Phil Hartman’s Children: A Look at Birgen and Sean and How They Remember Their Father

Phil Hartman attends the Planet Hollywood Grand Opening Celebration on October 22, 1991, in New York City.
Credit: Ron Galella Collection via Getty; Bill Nation/Sygma via Getty

Key Facts

• Phil Hartman had two children, son Sean and daughter Birgen, before his death in 1998.
• At the time of his death, Sean was 9 years old and Birgen was 6.
• Now, Birgen is honoring her father’s legacy.

Phil Hartman, a beloved star of Saturday Night Live, was tragically killed in 1998. The shocking incident involved his wife, Brynn, who took both their lives in a murder-suicide, leaving their young children, Sean and Birgen, without parents.

The family’s story captured national attention when Brynn ended both their lives on May 28, 1998. Following the incident, the children were placed in the care of Brynn’s sister in Wisconsin, where they lived mostly out of the public eye. “This is just a tragedy beyond description,” said Rita Wilson, Hartman’s co-star in Jingle All the Way. “Now two children are left without the two most important people in their lives, and with a lifetime of confusion.”

During his career, Hartman became known for his memorable characters on SNL, including the “Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer,” as well as his work as a voice actor on The Simpsons. At the time of his death, he was wrapping up his fourth season on his sitcom NewsRadio. He often spoke about his career choices as a means to spend more time with his children.

In a touching reflection just months before his death, Hartman remarked, “I think in my old age, I’ve come to realize just how precious everything is… But there’s also this sense of vulnerability if fortune took a turn for the worse.”

The following introduces Phil Hartman’s two children and their journeys as they maintain his legacy.

Sean Hartman, 37

Phil Hartman and Brynn welcomed their son, Sean Edward Hartman, in June 1988. According to a former co-star, Sean was “a particular source of pride” for his father, especially due to Sean’s talent in visual arts. Hartman began his career in graphic design, creating album covers for various notable bands.

Sean was just 9 years old when his parents died. He and Birgen were inside the family home at the time of the tragic event. The intense media coverage of the incident exposed the children during a very vulnerable period of their lives. “This is a situation that defines tragedy in every conceivable way,” said Stan Rosenfield, Hartman’s spokesperson, at the time. “There are two very young children and their needs must be attended to.”

In their will, the Hartmans specified that custody of the children would go to Brynn’s sister, Katharine Wright. She and her husband, Mike, raised Sean and Birgen in Wisconsin and Minnesota. “They grew up as loved children,” said Greg Omdahl, Brynn’s brother, expressing pride in how Sean and Birgen have turned out.

Birgen Hartman, 34

The couple’s daughter, Birgen Anika Hartman, was born in February 1992. Hartman’s co-star on Pee Wee’s Playhouse recalled, “He was very, very choked up when Birgen was born… He said, ‘She’s the most beautiful baby in the world.’”

Tributes following the Hartmans’ deaths often recognized their commitment to family. Greg Omdahl remarked upon watching home videos of the Hartman family, noting, “It really brought home what loving parents they were.”

Birgen has openly discussed her past struggles with substance abuse. On her 9-year sobriety anniversary in 2021, she commented about the challenges many faced during the pandemic, encouraging others to seek help. Currently, she works as a consent educator, focusing on educating children and adults about safe and unsafe touch.

In her advocacy work, Birgen has testified before the Minnesota House of Representatives in support of the Beyond Bullying bill. Although she maintains a low profile on social media, she occasionally shares family memories. On what would have been her father’s 74th birthday, she humorously posted, “My dad’s 74th birthday today! Thanks for the personality disorder!”

Birgen married Brandon Dragos in Italy in September 2018. Celebrating their first anniversary, she shared a snapshot from their wedding day, accompanied by a humorous caption about fainting shortly after the photo was taken.

Birgen expressed pride in her father’s enduring legacy, stating, “It’s great that people still love and remember my dad’s characters on The Simpsons. Even after 20-plus years, I still see people quoting Lionel Hutz or sharing Troy McClure memes. I think my dad would have been proud of that.”