 He often played supporting roles , rather than the lead part . He said " throughout my career , I 've never been a huge star , but I 've made steady progress and that 's the way I like it , " and " It 's fun coming in as the second or third lead . If the movie or TV show bombs , you aren 't to blame . " Hartman was considered a " utility player " on SNL with a " kind of Everyman quality " which enabled him to appear in the majority of sketches , often in very distinct roles . Jan Hooks stated of his work on SNL : " Phil never had an ounce of competition . He was a team player . It was a privilege for him , I believe , to play support and do it very well . He was never insulted , no matter how small the role may have been . " He was disciplined in his performances , studying the scripts beforehand . Hooks added : " Phil knew how to listen . And he knew how to look you in the eye , and he knew the power of being able to lay back and let somebody else be funny , and then do the reactions . I think Phil was more of an actor than a comedian . " Film critic Pauline Kael declared that " Phil Hartman and Jan Hooks on Saturday Night Live are two of the best comic actors I 've ever seen . " 
