Around 30 people gathered together to celebrate the unveiling of Brantford’s newest mural, titled, “A Star Over Brantford: Tribute to Phil Hartman,” on Monday, November 4, 2024.
Local officials, City staff and community members all came out to pay tribute to the late talent and his accomplishments.
“Today, we gather to celebrate the incredible legacy of Phil Hartman, a beloved comedian, actor and writer whose roots trace back to our very own Branford. As we unveil this mural, we honour not just his extraordinary talent, but also the values and the spirit he carried from our community,” said Councillor Mandy Samwell on behalf of Kevin Davis, Mayor for the City of Brantford. “We are incredibly proud of all that he has accomplished. Phil spent so much of his life making people smile through his work, and my hope is that when our community looks at this beautiful mural that captures the moments from Phil’s story, that it will bring a smile to their faces as they remember a Brantford born man who meant so much to so many. This mural stands as a reminder of Phil’s contribution to the arts and inspiration he provides to all of us, may it serve as a beacon of creativity, encouraging future generations to dream big and embrace their talents.”
Born in Brantford in 1948, Hartman spent his early years in the city before his family relocated to the United States when he was around ten-years-old.
He eventually went on to study graphic design at California State University before entering the workforce as a graphic artist where he designed album covers for bands like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Steely Dan, America and Poco.
Hartman eventually went on to become a key figure in the entertainment industry, co-producing and contributing to The Pee-wee Herman Show, and starring on Saturday Night Live for eight seasons (1986 to 1994). His work on SNL eventually landed him a Primetime Emmy Award in 1989.
A talented actor, Hartman was also known for his characters, Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure, on The Simpsons, as well as the character Bill McNeal on NBC’s NewsRadio sitcom.
A victim of domestic violence, Hartman’s life was cut short in 1998 when he was killed by his then wife who later took her own life.
Councillor Rose Sicoli first brought the project forward through a notice of motion last October, which called for Hartman to be publicly recognized in the city.
After much community consultation, including collecting input from Hartman’s family, now, a year later, the large mural, which was designed and completed by Anaϊs Labrèque and Dominic Laporte, the two co-founders of Drift Mural Co., features several tributes to Hartman’s career.
From Hartman’s childhood home to his SNL sketch with Wayne Gretzky, the iconic photo of the comedian with Brantford’s bronze lion, a film strip commemorating Hartman’s multiple characters and even his graphic design work, each detail of the mural was thoughtfully planned out down to the purple domestic violence ribbon on his portrait’s lapel.
“Thank you to the Drift Mural Company for their meticulously thought out design and masterful installation of this mural, we know for a fact that Phil himself would be very proud and humbled by this beautiful journey,” said Nancy Dale, a cousin of the late Hartman.
Graham Chittenden, a local comedian who emceed the unveiling said, “I love it.”
“When I was growing up, Brantford was always about the Gretzky’s and as a kid who was not tall enough to play hockey at a professional level, this shoutout to the arts is very nice for me,” he said. “I’m a big Phil Hartman fan because I’m a big Simpsons and SNL fan so this is just awesome. It’s everything you could possibly want. The comedy is represented, his acts are represented, it’s colorful, it’s nice, and it’s just fun.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
