May 28, 1998.

Hartman was an unlikely comedy star

Unlike late stars such as John Belushi and Chris Farley, who were larger than life, or Gilda Radner, who was an iconic original, Hartman was an adaptable everyman who layered subtle charm and smarm into original characters while nailing impressions of the rich, famous, and powerful. A naturally shy person who was educated and had a successful run as a graphic designer, Hartman transitioned to comedy after volunteering to go on stage during a performance by the iconic Groundlings troupe in Los Angeles.

Tracy Newman, a comedian and founding member of The Groundlings, described the energy Hartman brought to the stage: “I never saw an audience member come up with that kind of excitement and energy… it was like a hurricane hit that stage, and I mean in a good way.” His charisma and talent quickly made him a standout performer.

They were so impressed that they invited Hartman to join their traveling troupe as he took classes with them in L.A. He proved not just energetic but a natural showman and brilliant writer; he helped create the Pee-wee Herman character with Paul Reubens and co-wrote the screenplay to its first movie, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.

Jon Lovitz, a fellow Groundlings and SNL castmate, remarked, “Whatever he was going to imagine or say was nothing you could imagine or think of. He could do any voice, play any character, make his face look different without makeup. He was king of the Groundlings.”

Joining Saturday Night Live made Hartman a star

In 1986, Hartman joined the cast of Saturday Night Live as its creator, Lorne Michaels, took back control of the show. Hartman quickly became a fan favorite, known for original characters like the Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer and hit impressions of public figures such as Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Charlton Heston, and Ed McMahon. His work on the show helped revitalize SNL, making it a cultural staple.

By the time he left SNL in 1994, he’d won an Emmy as a writer, been nominated for another as a performer, and was generally considered the most important cast member of a show that he’d helped revive. Hartman was also a regular on The Simpsons, lending his voice to a stable of characters, including B-movie actor Troy McClure.

Although his own variety series failed to take off, he found success in the sitcom NewsRadio, playing an arrogant and clueless radio news anchor. His ability to bring humor to every role solidified his status as a comedy legend.

The comedian had a rocky love life

Despite all of his on-screen success, Hartman’s personal life proved to be more difficult. He was married for a brief time between 1970 and 1972, then again from 1982 to 1985. However, his charisma on stage didn’t always translate to an energetic, gregarious personality off stage. Hartman was known for being low-key, sometimes to a fault.

His second wife, Lisa Jarvis, shared, “My sense of Phil was that he was really two people. He was the guy who wanted to draw and write and think and create and come up with ideas. He was the actor [and] entertainer, and then he was the recluse.” This duality in his personality created challenges in his relationships.

After his divorce from Jarvis, it didn’t take Hartman long to meet the woman who would be his third wife, Brynn Omdahl. “His relationships would always start out very intensely—intense emotionality, sexuality—and then they would inevitably peter out,” said his biographer, Mike Rogers. This pattern highlighted Hartman's search for new experiences and beauty.

Omdahl, who moved to Los Angeles to work as a model and pursue an acting career, struggled in the competitive entertainment field, leading her to develop an addiction to cocaine. Fortunately, she was in recovery and sober when she was set up on a blind date with Hartman in 1986. The pair married a year later.

Hartman and Omdahl’s relationship started off strong but soon began to crack

The Hartmans welcomed two children, a boy named Sean and a girl named Birgen, and Hartman often expressed that he had never been happier than in the mid-’90s. However, the gap in their success levels and Hartman’s reclusive personality began to cause problems in their relationship.

As time went on, the cracks began to show. “Phil does what he did with his last two relationships—he begins to withdraw emotionally,” noted a family friend. They fell into a pattern of fighting and making up that would mark their relationship.

Omdahl’s intense temper and jealousy, even during her sobriety, also contributed to their issues. When Hartman’s prior wife congratulated them after the birth of their son, Omdahl reacted poorly, leading to heated confrontations.

Steve Small, Hartman’s lawyer and close friend, noted, “She had trouble controlling her anger. She got attention by losing her temper. Phil said he had to... restrain her at times.” As their relationship deteriorated, Hartman often retreated, seeking solace by going to sleep after fights.

The couple was fighting on the night of the murder-suicide

By late May 1998, Omdahl was in and out of rehab, struggling with her addiction to drugs and alcohol. On the evening of May 27, after returning from dinner with a friend, she had a few drinks and an argument broke out. Hartman once again retreated to their bedroom.

Around 2 a.m., Omdahl retrieved a .38 Smith & Wesson from their gun collection and shot Hartman multiple times as he slept. He died instantly, leaving behind a shocked family and community.

An hour later, Omdahl called her friend Ron Douglas in a state of hysteria, claiming Hartman was missing. When she arrived at Douglas's home, she collapsed and repeatedly stated that she had killed her husband. However, disbelief clouded the situation, as Douglas misinterpreted her statements.

Eventually, Omdahl sober enough to drive insisted that Douglas follow her home. Upon reaching the Hartman residence, Douglas discovered the tragic scene, leading him to call 911 to report the murder.

As the police rushed to the scene, Omdahl’s friends worked to remove their children from the house. Sean described the gunshots as sounding like a door slamming, unaware of the horror that had just unfolded inside.

With police arriving, Omdahl locked herself in the bedroom, sat beside her deceased husband, and made a final call to her sister. When authorities knocked on the door, she took her own life, sealing the heartbreaking end to a once-promising life.