Martin Hayter Short (born March 26, 1950) is a Canadian and American comedian, actor, and writer. Short is known as an energetic comedian who gained prominence for his roles in

sketch comedy Sketch comedy comprises a series of short, amusing scenes or vignettes, called "sketches" or, "skits", commonly between one and ten minutes long, performed by a group of comic actors or comedians. While the form developed and became popular in ...

. He has also acted in numerous films and television shows. He has received various awards including two

Primetime Emmy Awards The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Owned and operated by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the P ...

, two SAG Awards, and a

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...

. Short was made an Officer of the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada () is a Canadian state order, national order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the Canadian Centennial, ce ...

in 2019. He is known for his work on the television programs '' SCTV'' and ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL'') is an American Late night television in the United States, late-night live television, live sketch comedy variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Michaels and Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC. The ...

''. Short created the characters Jiminy Glick and Ed Grimley. He also acted in the sitcom '' Mulaney'' (2014–2015), the variety series '' Maya & Marty'' (2016), and the drama series '' The Morning Show'' (2019). He has also had an active career on stage, starring in Broadway productions including

Neil Simon Marvin Neil Simon (July 4, 1927 – August 26, 2018) was an American playwright, screenwriter and author. He wrote more than 30 plays and nearly the same number of movie screenplays, mostly film adaptations of his plays. He received three ...

musicals Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement ...

'' The Goodbye Girl'' (1993) and '' Little Me'' (1998–1999). The latter earned him a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and the former a nomination in the same category. On film, Short has acted in

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

s such as '' Three Amigos'' (1986), '' Innerspace'' (1987), '' Three Fugitives'' (1989), '' Father of the Bride'' (1991), '' Captain Ron'' (1992), '' Clifford'' (1994), '' Father of the Bride Part II'' (1995), '' Mars Attacks!'' (1996), '' Jungle 2 Jungle'' (1997), '' Mumford'' (1999) and '' The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause'' (2006). Short voiced roles in '' The Pebble and the Penguin'' (1995), ''

The Prince of Egypt ''The Prince of Egypt'' is a 1998 American animated musical drama film directed by Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, and Simon Wells, and written by Philip LaZebnik, from a story by Kelly Asbury and Lorna Cook. Produced by DreamWorks Pictur ...

'' (1998), '' Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius'' (2001)'',

Treasure Planet ''Treasure Planet'' is a 2002 American animated science fiction film, science fiction adventure film directed by John Musker and Ron Clements and written by Musker, Clements and Rob Edwards (screenwriter), Rob Edwards. Produced by Walt Disney ...

'' (2002), '' Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted'' (2012), '' Frankenweenie'' (2012), and '' The Wind Rises'' (2013). He also voiced

The Cat in the Hat ''The Cat in the Hat'' is a 1957 children's book written and illustrated by American author Dr. Seuss. The story centers on a tall anthropomorphic cat who wears a red and white-striped top hat and a red bow tie. The Cat shows up at the house ...

in the

PBS Kids PBS Kids (stylized as PBS KIDS) is the branding used for nationally distributed children's programming carried by the U.S. public television network PBS. The brand encompasses a daytime block of children's programming carried daily by most PBS ...

series '' The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!'' (2010-2013). In 2015, Short started touring nationally with fellow comedian Steve Martin. In 2018, they released their

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...

special ''

An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life ''An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life'' is a 2018 American Stand-up comedy, stand-up comedy show written and performed by comedians Steve Martin and Martin Short and directed by Marcus Raboy. The special received four Primetime ...

'' which received four

Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Owned and operated by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the P ...

nominations. Since 2021, he has co-starred in the

Hulu Hulu (, ) is an American Subscription business model, subscription streaming media service owned by Disney Streaming, a subsidiary of the Disney Entertainment segment of the Walt Disney Company. It was launched on October 29, 2007, initially as ...

comedy series '' Only Murders in the Building'' alongside Martin and

Selena Gomez Selena Marie Gomez ( ; born July 22, 1992) is an American actress, singer, songwriter, producer, and businesswoman. Gomez began her career as a child actress, appearing on the children's television series ''Barney & Friends'' (2002–2004), a ...

. For his performance he has earned nominations for the

, the

Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Janua ...

, and a Critics' Choice Television Award, and won a SAG Award.

Early life and education

Short was born on March 26, 1950, in

Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario. Hamilton has a 2021 Canadian census, population of 569,353 (2021), and its Census Metropolitan Area, census metropolitan area, which encompasses ...

, the youngest of five children of Olive Grace (née Hayter; 1913–1968), a Canadian-born (of English and Irish descent) concertmistress at the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra, and Charles Patrick Short (1909–1970), a corporate executive at the Canadian steel company

Stelco Stelco Holdings Inc. (known as U.S. Steel Canada from 2007 to 2016) is a Canadian steel company based in Hamilton, Ontario. Stelco was founded in 1910 by the amalgamation of several smaller firms. It continued on for almost 100 years until it ...

who had emigrated from Crossmaglen,

County Armagh County Armagh ( ) is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland and one of the traditional thirty-two counties of Ireland. It is located in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Ulster and adjoins the southern shore of Lough Neagh. It borders t ...

, Ireland as a stowaway during the

Irish War of Independence The Irish War of Independence (), also known as the Anglo-Irish War, was a guerrilla war fought in Ireland from 1919 to 1921 between the Irish Republican Army (1919–1922), Irish Republican Army (IRA, the army of the Irish Republic) and Unite ...

. Short has spoken openly about his father's struggles with

alcoholism Alcoholism is the continued drinking of alcohol despite it causing problems. Some definitions require evidence of dependence and withdrawal. Problematic use of alcohol has been mentioned in the earliest historical records. The World He ...

. Short and his siblings—three older brothers, David, Michael, and Brian, and one older sister, Nora—were raised as Catholics. His eldest brother, David, was killed in a car accident in

Montréal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

in 1962 when Short was 12. Encouraged by his mother in his early creative endeavours, Short attended Westdale Secondary School and then graduated from

McMaster University McMaster University (McMaster or Mac) is a public research university in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main McMaster campus is on of land near the residential neighbourhoods of Ainslie Wood, Ontario, Ainslie Wood and Westdale, Ontario, Westd ...

with a Bachelor of Arts degree in

Social Work Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social wo ...

in 1971. In the meantime, his mother died of cancer in 1968; his father died two years later, of complications from a stroke. His brother, Michael, would go on to become a comedy writer, also spending time at

Second City Television ''Second City Television'', commonly shortened to ''SCTV'' and later known as ''SCTV Network'' and ''SCTV Channel'', is a Canadian television sketch comedy show about a fictional television station that ran intermittently between 1976 and 1984 ...

(SCTV), and is 17 time nominee and three time winner of an

Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...

for comedy sketch writing.

Career

1972–1976: Early theatrical and Canadian television work

As Short was about to graduate from

, rather than immediately pursuing a career in social work, he moved to

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

with intention of temporarily giving acting a shot. Right away, in March 1972, he landed his first piece of paid work as an actor: playing a plastic credit card inside a woman's purse in a Chargex television commercial. He was then cast by

Stephen Schwartz Stephen Lawrence Schwartz (born March 6, 1948) is an American musical theatre composer and lyricist. In a career spanning over five decades, Schwartz has written hit musicals such as ''Godspell'' (1971), ''Pippin (musical), Pippin'' (1972), and ...

for the new 1972 production of the Broadway hit ''

Godspell ''Godspell'' is a musical in two acts with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by John-Michael Tebelak. The show is structured as a series of parables, primarily based on the Gospel of Matthew, interspersed with music mostly set t ...

'' being prepared at Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre. Among other members of that production's cast were Victor Garber, Gilda Radner,

Eugene Levy Eugene Levy (born December 17, 1946) is a Canadian actor and comedian. Known for portraying flustered and unconventional figures, Levy has won multiple accolades throughout his career including four Primetime Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, and ...

, Dave Thomas, Andrea Martin, Jayne Eastwood, and Gerry Salsberg;

Paul Shaffer Paul Allen Wood Shaffer (born November 28, 1949) is a Canadian musician, actor, and comedian who served as David Letterman's musical director, bandleader, and sidekick on ''Late Night with David Letterman'' (1982–1993) and ''Late Show with D ...

was the musical director. As stated by Short in his 2014

memoir A memoir (; , ) is any nonfiction narrative writing based on the author's personal memories. The assertions made in the work are thus understood to be factual. While memoir has historically been defined as a subcategory of biography or autob ...

as well as in the 2018 documentary '' Love, Gilda'', he and Gilda Radner dated each other on and off during that time. Short subsequently found work in several Canadian television shows and theatrical productions. These included being cast for the role of a tough, sexually predatory prison inmate in the 1972 staging of John Herbert's drama '' Fortune and Men's Eyes'' that had the upstart twenty-two-year-old actor commuting back to his hometown

. With the success of ''Godspell'' at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in

downtown Toronto Downtown Toronto is the main city centre of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located entirely within the district of Old Toronto, it is approximately 16.6 square kilometres in area, bounded by Bloor Street to the northeast and Dupont Street to the nor ...

, by late 1972, the production moved uptown to the Bayview Playhouse where it ran for 488 performances. Young Short's increased stage profile led to a guest spot on '' Right On'', a teen-focused live program airing weekly in the after-school timeslot on the

government A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a State (polity), state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive (government), execu ...

-funded CBC TV. He also played the role of Smokey the Hare on the

TVOntario TVO (stylized in all lowercase as tvo), formerly known as TVOntario, is a Canadian Public broadcasting, publicly funded English-language educational television network and media organization serving the Canadian province of Ontario. It operates ...

daytime kids' program ''

Cucumber The cucumber (''Cucumis sativus'') is a widely-cultivated creeping vine plant in the family Cucurbitaceae that bears cylindrical to spherical fruits, which are used as culinary vegetables.Valri Bromfield and

Dan Aykroyd Daniel Edward Aykroyd ( ; born July 1, 1952) is a Canadian actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. Aykroyd was a writer and an original member of the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" cast on the NBC sketch comedy series ''Saturday Nigh ...

) successfully joined the new troupe's first cast. Short, on the other hand, resisted auditioning due to feeling a "phobia of being funny on demand" and considering himself a "traditional song-and-dance performer". In 1974, Short was hired as a writer on '' Everything Goes'', a nightly variety show hosted by Norm Crosby, Mike Darow, and Catherine McKinnon. Produced by and aired on

Global Television Network The Global Television Network (more commonly called Global, or occasionally Global TV) is a Television in Canada, Canadian English language, English-language terrestrial television, terrestrial television network. It is currently Canada's se ...

, broadcasting only to

Southern Ontario Southern Ontario is a Region, primary region of the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario. It is the most densely populated and southernmost region in Canada, with approximately 13.5 million people, approximately 36% o ...

as a newly launched regional grouping of television stations, the show lasted less than six months before being cancelled.

1977–1985: ''SCTV'' and ''SNL'' stardom

Short was encouraged to pursue comedy by McMaster classmates

and Dave Thomas, in March 1977, joining the improvisation group The Second City, taking over for John Candy in ''The Wizard of Ossington'', their ninth revue. In early 1978, Short secured his feature film debut via a supporting role in the

Melvin Frank Melvin Frank (13 August 1913 – 13 October 1988) was an American screenwriter, film producer and film director. He is known for his partnership with Norman Panama and their work on films such as '' Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House'' (1948), ...

-directed British romantic comedy ''

Lost and Found A lost and found (American English) or lost property (British English), or lost articles (also Canadian English) is an office in a public building or area where people can go to retrieve Lost, mislaid, and abandoned property, lost articles th ...

'' starring George Segal and

Glenda Jackson Glenda May Jackson (9 May 1936 – 15 June 2023) was an English actress and politician. Over the course of her distinguished career she received List of awards and nominations received by Glenda Jackson, numerous accolades including two Academy ...

. Filmed throughout late winter and early spring 1978 in Banff National Park and Toronto, the film saw limited North American release in June 1979 and was met with lukewarm reviews and poor box office returns.Epstein, Andrew (April 27, 1980). "The Big Thuds of 1979—Films That Flopped, Badly". ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

''. Calendar, p. 6. In 1979, after working solely in Canada for the preceding seven years, Short landed a starring role in the American sitcom '' The Associates'' about a group of young novice lawyers working at a

Wall Street Wall Street is a street in the Financial District, Manhattan, Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It runs eight city blocks between Broadway (Manhattan), Broadway in the west and South Street (Manhattan), South Str ...

law firm. In 1980, he joined the cast of '' I'm a Big Girl Now'', a sitcom starring Diana Canova and

Danny Thomas Amos Muzyad Yaqoob Kairouz, (born January 6, 1912 – February 6, 1991) known professionally as Danny Thomas, was an American comedian, actor, singer, producer, and philanthropist. He created and starred in ''The Danny Thomas Show''. In additio ...

."Martin Short Biography"
tcmdb

tcm.com Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is an American movie channel, movie-oriented pay television, pay-TV television network, network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in 1994, Turner Classic Movies is headquartered at Turner's Techwood broadcas ...

, accessed August 26, 2013 Canova was offered the sitcom because of her success playing Corinne Tate Flotsky on ABC's ''

Soap Soap is a salt (chemistry), salt of a fatty acid (sometimes other carboxylic acids) used for cleaning and lubricating products as well as other applications. In a domestic setting, soaps, specifically "toilet soaps", are surfactants usually u ...

'' and left ''Soap'' shortly before Short's newlywed wife Nancy Dolman joined it. ''SCTV'' Short achieved wider public notice when the Second City group produced a show for television, ''

'' (''SCTV''), which ran for several years in Canada, then the United States. Short appeared on ''SCTV'' in 1982–83. At ''SCTV'', Short developed several characters before moving on to ''

'' for the 1984–85 season: * Aged songwriter Irving Cohen, commonly thought to be loosely based on American composers Irving Caesar and/or

Irving Berlin Irving Berlin (born Israel Isidore Beilin; May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989) was a Russian-born American composer and songwriter. His music forms a large part of the Great American Songbook. Berlin received numerous honors including an Acade ...

and perhaps Canadian songwriter

Leonard Cohen Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934November 7, 2016) was a Canadian songwriter, singer, poet, and novelist. Themes commonly explored throughout his work include faith and mortality, isolation and depression, betrayal and redemption, soc ...

, but actually (according to Short in his autobiography) inspired by Sophie Tucker * Defense attorney Nathan Thurm * Albino Vegas singer, Jackie Rogers Jr. and his father, Jackie Rogers Sr., the latter of which was mauled to death by a mountain lion during a comeback special that took place in the woods. * Oddball man-child Ed Grimley, later featured on ''SNL'' and in his own short-lived animated television series entitled '' The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley''. The show, which was produced by

Hanna-Barbera Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. ( ; formerly known as H-B Enterprises, Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. and H-B Production Co.), simply and commonly known as Hanna-Barbera, was an American animation studio and production company, which was acti ...

and aired for a single season in fall 1988, is the only animated series adapted from an ''SCTV'' character and a ''Saturday Night Live'' character to date. ''Saturday Night Live'' Short joined ''

'' (''SNL'') for the 1984–85 season."Martin Short Characters, Impressions and Guest Appearances"
snl.jt.org, accessed August 25, 2013 He helped revive the show with his many characters for season ten (the last one produced by Dick Ebersol). "Short's appearance on ''SNL'' helped to revive the show's fanbase, which had flagged after the departure of

Eddie Murphy Edward Regan Murphy (born April 3, 1961) is an American actor, comedian, and singer. He had his breakthrough as a standup comic before gaining stardom for his film roles; he is widely recognized as one of the greatest comedians of all time. H ...

, and in turn, would launch his successful career in films and television." His ''SNL'' characters included numerous holdovers from his ''SCTV'' days, most notably, his Ed Grimley character, depicted on ''Saturday Night Live'' as a geeky everyman who is obsessed with ''Wheel of Fortune'', plays the triangle, and often finds himself in bizarre situations rather than a miscast bad actor in several film and TV show parodies (''The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley'' used the ''SNL'' characterization of him rather than the ''SCTV'' take on him). He also did impressions of such celebrities as

Jerry Lewis Jerry Lewis (born Joseph Levitch; March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, singer, filmmaker and humanitarian, with a career spanning seven decades in film, stage, television and radio. Famously nicknamed as "Th ...

and

Katharine Hepburn Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress whose Katharine Hepburn on screen and stage, career as a Golden Age of Hollywood, Hollywood leading lady spanned six decades. She was known for her headstrong ...

Since then he has made multiple appearances on the show including on the SNL Christmas special in 2012, 2024 and '' Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special'' in 2015.

1986–1999: Film roles and Broadway debut

In addition to his work on ''SCTV'' and ''SNL'', Short has starred in several television specials and series of his own. In 1985, Short starred in the one-hour Showtime special ''Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas''. This was Short's first live concert, interspersed with studio sketches and a wraparound featuring Jackie Rogers Jr. Co-produced by the CBC, this aired as ''The Martin Short Comedy Special'' in Canada in March 1986. In 1989, Short headlined another one-hour comedy special, this time for HBO, ''I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood'', Short's classic send-up of all things Hollywood. It featured many of his characters including Ed Grimley and Jackie Rogers Jr. After doing sketch comedy for several years, Short starred in '' Three Amigos'' (1986), '' Innerspace'' (1987), '' The Big Picture'' (1989), '' Captain Ron'' (1992) and '' Clifford'' (1994). He starred in '' Three Fugitives'' (1989), directed by Francis Veber, with Nick Nolte and James Earl Jones; he was the memorable scene-stealing character "Franck" in the 1991 remake of '' Father of the Bride'' and its sequel; and in '' Pure Luck'' (1991), directed by Nadia Tass, with

Danny Glover Danny Glover ( ; born July 22, 1946) is an American actor, producer, and political activist. Over his career he has received List of awards and nominations received by Danny Glover, numerous accolades including the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian A ...

and Sheila Kelley."Martin Short Filmography"
movies.nytimes.com, accessed August 25, 2013 Short resumed work in the theatre, playing a lead role in the 1993 musical version of the

film '' The Goodbye Girl'', on Broadway, receiving a

nomination and an

Outer Critics Circle Award The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on Broadway and Off-Broadway. They are presented by the Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of New York theater writers for out-of-town news ...

."Martin Short Broadway Credits and Awards"
playbillvault.com, accessed November 6, 2016 He had the lead role in the 1999 Broadway revival of the musical '' Little Me'', for which he received a

and another Outer Critics Circle Award. In 1996, he appeared in

Tim Burton Timothy Walter Burton (born August 25, 1958) is an American filmmaker and producer. Known for popularizing Goth subculture, Goth culture in the American film industry, Burton is famous for his Gothic film, gothic horror and dark fantasy films. ...

's sci-fi comedy '' Mars Attacks!'' as lascivious Press Secretary Jerry Ross. In 1997, he starred in '' A Simple Wish'' as male fairy godmother Murray. In 1997, he appeared as Wall Street broker Richard Kempster in '' Jungle 2 Jungle'', with

Tim Allen Timothy Alan Dick (born June 13, 1953), known professionally as Tim Allen, is an American actor and comedian. He is known for playing Tim "The Toolman" Taylor on the ABC sitcom ''Home Improvement'' (1991–1999) for which he won a Golden Gl ...

. In 1999, he appeared as Lionel Dillard in

Lawrence Kasdan Lawrence Edward Kasdan (born January 14, 1949) is an American filmmaker. He is the co-writer of the ''Star Wars'' films '' The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980), '' Return of the Jedi'' (1983), '' The Force Awakens'' (2015), and '' Solo: A Star Wars ...

's comedy-drama '' Mumford''. Short has had three television shows called ''The Martin Short Show'', including a sitcom, '' The Martin Short Show'', 1994; a sketch comedy show, ''The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show'', 1995; and a syndicated talk show '' The Martin Short Show'', which ran from 1999 to 2000."Martin Short Biography"
movies.yahoo.com (googleusercontent.com), accessed August 26, 2013

2000–2007: ''Primetime Glick''

Short starred as Jiminy Glick on

Comedy Central Comedy Central is an American Cable television in the United States, cable television channel, channel owned by Paramount Global through its Paramount Media Networks, network division's Paramount Media Networks#MTV Entertainment Group, MTV Ente ...

's '' Primetime Glick'' (2001–2003). He interviewed performers and celebrities as the character Jiminy Glick. ''The New York Times'' in 2002 referred to the character as "the most unpredictable and hilariously uninhibited comic creation to hit TV since Bart Simpson was in diapers." In 2004, he wrote and starred in '' Jiminy Glick in Lalawood'' with

Jan Hooks Janet Vivian Hooks (April 23, 1957 – October 9, 2014) was an American actress and comedian. She was best known for her tenure on the NBC sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'', where she was a repertory player from 1986 to 1991. After le ...

as his wife, Dixie Glick. In 2003, Short took to the stage once again in the critically acclaimed Los Angeles run of '' The Producers''. Short played the role of the accountant, Leo Bloom, opposite

Jason Alexander Jay Scott Greenspan (born September 23, 1959), known professionally as Jason Alexander, is an American actor and comedian. Over the course of his career he has received an Emmy Award and a Tony Award as well as nominations for four Golden Globe ...

's Max Bialystock. Although the role of Leo Bloom was originated on Broadway by

Matthew Broderick Matthew Broderick (born March 21, 1962) is an American actor. He starred in ''WarGames'' (1983) as a teen government hacker, and ''Ladyhawke (film), Ladyhawke'' (1985), a medieval fantasy alongside Rutger Hauer and Michelle Pfeiffer. He play ...

Mel Brooks Melvin James Brooks (né Kaminsky; born June 28, 1926) is an American actor, comedian, filmmaker, and songwriter. With a career spanning over seven decades, he is known as a writer and director of a variety of successful broad farces and parodie ...

first approached Short about doing the part opposite

Nathan Lane Nathan Lane (born Joseph Lane; February 3, 1956) is an American actor. Since 1975, he has been Nathan Lane on screen and stage, on stage and screen in both comedic and dramatic roles. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Na ...

. On the subject, Short has stated in numerous interviews that, while he was thrilled by the opportunity, the idea of having to move his family from their Los Angeles home to New York for a year was less than ideal and ultimately proved a deal-breaker. In 2006, he starred in another film with Tim Allen, '' The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause''. In addition to his own series, Short has guest starred on several shows including ''

Arrested Development ''Arrested Development'' is an American satire, satirical television sitcom created by Mitchell Hurwitz. It follows the Bluths, a formerly wealthy, dysfunctional family and is presented in a Serial (radio and television), serialized format, inco ...

'' (episode titled " Ready, Aim, Marry Me", 2005), ''

Muppets Tonight ''Muppets Tonight'' is an American live-action/puppet family-oriented comedy television series, created by Jim Henson Productions and featuring The Muppets. The series ran for two seasons between March 8, 1996 to February 8, 1998, originally ...

'' (1996)," 'Muppets Tonight' Martin Short"
tv.com, accessed August 26, 2013 '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'', and ''

Weeds A weed is an unwanted plant of any species. Weed or weeds may also refer to: Places * Weed, Arkansas, an unincorporated community in the United States * Weed, California, a city in the United States * Weed, Kentucky, an unincorporated communit ...

''. He joined the FX drama ''

Damages At common law, damages are a remedy in the form of a monetary award to be paid to a claimant as compensation for loss or injury. To warrant the award, the claimant must show that a breach of duty has caused foreseeable loss. To be recognized at ...

'' as lawyer Leonard Winstone in 2010.Clark, Cindy
"Something new for Short: A regular TV role on 'Damages
''USA Today'', January 24, 2010 Short also provided the voices of several animated film characters, such as Stubbs in '' We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story'' (1993), Hubie in '' The Pebble and the Penguin'' (1995), Huy in ''

'' (1998), Ooblar in '' Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius'' (2001), B.E.N. in ''

'' (2002), Preminger in '' Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper'' (2004), Thimbletack the Brownie in ''

The Spiderwick Chronicles ''The Spiderwick Chronicles'' is a series of children's fantasy books by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. They chronicle the adventures of the Grace children, twins Simon and Jared and their older sister Mallory, after they move into the Spider ...

'' (2008), Mr. Frankenstein/Mr. Bergermesiter/Nassor in '' Frankenweenie'' (2012), Stefano the sea lion in '' Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted'' (2012), Kurokawa in the English dub of

Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese animator, filmmaker, and manga artist. He co-founded Studio Ghibli and serves as honorary chairman. Throughout his career, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and creator of Anime, Japanese ani ...

's '' The Wind Rises'' (2013), and The

Jester A jester, also known as joker, court jester, or fool, was a member of the household of a nobleman or a monarch kept to entertain guests at the royal court. Jesters were also travelling performers who entertained common folk at fairs and town ma ...

in '' Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return'' (2013). Short was the host of the defunct

Walt Disney World The Walt Disney World Resort is an destination resort, entertainment resort complex located about southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States. Opened on October 1, 1971, the resort is operated by Disney Experiences, a division of the Wa ...

attractions '' O Canada!'', a Circle-Vision 360° film in the Epcot theme park's Canada pavilion, and " The Making of Me" at Epcot's Wonders of Life pavilion, a 15-minute film about how pregnancy occurs. Short performed in his satirical one-man show, with a cast of six, ''Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me'', at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Broadway. The show toured several cities in the spring of 2006, prior to opening on Broadway in August 2006; the show closed in January 2007. In it, he performed his classic characters Grimley, Cohen, and Glick. As Glick, Short brought a member of the audience (usually a celebrity) on stage and interviewed him or her.

Jerry Seinfeld Jerome Allen Seinfeld ( ; born April 29, 1954) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer. As a stand-up comedian, Seinfeld specializes in observational comedy. Seinfeld gained stardom playing a semi-fictionalized version ...

was the guest on opening night. The show also featured parodies of many celebrities including

Celine Dion Céline Marie Claudette Dion (born 30 March 1968) is a Canadian singer. Referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Power Ballads", Dion's powerful, technically skilled vocals and commercially successful works have had ...

Elizabeth Taylor Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was an English and American actress. She began her career as a child actress in the early 1940s and was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 19 ...

and

Richard Burton Richard Burton (; born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.; 10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. Noted for his mellifluous baritone voice, Burton established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s and gave a memor ...

Tommy Tune Thomas James Tune (born February 28, 1939) is an American actor, dancer, singer, theatre director, producer, and choreographer. Over the course of his career, he has won ten Tony Awards, the National Medal of Arts, and a star on the Hollywood Wal ...

Joan Rivers Joan Alexandra Molinsky (June 8, 1933 – September 4, 2014), known professionally as Joan Rivers, was an American comedienne, actress, producer, writer and television host. She was noted for her blunt, often controversial comedic persona that w ...

Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the "Princess of Pop", she has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists. Cultural impact of Brit ...

Ellen DeGeneres Ellen Lee DeGeneres ( ; born January 26, 1958) is an American former comedian, actress, television host, writer, and producer. She began her career in stand-up comedy in the early 1980s, gaining national attention with a 1986 appearance on '' ...

, Renée Zellweger,

Jodie Foster Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster (born November 19, 1962) is an American actress and filmmaker. Foster started her career as a child actor before establishing herself as leading actress in film. She has received List of awards and nominations re ...

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, and Short's wife, actress Nancy Dolman. The cast album was released on April 10, 2007, and is available from Ghostlight Records, an imprint of Sh-K-Boom Records.

2010–2019: Stand-up tour with Steve Martin

Short voiced

the Cat in the Hat ''The Cat in the Hat'' is a 1957 children's book written and illustrated by American author Dr. Seuss. The story centers on a tall anthropomorphic cat who wears a red and white-striped top hat and a red bow tie. The Cat shows up at the house ...

in the animated TV series '' The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!'', which aired from 2010 to 2013.Valiquette, Mike
"Press release: Daytime Emmy noms for Canadian-produced 'Cat in the Hat'"
May 11, 2011 He later voiced the character in a number of related TV specials in 2014 and 2016. He shot a new comedy special for television in Toronto in September 2011. The special, ''

I, Martin Short, Goes Home ''I, Martin Short, Goes Home'' is a Canadian television comedy special, written by and starring comedian Martin Short, which aired on CBC Television in 2012.Eugene Levy Eugene Levy (born December 17, 1946) is a Canadian actor and comedian. Known for portraying flustered and unconventional figures, Levy has won multiple accolades throughout his career including four Primetime Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, and ...

, Andrea Martin, Joe Flaherty, and Fred Willard. The special aired on

CBC Television CBC Television (also known as CBC TV, or simply CBC) is a Television in Canada, Canadian English-language terrestrial television, broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcasting, p ...

on April 3, 2012, and garnered Short a nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Program or Series at the 1st Canadian Screen Awards. In 2011, Short joined the cast of ''

How I Met Your Mother ''How I Met Your Mother'' (often abbreviated as ''HIMYM'') is an American sitcom created by Craig Thomas (screenwriter), Craig Thomas and Carter Bays for CBS. The series, which aired from September 19, 2005, to March 31, 2014, follows main char ...

'' for its seventh season, playing Marshall's manic boss and was a judge on the first season of '' Canada's Got Talent'' (2012).Harris, Bill
"More 'Talent' judges announced"
''Toronto Sun'', October 17, 2011 He, along with Steve Martin and

Chevy Chase Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase (; born October 8, 1943) is an American comedian, actor, and writer. He became the breakout cast member in the first season of ''Saturday Night Live'' (1975–1976), where his recurring ''Weekend Update'' segment b ...

appeared on an episode of ''Saturday Night Live'' as part of the " Five-Timers Club", on March 9, 2013, which included those actors who had hosted the show five or more times. However, Short appeared as a waiter, as he had only hosted three times. Short has continued to tour in his one-man show, which features many of his best-loved characters and sketches. In addition to ''Fame Becomes Me'', some titles that Short has used for his one-man show include ''Stroke Me Lady Fame'', ''If I'd Saved, I Wouldn't Be Here'', and ''Sunday in the Park with

George Michael George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou; 25 June 1963 – 25 December 2016) was an English singer-songwriter and record producer. Regarded as a pop culture icon, he is one of the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling rec ...

''. Short's memoir, covering his 40-year career in show business, ''I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend'', was released on November 4, 2014. From 2014 to 2015, he starred in the Fox sitcom '' Mulaney'', as Lou Cannon, a game show host and boss of the title character John Mulaney. In 2015, he returned to Broadway replacing

in the

Terrence McNally Terrence McNally (November 3, 1938 – March 24, 2020) was an American playwright, librettist, and screenwriter. Described as "the bard of American theater" and "one of the greatest contemporary playwrights the theater world has yet produced," M ...

comedic play '' It's Only a Play''. On May 31, 2016, Short debuted a new variety show on NBC, '' Maya & Marty'', which also starred Maya Rudolph. Since 2015, Short has toured with fellow comedian Steve Martin. Together their tours have included ''A Very Stupid Conversation'' in 2015, ''

'' in 2017, and ''The Funniest Show in Town at the Moment'' in 2021. Their 2017 tour was filmed for

as a special and was nominated for four

and a Directors Guild of America Award nomination.

2019–present

In 2019, Short appeared on the

talk show '' Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee'' alongside

in the episode "Martin Short: A Dream World Of Residuals". From 2019 to 2021, he took on a sinister role portraying Dick Lundy, a disgraced filmmaker, in the

Apple TV+ Apple TV+ is an American subscription over-the-top streaming service owned by Apple. The service launched on November 1, 2019, and it offers a selection of original production film and television series called Apple Originals. The service w ...

series '' The Morning Show''. Damon Wise of ''

Deadline Hollywood ''Deadline Hollywood'', commonly known as ''Deadline'' and also referred to as ''Deadline.com'', is an online news site founded as the news blog ''Deadline Hollywood Daily'' by Nikki Finke in 2006. It is updated several times a day, with en ...

'' wrote, "Short is a damn fine dramatic actor" citing his "brief but indelible guest role". Short said of the role, "Well, it came to me by the producers reaching out and asking me to do it. I don’t know why they wanted me, necessarily, but I was immediately interested. I’m very fascinated by conversation and discussion" around the MeToo movement. The performance earned Short a nomination for the

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series is an award presented annually by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). It is given in honor of an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a guest st ...

. He also appeared as a Leprechaun in another Apple TV+ series '' Schmigadoon!'' from 2021 to 2023. Short voiced the roles of Grandpa Frump in '' The Addams Family'' (2019) and Father Willoughby in the

animated film '' The Willoughbys'' (2020) as the impolite father. He also reprised the role of Franck Eggelhoffer in the Nancy Meyers directed short film '' Father of the Bride Part 3(ish)'' (2020). Starting in 2021, he has starred and served as an executive producer in the

crime comedy series '' Only Murders in the Building'' alongside Steve Martin and

. The show was nominated for a 2021

Peabody Award The George Foster Peabody Awards (or simply Peabody Awards or the Peabodys) program, named for the American businessman and philanthropist George Foster Peabody, George Peabody, honor what are described as the most powerful, enlightening, and in ...

, and in July 2022, he received his 13th

Emmy The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award catego ...

nomination for his role in it. He received nominations for the

for Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Mike Hale of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' wrote that Short "gives a master class" in the series adding, "It's not a class in acting or comedy so much as it is a seminar in agelessness and professionalism, and in Short's unmatched ability to turn self-absorption into a virtue." In 2023, he voiced the role of Kingfish in '' Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom''. In 2024, he reprised his role as Jiminy Glick on ''

Real Time with Bill Maher ''Real Time with Bill Maher'' is an American television talk show that airs weekly on HBO, hosted by stand-up comedy, comedian and political satire, political satirist Bill Maher. Much like his previous series ''Politically Incorrect'' on Comedy ...

'' and guest hosted '' Jimmy Kimmel Live''.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Short met Canadian comic actress Nancy Dolman in 1972 during the run of ''

''. The couple married in 1980. Dolman retired from show business in 1985 to be a

stay-at-home mother A stay-at-home mother (alternatively, stay-at-home mom or SAHM) is a mother who is the primary caregiver of the children. The male equivalent is the stay-at-home dad. The gender-neutral term is stay-at-home parent. Stay-at-home mom is distinct ...

and raise their family. Short and Dolman adopted three children: Katherine, Oliver, and Henry. Dolman died of ovarian cancer on August 21, 2010. Short and his family make their home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. He also has a home on Lake Rosseau in

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

. He is a

naturalized Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-national of a country acquires the nationality of that country after birth. The definition of naturalization by the International Organization for Migration of the ...

U.S. citizen Citizenship of the United States is a legal status that entails Americans with specific rights, duties, protections, and benefits in the United States. It serves as a foundation of fundamental rights derived from and protected by the Consti ...

but retains Canadian citizenship, as well as Irish and British citizenship. Nancy Dolman's brother, screenwriter/director Bob Dolman (who served as a part of '' Second City Television (SCTV)''s

-winning writing team alongside Short), married their close friend and colleague Andrea Martin, also in 1980. Short is uncle to the couple's two sons, Jack and Joe. Bob Dolman and Andrea Martin have since divorced (2004). Short is a first cousin of Clare Short, a former member of the

British Parliament The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, and may also legislate for the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace of ...

and former British

cabinet minister A minister is a politician who heads a ministry, making and implementing decisions on policies in conjunction with the other ministers. In some jurisdictions the head of government is also a minister and is designated the ' prime minister', ' p ...

Philanthropy

Short appeared in a 2001 episode on the Celebrity ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' hosted by Regis Philbin, winning $32,000 for his charity, Loyola High School. Short has actively campaigned for the Women's Research Cancer Fund, and he accepted a "Courage Award" on behalf of his late wife at a 2011 gala by the group. Short is also a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism. Short is a fan of his hometown team, the

Hamilton Tiger-Cats The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a professional Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are currently members of the East Division (CFL), East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Tiger-Cats play their home game ...

of the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...

. In 2013, a commemorative three dollar (face value) Canadian coin, designed by Canadian artist Tony Bianco with Martin Short, displays the actor's summer home on Lake Rousseau in the Muskoka region of Ontario, with the head of Queen Elizabeth II, as at 77 years of age, bare headed, on the

obverse The obverse and reverse are the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags, seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, ''obverse'' ...

side, was issued by the Royal Canadian Mint.

Acting credits and accolades

Over the course of Short's prolific career in film, television and theatre, Short has received various nominations. He received two

nominations, winning for '' Little Me'' in 1999. Short also has received sixteen

nominations, winning twice for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series for '' SCTV'' (1983), and ''AFI Life Achievement award: Mel Brooks'' (2014). In 2014, Short received the Robert Altman Award from

Independent Spirit Awards The Independent Spirit Awards, originally known as the FINDIE or Friends of Independents Awards, and later as the Film Independent Spirit Awards, are awards presented annually in Santa Monica, California, to independent filmmakers. Founded in ...

alongside the cast of

Paul Thomas Anderson Paul Thomas Anderson (born June 26, 1970), also known by his initials PTA, is an American filmmaker. Often described as one of the most preeminent writer-directors of his generation, List of awards and nominations received by Paul Thomas Anders ...

's ''

Inherent Vice ''Inherent Vice'' is a novel by the American author Thomas Pynchon, originally published on August4, 2009. A darkly comic detective novel set in 1970s California, the plot follows sleuth Larry "Doc" Sportello whose ex-girlfriend asks him to i ...

''. Short has received various honours from his birthplace of

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

. In 1995, Short received the Earl Grey Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1999, he earned the Sir Peter Ustinov Award at the Banff Television Festival. Short was honoured with a star on

Canada's Walk of Fame Canada's Walk of Fame () in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a walk of fame that acknowledges the achievements and accomplishments of Canadians who have excelled in their respective fields. It is a series of maple leaf-like stars embedded in 13 de ...

in 2000 and received a second star there in 2002 as part of the comedic group

(SCTV). In 2001, Short was awarded an honorary Doctor of Literature from his hometown

Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: * Alexander Hamilton (1755/1757–1804), first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States * ''Hamilton'' (musical), a 2015 Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda ** ''Hamilton'' (al ...

based

. Short has also received Medals from

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

, including in 2002 the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and in 2012 the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2015, a stamp of Short was issued by

Canada Post Canada Post Corporation (, trading as Canada Post (), is a Canadian Crown corporation that functions as the primary postal operator in Canada. Originally known as Royal Mail Canada (the operating name of the Post Office Department of the Can ...

. In 2016, he received the Canadian Screen Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2019, Short became an Officer of the

Bibliography

* ''I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend'' (2014, autobiography)

References

External links

Metadata
Martin Short
at catalog.afi.com
Martin Short
at emmys.com * * * * Interviews * in 2004 *
Martin Short, Steve Martin, Chevy Chase interviewed about The Three Amigos
in 1986 in Austin from

Texas Archive of the Moving Image The Texas Archive of the Moving Image (TAMI) is an independent 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2002 by film archivist and University of Texas at Austin professor Caroline Frick, PhD. TAMI's mission is to preserve, study, and exhibit Texas film ...

Martin Short interviewed about his new movie Innerspace (1987)
by Roy Faires,

KVUE KVUE (channel 24) is a television station in Austin, Texas, United States, affiliated with ABC and owned by Tegna Inc. The station's studios are located on Steck Avenue just east of Loop 1 in northwest Austin, and its transmitter is located ...

Austin from

{{DEFAULTSORT:Short, Martin 1950 births 20th-century Canadian comedians 20th-century Canadian male actors 21st-century American comedians 21st-century American male actors 21st-century American male writers 21st-century American memoirists 21st-century American non-fiction writers 21st-century Canadian male actors 21st-century Canadian male writers 21st-century Canadian memoirists American people of English descent American impressionists (entertainers) American male comedians American male film actors American male musical theatre actors American male non-fiction writers American male stage actors American male television actors American male video game actors American male voice actors American people of Irish descent American sketch comedians American television personalities Audiobook narrators Canadian expatriate male actors in the United States Canadian impressionists (entertainers) Canadian male comedians Canadian male film actors Canadian male musical theatre actors Canadian male non-fiction writers Canadian male stage actors Canadian male television actors Canadian male television writers Canadian television writers Canadian male video game actors Canadian male voice actors Canadian people of Irish descent Canadian people of English descent Canadian Screen Award winning actors Canadian Screen Award winning writers Canadian sketch comedians Canadian television personalities Comedians from Ontario Governor General's Award winners Living people Male actors from Hamilton, Ontario McMaster University alumni Officers of the Order of Canada Naturalized citizens of the United States Primetime Emmy Award winners Screenwriters from Ontario Theatre World Award winners Tony Award winners Writers from Hamilton, Ontario