Versatile Phil Hartman came to the SNL cast through a circuitous route that began with Los Angeles' The Groundlings improv/sketch comedy troupe.

Born in Canada in 1948, Phil immigrated to the United States with his parents when he was still a boy. Most of his childhood was spent in Southern California, where he studied graphic design at California State University. Early in his career, he designed album covers for a living. Most famously, he designed the logo for the band Crosby, Stills, & Nash. In the early '80s, he eschewed his career as a graphic designer to become a comedic actor by joining The Groundlings theater.

Hartman became an SNL cast member in 1986 and remained for eight seasons, a record he shared with Kevin Nealon until Tim Meadows and Darrell Hammond surpassed them both. During his SNL tenure, Hartman created dozens of characters and impersonations and lent his voice to numerous characters on "The Simpsons," as well as taking parts in the occasional film.

In 1995, he starred in the sitcom "News Radio" but his role in the show was tragically cut short when his wife, Brynn, ended his life before ending her own. In tribute to Hartman, "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening named a character on his show, "Futurama," after the beloved comic actor.