Steve Martin
American comedian and writer known for his stand-up special with Martin Short.
Stephen Glenn Martin was born on August 14, 1945, in Waco, Texas, and raised in a Baptist family in Southern California, where he worked at Disneyland as a teenager, honing skills in magic and juggling. He first gained national attention as a writer for *The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour*, winning a Primetime Emmy Award in 1969, and later became a frequent host on *Saturday Night Live*. During the 1970s, Martin emerged as one of the most popular stand-up comedians in America, known for his offbeat, absurdist routines performed before sold-out theaters. His film career includes starring roles in *The Jerk*, *Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid*, *The Man with Two Brains*, *All of Me*, *¡Three Amigos!*, *Planes, Trains and Automobiles*, *Roxanne*, *Dirty Rotten Scoundrels*, *L.A. Story*, *Bowfinger*, and *Looney Tunes: Back in Action*. He also played family patriarchs in *Parenthood*, the *Father of the Bride* films, *Bringing Down the House*, and the *Cheaper by the Dozen* films. Since 2015, he has toured extensively with Martin Short, and in 2021 co-created and starred in the Hulu series *Only Murders in the Building* with Short and Selena Gomez. A lifelong banjo player, Martin has released music albums, won multiple Grammy Awards for both comedy and music, and authored the books for the Broadway productions *Bright Star* and *Meteor Shower*. His accolades include the Mark Twain Prize, Kennedy Center Honors, an Honorary Academy Award, and an AFI Life Achievement Award.
- field
- Comedian, actor, writer, producer, musician
- nationality
- American
Lore & Background
Steve Martin co-wrote and performed the 2018 stand-up comedy special *An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life* with Martin Short. The special was taped at the Peace Center in Greenville, South Carolina, and features new comedy bits, musical sketches, and conversations about the two old friends' long careers, most memorable encounters, and their lives in showbiz. About the release, Steve Martin joked on Twitter, "Now we're like Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle except for the pay!" The special was released on Netflix on May 25, 2018. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 100% approval rating based on 10 reviews, with the critics consensus reading, "Brimming with sidesplitting laughs and off the wall energy, Steve Martin And Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget For the Rest of Your Life is a nostalgic celebration of two comedy legends."
Reader's Guide
Steve Martin's 2018 special *An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life* showcases his long friendship and collaboration with Martin Short. The performance, directed by Marcus Raboy, includes music by The Steep Canyon Rangers and jazz pianist Jeff Babko. The special earned four Primetime Emmy Award nominations and a Directors Guild of America Award nomination. Critics praised it: *Rolling Stone* called it "Showbiz comfort food" that "captures two veteran comedians resurrecting vaudeville-era schtick – and it feels so good." NPR described it as "aggressively affable and very broad, and sometimes that's just what you need." The special was released on Netflix on May 25, 2018.
Did You Know?
- Steve Martin co-wrote and performed the 2018 special *An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life* with Martin Short.
- The special was taped at the Peace Center in Greenville, South Carolina.
- It features music by The Steep Canyon Rangers and jazz pianist Jeff Babko.
- The special received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations and a Directors Guild of America Award nomination.
- Steve Martin joked on Twitter about the release: "Now we're like Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle except for the pay!"
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Steve Martin?
Steve Martin is an American entertainer born in 1945 who works across stand-up comedy, acting, writing, and music. He became a cultural touchstone through his distinctive absurdist humor, a long film career, and recurring television roles.
What makes Steve Martin's comedy style unique?
His routines rely on deadpan, absurdist scenarios played with a flat, earnest delivery that deliberately undercuts audience expectations. Rather than chasing a traditional punchline, he builds bizarre premises and lets the sheer strangeness of the logic land the laugh.
What major awards has Steve Martin won?
He has collected five Grammy Awards for his musical recordings, a Primetime Emmy for his early television writing, and numerous other honors spanning performance and comedy. His accolades stretch across multiple decades and several creative disciplines.
What role did Steve Martin play on Saturday Night Live?
He was a frequent host during the show's formative 1970s seasons, bringing his signature weird energy in front of the cast. His appearances helped shape the program's blend of celebrity-driven variety with sketch comedy.
How did Steve Martin start his career in comedy?
He first entered the public eye as a writer on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in the late 1960s, earning a Primetime Emmy for that work. He then pivoted to stand-up, where his offbeat routines quickly filled theaters on national tours throughout the 1970s.
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