Phil Hartman was one of America’s favorite funnymen when his wife gunned him down in a shocking murder/suicide on May 28, 1998 — with Brynn Hartman losing her mind after learning her husband had a mistress who was never revealed! The comedy legend — who first came to Hollywood as a graphic designer — found fame at 38 when he joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” in 1986. He quickly became a fan favorite before moving on to the NBC sitcom “NewsRadio” and voicing multiple roles on “The Simpsons.” Unlike other SNL legends, he also had a wholesome exterior hiding his hellish private life…
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Phil tried to hide his marital problems — but told one pal how his wife of 10 years and mother of his two children had made life a nightmare. Brynn was battling insecurity and trying to drown her troubles with a cocktail of booze, anti-depressants and cocaine. When he went home, Phil joked, “I go into my cave and she throws grenades to get me out.”
Photo credit: Getty Images
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But after their final heated argument, Brynn went out with a former lover — and came home at 2 a.m. to pump three slugs into her sleeping hubby with a .38 handgun. She left the children alone and returned to her friend's house to confess. The disbelieving man went back with Brynn to see the body — then called 911 to report the shooter was still in the house, adding: "She's his wife."
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Cops were taking the couple’s children to safety when Brynn grabbed the gun and shot herself in the head. A police insider later confirmed to The ENQUIRER that "Brynn had cocaine in her system at the time of the murder-suicide."
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But, added "NewsRadio" star Joe Rogan: "Without the drugs, without the Zoloft, she was a mess. She was a failed actress who deeply resented [Phil's] success, and as he became more and more successful, their relationship became more and more contentious. She would embarrass him, and insult him publicly. It was ugly."
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That was when Phil finally turned to another woman — with insiders telling The ENQUIRER that Brynn had discovered a suspicious bill from the Tiffany's jewelry empire. "When Brynn asked Hartman if it was her birthday present, he said no," reported a source. "He told her, 'I'm involved with someone else, and I'm going to leave you.'"
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"He genuinely believed that he should stay with his wife," added
Paul Reubens, who worked alongside Phil while developing his character of Pee-Wee Herman. "It was only in the last few days of his life that he broke that golden rule. He never told me who the woman was that he'd found, but he did say she was special."
Photo credit: Getty Images
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Tragically, Phil had alienated other old friends by tolerating Brynn's bizarre behavoir. His first wife, Lisa Strain, later revealed that she'd once received a letter from Brynn warning she'd "rip [Lisa's] eyes out." When she contacted her ex about the note, Phil explained to Lisa that he'd actually gotten his wife to tone down the threat!
Photo credit: Mega
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Steve Small, Phil's longtime friend and attorney, said of Brynn: "She had trouble controlling her anger." The lawyer also revealed that Phil had told him of how often he'd take refuge from his fights with Brynn by simply heading to bed. "I think he felt safe going to sleep," said Small, "and he just shouldn't have."
Phil tried to hide his marital problems — but told one pal how his wife of 10 years and mother of his two children had made life a nightmare. Brynn was battling insecurity and trying to drown her troubles with a cocktail of booze, anti-depressants and cocaine. When he went home, Phil joked, “I go into my cave and she throws grenades to get me out.”
Photo credit: Getty Images
But after their final heated argument, Brynn went out with a former lover — and came home at 2 a.m. to pump three slugs into her sleeping hubby with a .38 handgun. She left the children alone and returned to her friend's house to confess. The disbelieving man went back with Brynn to see the body — then called 911 to report the shooter was still in the house, adding: "She's his wife."
Cops were taking the couple’s children to safety when Brynn grabbed the gun and shot herself in the head. A police insider later confirmed to The ENQUIRER that "Brynn had cocaine in her system at the time of the murder-suicide."
But, added "NewsRadio" star Joe Rogan: "Without the drugs, without the Zoloft, she was a mess. She was a failed actress who deeply resented [Phil's] success, and as he became more and more successful, their relationship became more and more contentious. She would embarrass him, and insult him publicly. It was ugly."
That was when Phil finally turned to another woman — with insiders telling The ENQUIRER that Brynn had discovered a suspicious bill from the Tiffany's jewelry empire. "When Brynn asked Hartman if it was her birthday present, he said no," reported a source. "He told her, 'I'm involved with someone else, and I'm going to leave you.'"
"He genuinely believed that he should stay with his wife," added
Paul Reubens, who worked alongside Phil while developing his character of Pee-Wee Herman. "It was only in the last few days of his life that he broke that golden rule. He never told me who the woman was that he'd found, but he did say she was special."
Photo credit: Getty Images
Tragically, Phil had alienated other old friends by tolerating Brynn's bizarre behavoir. His first wife, Lisa Strain, later revealed that she'd once received a letter from Brynn warning she'd "rip [Lisa's] eyes out." When she contacted her ex about the note, Phil explained to Lisa that he'd actually gotten his wife to tone down the threat!
Steve Small, Phil's longtime friend and attorney, said of Brynn: "She had trouble controlling her anger." The lawyer also revealed that Phil had told him of how often he'd take refuge from his fights with Brynn by simply heading to bed. "I think he felt safe going to sleep," said Small, "and he just shouldn't have."
