The Tragic Life Of A Very Funny Man
Comedian’s murder came as a shock to the world, but everything in his life led up to it.
Phil Hartman. It’s a name that brings back warm feelings, maybe even a few chuckles. That’s because he was a legendary comedian, known for his raucous humor that was designed to make a point but clean enough for the whole family.
Hartman was best known for his stints on Saturday Night Live, The Simpsons, and his star vehicle NewsRadio. Fans flocked to each show and watched as their favorite was able to milk laughs from even the most minute lines.
He seemed to be on top of the world. But underneath the surface lie emotional problems that followed him throughout his life.
The Past Is Never Far Away
In the early ’70s, Hartman grew facial hair and subscriber to the hippie doctrine. He was all about free love and a gypsy lifestyle on the road. As a result, he worked as a roadie for Rockin Foo. His duties included designing their album covers, something he was quite astute at.
While working with the band, he met his first wife, Gretchen Lewis. They were hot and heavy for a while, unable to keep their hands off of one another. They married in 1970 but the chemistry and relationship came to a crashing…
