Who did Phil Hartman play in So I Married an Axe Murderer? Character explored as fans demand late actor be honored at Alcatraz over 1993 role

In the 1993 cult classic So I Married an Axe Murderer, Phil Hartman infamously portrayed Alcatraz tour guide John Johnson, who identifies as “Vicky.” Even in that small role, his iconic Hartman’s deadpan delivery, darkly enthusiastic demeanor, and comedic timing made the role unforgettable.

Even more disturbing is Vicky’s unnerving calm as he relishes narrating the prison tour, most especially when describing “the hole,” an infamous isolation cell.

Those who’ve followed the talented Hartman during his Saturday Night Live or The Simpsons era are shocked this insignificant cameo went unnoticed. Now, over thirty years later, Hartman fans are demanding that the National Park Service memorialize him at Alcatraz, his filming location.

Support has not only flooded social media, but requests for a plaque have centered around honoring the character who transformed a genuine tour into a cult comedy classic.

Hartman’s depiction of “Vicky” is repeatedly referenced as an example of the small parts he managed to convert into enduring cultural moments. His combination of humor and creepiness made a banal guide scene one of the most memorable parts of the film. That’s a performance that, some argue, warrants a permanent Oscar recognition at the shrine.

A chilling performance that still resonates

Hartman’s Vicky was more than a punchline. It was a case of comic strip tension. While moving tourists around this eerie void of a prison, he dryly explains, “This is where we kept the really bad guys. Some of them went mad.”

As food blogger Puddingyrl wrote in Finger in the Pudding,

“Despite his droll delivery, you can see the obvious glee in his eyes as Vicky gives his tour group the inside scoop on the murderous escapades of Alcatraz’s more notorious inmate.”

The blog even honored the role with a dish named Vicky’s (No) Escape from Alcatraz Pizza, which mocks The Escape from Alcatraz with prison-style gory egg toppings and prosciutto eyeballs.

The performance was so distinctive that at first, some viewers assumed Hartman had a larger role to play in the movie. Rather, he manages to create a memorable moment in less than five minutes—a defining mark of his comic prowess.

In a 2023 retrospective, The Ringer commented,

“Vicky is one of those characters that shows how much Hartman could do with so little. It’s a masterclass in one-scene acting.”

Calls grow louder for an Alcatraz tribute

Now, fans are demanding a tribute right on the grounds of Alcatraz. One post that went viral states, “Phil Hartman made ‘Vicky’ iconic in four minutes. Alcatraz needs a plaque. Give the man his cell!” Reddit threads and fan forums have echoed the sentiment, proposing anything from a small plaque to be placed near the tour site, or even a motion-activated audio clip featuring Hartman’s spine-chilling monologue.

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While the National Park Service hasn't publicly addressed these demands, the idea continues to gain support. For many people, memorializing Hartman at Alcatraz would not only celebrate a brilliant comic but would capture one of the prison’s most surprising, memorable pop culture moments.

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