Comments on: My Neighbor Totoro: the review

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 30 Oct 2003 15:09:40 +0000

According to imdb.com, Phil Hartman has a brother in the business, but his name is Butch, and he does the cartoon “Fairly Oddparents.” He also does some voice work, so maybe his real name is Kenneth? It isn’t mentioned, however. There is also a Kenneth Hartman, but since he was a t.v. writer in the late 60′s, he’s unlikely to be Phil’s brother OR to be doing the voice of Kanta.

By: Beth

Beth — Wed, 29 Oct 2003 06:52:50 +0000

Totoro! I wound up buying the English-language version for my friend who showed it to me the first time as a wedding gift … I should get a copy for Vic when he gets a little bit older since it’s such a fun story for both kids and adults.

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 29 Oct 2003 04:40:20 +0000

Well, if Kenneth Hartman isn’t playing the father, then I am completely and totally off-base. (Which isn’t exactly a first for me, I’ll admit.)

By: Mark Pierce

Mark Pierce — Wed, 29 Oct 2003 03:49:57 +0000

Diane – I don’t think they’re related based on the following link:

http://www.news-star.com/stories/052998/new_hartman.html

“Born Philip Edward Hartmann in Ontario, Canada, Hartman — who later dropped the second ‘n’ — was one in a line of Canadian-born comedians to find success in the United States, including the late John Candy and “SNL” veteran Dan Aykroyd.”

Phil’s last given name was actually Hartmann with an extra “n”. If Kenneth Hartman was Phil’s brother, then he would have coincidentally also dropped the extra “n”.

- Mark

By: julia

julia — Wed, 29 Oct 2003 03:35:58 +0000

SATSUKI LISA MICHAELSON
MEI CHERYL CHASE
DAD GREG SNEGOFF
KANTA KENNETH HARTMAN
MOTHER ALEXANDRA KENWORTHY
NANNY NATALIE CORE
FARMER STEVE KRAMER
FARM GIRL LARA CODY
KANTA’S MOM MELENIE McQUEEN

fwiw

By: Mark Pierce

Mark Pierce — Wed, 29 Oct 2003 03:18:26 +0000

Diane - I couldn't find a connection between Kenneth and Phil Hartman. I came at the search from Phil's obituary. The closest I could find was at http://obits.com/hartmanphil.htm, which in part reads: "Born the 4th of the 8 children of Doris and Rupert Hartman in Brantford, Ontario CA on September 25th, 1948, Phil Hartman divided his childhood with frequent family moves. The elder Hartman's career as a building supply salesman relocated the family from Canada to Connecticut to California, but the comedian always identified himself with his hometown of Brantford, the birthplace of hockey legend Wayne Gretszky. Though a genial "class clown" through his years at Los Angeles' Westchester High School, Hartman never considered a career as a performer, but pursued graphic arts." As one of eight children, it at least seems possible that Phil could have had a brother named Kenneth. But none of the obits named siblings.