Martin Short

Early Life and Education

Martin Short was born on March 26, 1950, in Hamilton, Ontario, the youngest of five children in a Catholic family. His mother, Olive Grace Hayter, was a concertmistress for the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra, while his father, Charles Patrick Short, was a corporate executive at the steel company Stelco who had emigrated from Northern Ireland. His mother encouraged his early creative pursuits, a support that continued through a series of family tragedies. His eldest brother, David, was killed in a car accident in 1962 when Short was twelve years old. His mother died of cancer in 1968, and his father passed away from complications of a stroke just two years later. Short attended Westdale Secondary School before enrolling at McMaster University in Hamilton. He graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in social work, though he would soon pivot decisively toward a career in performance. His brother Michael also entered comedy, becoming an Emmy Award-winning writer for Second City Television.

Career Beginnings and Breakthrough on SCTV

After graduating, Short moved to Toronto to try acting, landing his first paid role in a 1972 television commercial. His big break came later that year when he was cast in the Toronto production of the musical Godspell at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. This production proved to be a seminal gathering of Canadian comic talent, featuring future stars like Gilda Radner, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, Andrea Martin, and Victor Garber. The show’s success led to a long run and increased Short’s profile, resulting in guest spots on CBC’s Right On and a role as Smokey the Hare on the TVOntario children’s program Cucumber. Despite the success of Godspell, Short initially resisted joining the new Toronto branch of Chicago’s Second City improv theatre, which many of his castmates joined, due to a fear of improvising on demand. He worked as a writer on the short-lived Global Television variety show Everything Goes in 1974. He was finally persuaded to try comedy by friends Eugene Levy and Dave Thomas, joining The Second City Toronto troupe in March 1977. His work there led to his feature film debut in the 1979 romantic comedy Lost and Found and roles in American sitcoms like The Associates and I'm a Big Girl Now.

Short achieved wider fame when he joined the cast of the sketch comedy series Second City Television (SCTV) for the 1982 to 1983 season. It was here he developed and refined many of the characters that would define his career. His creations from this period included the hyper, triangle-playing man-child Ed Grimley, the nervously defensive lawyer Nathan Thurm, and the aged songwriter Irving Cohen. Another memorable character was the albino Las Vegas singer Jackie Rogers Jr. These performances demonstrated his unique blend of physical comedy, character acting, and musical talent, earning him his first Primetime Emmy Award in 1982 and setting the stage for his move to American television.

Saturday Night Live and Film Stardom

Short’s success on SCTV led to an invitation to join the cast of Saturday Night Live for its tenth season in 1984 to 1985. His arrival helped revitalize the show following the departure of Eddie Murphy. He brought several of his SCTV characters to the SNL stage, most notably Ed Grimley, and introduced impressions of celebrities like Jerry Lewis and Katharine Hepburn. Short has since returned to host SNL multiple times and is a member of the show’s exclusive Five-Timers Club, having made notable appearances on specials including the 2012 and 2024 Christmas episodes and the 2015 40th Anniversary Special.

Following SNL, Short quickly transitioned to leading roles in Hollywood comedies. His early film work includes starring alongside Steve Martin and Chevy Chase in the western spoof Three Amigos (1986) and playing a nervous supermarket clerk in the sci-fi adventure Innerspace (1987). He demonstrated his range in the crime comedy Three Fugitives (1989) and the slapstick misfire Clifford (1994). One of his most beloved film roles came in the 1991 remake of Father of the Bride, where he stole scenes as the flamboyant and precise wedding planner Franck Eggelhoffer, a role he reprised in the 1995 sequel. Other notable film appearances from this era include Captain Ron (1992), Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks! (1996), and Jungle 2 Jungle (1997). He also established a successful parallel career in voice acting, lending his voice to animated features such as The Prince of Egypt (1998), Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001), Treasure Planet (2002), and later, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) and Frankenweenie (2012).

Broadway Success and Television Projects

Concurrent with his film work, Short maintained an active and acclaimed career in theatre, particularly on Broadway. He made his Broadway debut in 1993, starring in the musical adaptation of Neil Simon’s The Goodbye Girl. His performance earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical and an Outer Critics Circle Award. He returned to Broadway in 1999 to star in the revival of the musical Little Me, for which he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and another Outer Critics Circle Award. In 2006, he wrote and starred in his own satirical one-man show, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, which featured many of his classic characters and ran on Broadway for several months. He returned to Broadway again in 2015, replacing Nathan Lane in the play It's Only a Play.

On television, Short created one of his most enduring characters, the oblivious and gluttonous entertainment journalist Jiminy Glick. The character first appeared on Comedy Central’s Primetime Glick, which ran from 2001 to 2003 and earned critical praise. He later starred in the 2004 film Jiminy Glick in Lalawood. Other television ventures included hosting The Martin Short Show in 1994 and its successor, The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show, in 1995. He played the wizard Frik in the 1998 miniseries Merlin, earning an Emmy nomination, and had a recurring role on the FX legal drama Damages in 2010. From 2010 to 2013, he was the voice of the Cat in the Hat in the PBS Kids series The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That. He also appeared in sitcoms like How I Met Your Mother (2011) and Mulaney (2014 to 2015), and co-starred with Maya Rudolph in the 2016 NBC variety series Maya & Marty.

Collaboration with Steve Martin and Later Career

In 2015, Short began a highly successful creative partnership with fellow comedian Steve Martin, starting a national stand-up tour. Their live show, An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life, was filmed for a Netflix special in 2018 and received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations. The duo continued touring with subsequent shows like A Very Stupid Conversation and The Funniest Show in the Town at the Moment. This collaboration reached its zenith with the Hulu comedy-mystery series Only Murders in the Building, which premiered in 2021. Short stars alongside Martin and Selena Gomez as Oliver Putnam, a flamboyant and struggling Broadway director. The series has been a major critical and commercial success, becoming Hulu’s most-watched comedy. For his performance, Short has earned multiple award nominations, including for the Primetime Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Critics’ Choice Television Award, and he won a Screen Actors Guild Award. He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for the role in 2026.

Short’s work in the late 2010s and 2020s has shown remarkable range. He took on a dramatic role as disgraced filmmaker Dick Lundy in the Apple TV+ series The Morning Show from 2019 to 2021, earning a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. He also appeared in the musical comedy series Schmigadoon! from 2021 to 2023. His voice work continued in films like The Addams Family (2019) and The Willoughbys (2020). In 2026, he is the subject of the Netflix documentary Marty, Life Is Short, directed by Lawrence Kasdan. Short released a memoir, I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend, in 2014, which became a New York Times bestseller.

Awards, Honours, and Legacy

Throughout his career, Martin Short has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards that span television, film, and theatre. His competitive awards include two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. He has received many other nominations, including multiple Emmy nominations for his work on Only Murders in the Building, SCTV, and various specials. In his home country, he has been honoured with some of Canada’s highest distinctions. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2019 for his contributions to the arts and his philanthropic efforts. He also received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2000 and a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.

Short’s career is notable for several landmark achievements and enduring contributions to comedy. He won his first Primetime Emmy Award in 1982 for his writing on SCTV, which first brought him to national attention in the United States. His Broadway triumph in Little Me earned him the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 1999, a high point in his theatrical work. The Netflix special he created with Steve Martin, An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life, received four Primetime Emmy nominations in 2018. His performance in Only Murders in the Building led to a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2023. He is also a member of the Saturday Night Live Five-Timers Club for hosting the show five or more times. The 2026 Netflix documentary film Marty, Life Is Short provides a comprehensive look at his life and work. His legacy is built on a unique comedic style that combines precise character work, musicality, and boundless energy, influencing a generation of performers. From his early days in Hamilton to international stardom, Short remains one of Canada’s most accomplished and beloved entertainers.

Selected Filmography

• Ed Grimley, the hyperactive, triangle-obsessed man-child, debuted on SCTV in 1982.
• Jiminy Glick, the oblivious and food-focused talk show host, headlined Primetime Glick from 2001 to 2003.
• Nathan Thurm, the nervously defensive lawyer, was a recurring character on both SCTV and Saturday Night Live.
• Irving Cohen, the aged and nostalgic songwriter, was introduced during Short's time on SCTV.
• Jackie Rogers Jr., the albino Las Vegas singer, was a musical character developed for SCTV sketches.
• Franck Eggelhoffer, the eccentric wedding planner, first appeared in the 1991 film Father of the Bride.

Questions about Martin Short

What is Martin Short best known for?

Martin Short is best known as a versatile comedian and actor who created memorable characters like the hyperactive Ed Grimley and the clueless talk show host Jiminy Glick. He gained fame on the sketch comedy shows SCTV and Saturday Night Live. He is also widely recognized for his film roles, such as Franck the wedding planner in Father of the Bride, and for his recent starring role alongside Steve Martin and Selena Gomez in the hit Hulu series Only Murders in the Building. His career also includes acclaimed work on Broadway, where he won a Tony Award.

Is Martin Short Canadian?

Yes, Martin Short is Canadian. He was born on March 26, 1950, in Hamilton, Ontario. He was raised and began his career in Canada, graduating from McMaster University in Hamilton before starting in Toronto theatre and television. He maintains strong ties to Canada and has been honoured with the country's highest civilian honours, including being made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2019 and receiving a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.

What awards has Martin Short won?

Martin Short has won several major awards throughout his career. He has received two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for Little Me, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for his ensemble work on Only Murders in the Building. He has also won Outer Critics Circle Awards for his Broadway performances. In Canada, he is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a recipient of the Governor General's Performing Arts Award. He has numerous other nominations, including multiple Emmy nominations for his recent television work.

What character did Martin Short play on Father of the Bride?

In the 1991 film Father of the Bride, Martin Short played the memorable scene-stealing character Franck Eggelhoffer. He reprised this role in the 1995 sequel, Father of the Bride Part II. The character is a flamboyant and eccentric wedding planner. Short's performance as Franck is often cited as a highlight of both films. He also returned to the character for the 2020 short film Father of the Bride Part 3(ish).

Is Martin Short in a documentary?

Yes, Martin Short is the subject of a documentary. According to recent notes, the definitive documentary on the comedian titled 'Marty, Life Is Short' was directed by Lawrence Kasdan and released in 2026. The documentary features colleagues such as Steve Martin, John Mulaney, and Eugene Levy. It chronicles his life and extensive career in comedy and acting.

Sources and further reading

• Martin Short (Wikipedia)
• Martin Short Keynote Speaker (harrywalker.com)
• Martin Short | Emmy Awards and Nominations (televisionacademy.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-24.