You Might Remember Me: The Life and Times of Phil Hartman
Whether it's Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz on The Simpsons, or Frankenstein and Keyrock the Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer on Saturday Night Live, the characters are unforgettable. The man behind them all was, of course, Phil Hartman. Hartman’s immense talent and dedication to his craft led his SNL cast mates to nickname him “The Glue”, the performer who held everything together in a sketch.
Mike Thomas’ new biography of Hartman is long overdue. Through interviews with family, friends, ex-wives and others, we learn of Hartman’s humble beginnings in Brantford, Ontario, his family’s move to southern California in the 1960s, and his lesser-known first career as an album cover artist (check out some of his work here.) The most enjoyable part of the book begins when Hartman starts his performing career, first with the LA comedy troupe the Groundlings and then on SNL.
Sadly, Hartman is just as well remembered for his tragic and shocking death. The book dedicates a large portion to Hartman’s final hours, and the media storm after the fact. It is difficult to read a book knowing how it will end, but Thomas manages to let us, if just for a while, have Phil back.