A disturbing coincidence in an episode of The Simpsons has been picked up by fans saddened by the violent death of one of its best-loved stars.
Phil Hartman, an American-Canadian voice actor, writer, and comedian played the parts of lawyer Lionel Hutz and B-movie actor Troy McClure on the hit cartoon series.
He also played conman Lyle Lanley in the fan-favourite episode Marge vs. the Monorail which sees the town of Springfield buy a dodgy railway that leads to disaster.
The 49-year-old actor, who was also a star on Saturday Night Live, was tragically shot dead in his sleep by his wife Brynn Hartman, 40, 23 years ago today (May 28, 1998).
(Image: FOX)
After returning from a meal out on the evening of May 27, 1998, Hartman had a “heated” argument with her husband, which reportedly culminated in the Simpsons actor threatening to end their marriage.
He then went to sleep in a separate room.
At around 3am on May 27, a drunk and cocaine-fuelled Hartman walked into her husband’s bedroom with a handgun. She then shot him dead as he slept, firing one round between his eyes, one in his throat and the third in his upper chest.
Hartman immediately drove to friend Ron Douglas’ house and confessed to the brutal crime. Despite not believing her, Ron returned to the scene with her and discovered her husband’s body.
(Image: FOX)
As he called the police, she locked herself in the bathroom and soon after ended her own life with a gunshot to the head.
Los Angeles police stated Hartman’s death was caused by “domestic discord” between the couple.
The Simpsons cast and writers mourned the loss of Hartman and the episode Bart the Mother featuring his last appearance is dedicated to him.
All his characters were also subsequently retired by the creators.
(Image: GETTY)
But fans of the show also noticed something eerie about Hartman’s second-to-last appearance in the episode All Singing All Dancing, which originally aired on January 4, 1998.
The musical-style episode has the Simpsons family performing songs and routines – until violent criminal Snake holds them hostage at gunpoint and demands they stop.
When the credits roll, as shown in the clip at the top of this page, Snake fires his gun and shouts: “Yo, I told you to stop the music, dudes! I’m serious!”
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The gunshot sound effect occurs at the exact same moment when Phil Hartman’s name appears in the credits, which spooked out some fans who noticed the coincidence and discussed it on YouTube.
One fan wrote: “This creeped me tf out.”
Some else commented: “Phil Hartman’s final credits (Gunshots SFX) Creepy.”
Another viewer said: “Because he was murdered in his sleep as his wife shot him in the head. It happened on my 13th birthday.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
