Phil Hartman's All-Too-Brief and Incredibly Tragic Life

Legendary actor Phil Hartman had perfected his craft and built a family. However, his life was cut short in a genuinely tragic event.

Hartman was born Philip Edward Hartmann in September 1948, in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, according to IMDb. In 1975, he joined the California comedy troupe, The Groundlings.

He had a role in the 1986 television series "Pee-wee's Playhouse" as pirate Captin' Carl. He also joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live" that same year.

MANY BLESSINGS

Hartman was also known for his voice work at advertisements and cartoons. He was likely most notable for the voices of Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz on the 1989 animated comedy "The Simpsons."

As reported by ABC News, in 1998, he said in an interview, "I think in my old age, I've come to realize just how precious everything is and I try to value the many blessings that have been bestowed upon me."

"But there's also this sense of vulnerability if fortune took a turn for the worse," he added, "and that you live with the awareness that anything could happen in this world."

FAILED MARRIAGES

In 1970, Hartman tied the knot with Gretchen Lewis. However, they divorced two years later. He worked for the talent management agency of his brother by the mid-70s.

In 1982, Hartman was married to his second wife, Lisa Jarvis. After just a year of marriage, however, Jarvis said she understood the relationship was ended.

On May 28, 1998, Omdahl shot and killed Hartman while he was resting in their home.

HIS TRAGIC DEATH

It wasn't long after their divorce that Hartman met former model and aspiring actress Brynn Omdahl, who was born Vicki Jo Omdahl.

Hartman and Omdahl got married in 1987. The couple had two children, son Sean and daughter Birgen, as reported by Heavy. They lived in the Encino-section of Los Angeles.

On May 28, 1998, Omdahl shot and killed Hartman while he was resting in their home. The police found their son running out the front door of the home when they arrived.

A shot was then heard from the inside as the police also helped their daughter get to a safe place. According to Heavy, that was Omdahl ending her own life in their bedroom, where Hartman was killed.

There were no indications of a conflict when they examined the murder scene, said the police. Omdahl reportedly had struggled with anger issues during her union with Hartman.

She was drunk and had taken cocaine at the time she killed her husband. In the lead-up to the incident, it was revealed that Omdahl was likewise taking Zoloft, an anti-depressant.