Mural to honour SNL, Simpsons, News Radio star Phil Hartman to be celebrated on Nov. 4 in Brantford

The new mural to celebrate the life of actor and comedian Phil Hartman pays tribute to his extraordinary career on Saturday Night Live, News Radio, The Simpsons and more.

The City of Brantford, Ont., will celebrate the completion of the mural on Nov. 4, 2024.

Hartman was born in Brantford in 1948 and is best known for his eight seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live as well as an actor on The Simpsons, where he was the voice of characters Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure. He was also an expert impressionist on Saturday Night Live, famous for his takes on former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan, as well as singers like Frank Sinatra and Elton John.

The celebration on Nov. 4 is open to the public, will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and will feature a performance by local comedian Graham Chittenden, the city said in a press release on Monday. The mural is located on the east wall outside the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts in Brantford. 

The release says the mural includes a "delicate purple ribbon near his lapel serves as a tribute to victims of domestic violence." Hartman was shot and killed by his wife in 1998, at the age of 49. The mural also features "locations from Hartman's youth, such as his childhood home and Wilkes Dam," a Brantford landmark.

Paul Hartmann, Phil's brother, said the mural was "a beautiful tribute to someone who is missed by so many. Phil would be very proud and humbled by this fantastic mural."

In an interview in July with CBC Hamilton, Hartmann said, "You can't measure the loss of somebody like him in a family.

"I'm ecstatic about any celebration of Phil's life," he said. "I really want Brantford to name a street after him. I think he deserves it."

The release says the mural was created by DRIFT Mural Co. after a process which included consultation with "various stakeholders, including Nova Vita Domestic Violence Prevention Services, the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts, local actor and comedian Calwyn Shurgold, and the Hartmann family."

Mayor of Brantford Kevin Davis said the mural "celebrates the remarkable achievements of one of our most famous residents and highlights the profound connection between his legacy and the City of Brantford."

Hartman grew up in Brantford, but his family moved to the United States when he was 10, ultimately ending up in California where he became a graphic designer for album covers, and eventually got into comedy and acting.