Comedy Turned Tragedy: Ex-Wife Recalls Romantic Trips With Phil Hartman Before Death

Known as one of the most beloved comedians of the ‘90s, Phil Hartman led a life filled with joy, laughter and love. While he often lost himself in his dark characters and mysterious life, he always maintained a sense of generosity toward everyone he knew. On May 28, 1998, his troubled third wife, Brynn Hartman, shot him dead after a wild night of drugs and booze.

Now, in REELZ’s new docuseries, Phil Hartman: Behind Closed Doors, host Natalie Morales sits down with friends, loved ones and colleagues of the late funnyman to talk about his wonderful life — which was unfortunately cut short at the hands of his mentally ill wife.

“It was quiet and beautiful, and he could be free in nature,” says Phil Hartman’s second wife, Lisa Jarvis, recalling the romantic vacations the two used to take to Catalina.

“There’s a series of photographs that we staged, this wacky boat disaster. And we’d rented this little tiny boat — it probably went three miles an hour,” she continues in the show teaser.

“He came up with this idea that ‘Ok Lisa, this boat has gone out of control, this boat is out of control,’ so he posed himself so that he was steering the wheel.”

The video then shows a series of old pictures of Phil and Lisa making wild poses aboard a small boat.

“That’s the kind of thing we used to do. We used to make up these little goofy skits and be silly,” remembers Lisa with a laugh.

Phil Hartman: Behind Closed Doors airs Sunday, May 27 at 9:00 ET/ 8:00 PT on REELZ.

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