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Who Is Steve Martin?
Steve Martin, born on August 14, 1945, in Waco, Texas, is a multifaceted entertainer known for his accomplishments in comedy, film, literature, and music. After leaving college in 1967, he embarked on a career in television writing. Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, he released four acclaimed comedy albums, earning Grammy Awards for Let’s Get Small and A Wild and Crazy Guy. Martin’s cinematic career took off with his starring role in The Jerk (1979), followed by notable films such as All of Me, Roxanne, and Father of the Bride. In addition to his work in comedy and film, Martin is also a successful author and musician, receiving another Grammy in 2010 for his bluegrass compositions on The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo.
Early Life
Steve Martin was born in Waco, Texas, to a real estate executive. At the age of five, his family relocated to Inglewood, California, and later to Garden Grove when he was ten. As a teenager, Martin honed his performance skills by selling guidebooks and performing magic tricks at Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm. He initially enrolled at Long Beach State College to study philosophy before transferring to the theater program at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Early Comedy Career
Martin left college to pursue a career in comedy writing, working for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour from 1967 to 1968, where he earned an Emmy Award in 1969. During the 1970s, he performed stand-up comedy in local clubs, contributed to The Sonny and Cher Show (1972-1973), and made multiple appearances on The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson. In 1976, he hosted NBC’s Saturday Night Live for the first of over a dozen times, quickly becoming a household name thanks to his distinctive, offbeat humor.
This period marked a significant creative surge for Martin, who released four comedy albums between 1977 and 1981, winning Grammy Awards for Let’s Get Small and A Wild and Crazy Guy. He also achieved a gold record for his popular comedy song “King Tut” and published his first book, Cruel Shoes, in 1977.
Films
The Jerk
Steve Martin’s cinematic journey began with his first feature film, The Jerk, which followed a short film he wrote, The Absent-Minded Waiter (1977), that received an Academy Award nomination. Released in 1979, The Jerk marked the beginning of a fruitful collaboration between Martin and director Carl Reiner.
All of Me
Continuing their partnership, Martin and Reiner produced several notable films, including the detective-thriller parody Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982), the sci-fi comedy The Man with Two Brains (1983), and the identity-swapping comedy All of Me (1984), co-starring Lily Tomlin. Martin’s performance in All of Me garnered him Best Actor accolades from both the New York Film Critics Association and the National Board of Review. He also received acclaim for his role as a deranged dentist in Frank Oz’s Little Shop of Horrors (1986).
Roxanne
In 1987, Martin showcased his multifaceted talent by co-writing, executive producing, and starring in Roxanne, a modern adaptation of the classic story of Cyrano de Bergerac. His contributions to the film earned him a Best Actor award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, as well as a Best Screenplay award from the Writers Guild of America.
Father of the Bride and L.A. Story
Martin’s success continued with L.A. Story (1991), which he wrote, starred in, and co-executive produced. He also featured in Disney’s remake of Father of the Bride (1992) and its sequel in 1995. In 1993, Martin ventured into playwriting with Picasso at the Lapin Agile, which premiered at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre and later toured Boston and Los Angeles before running off-Broadway.
The Out-of-Towners and Bowfinger
Following his appearance in David Mamet’s The Spanish Prisoner (1997), Martin lent his voice to DreamWorks’ animated film The Prince of Egypt (1998) and co-starred with Goldie Hawn in the remake of The Out-of-Towners (1999). He then wrote and co-starred in the comedy Bowfinger (1999), alongside Eddie Murphy, and appeared opposite Helena Bonham Carter in the 2001 dark comedy Novocaine.
Academy Awards Host
In 2001, Martin took on the role of host for the notoriously lengthy Academy Awards ceremony. His signature humor and engaging antics earned him subsequent invitations to host in 2003 and 2010, and he later collaborated with Chris Rock to deliver opening jokes at the hostless 2020 ceremony.
Bringing Down the House and The Pink Panther
In 2003, Martin starred with Queen Latifah in the romantic comedy Bringing Down the House, which debuted at No. 1 at the box office. The following year, he reprised his role in the 1950s comedy Cheaper by the Dozen alongside Bonnie Hunt. Martin also wrote and starred in the successful remake of The Pink Panther (2006), which performed well commercially.
It’s Complicated
In 2008, Martin featured in the comedy Baby Mama, starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, which opened at No. 1 at the box office, grossing over $17 million in its opening weekend. After reprising the role of Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther 2 (2009), he joined Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin in the romantic comedy It’s Complicated (2009) and collaborated with Jack Black and Owen Wilson in the bird-watching comedy The Big Year (2011).
Home and Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk
After a brief hiatus from the big screen, Martin returned in 2015, providing voice work for the animated film Home and appearing in the ensemble family comedy-drama Love the Coopers. He subsequently appeared in the 2016 war drama Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.
Books
Shopgirl
A frequent contributor to The New Yorker, Martin published his acclaimed novella Shopgirl in 2001. (A collection of his New Yorker writings, titled Pure Drivel, was released in 1998.) Shopgirl, which tells the story of a disenchanted saleswoman torn between a would-be musician and a wealthy married man, was adapted into a film in 2005, featuring Martin and Claire Danes in leading roles.
Born Standing Up
Martin followed Shopgirl with The Pleasure of My Company (2003), which also topped best-seller lists; the autobiography Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life (2007); and An Object of Beauty (2010), which centers on a young woman’s ambition to succeed in the New York City art world.
Music
Grammy Win for The Crow
In addition to his writing and acting, Martin has pursued a passion for music. His collection of original banjo compositions, The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo, released in 2009, received critical acclaim and won the Grammy Award for Bluegrass Album of the Year.
Love Has Come for You and Bright Star
His collaboration with the Steep Canyon Rangers produced Rare Bird Alert in 2011, followed by Love Has Come for You with Edie Brickell in 2013. Together, they brought the musical Bright Star to Broadway, which earned a Drama Desk Award and a Tony nomination.
The duo released another album of original bluegrass material, So Familiar, in 2015, before Martin reunited with the Steep Canyon Rangers for The Long-Awaited Album in 2017.
Personal Life
Martin was married to actress Victoria Tennant, his future co-star in L.A. Story, from 1986 until their divorce in 1994. In the early 2000s, he began dating Anne Stringfield, a former staff member at The New Yorker. The couple wed in 2007 in a surprise ceremony attended by 75 guests, and welcomed their first child, a daughter, in 2012, marking Martin’s entry into fatherhood at the age of 67.
An avid art collector, Martin serves as a trustee of the Los Angeles Museum of Art and possesses works by prominent artists, including Georgia O’Keeffe, Richard Diebenkorn, Willem de Kooning, Helen Frankenthaler, Roy Lichtenstein, and Pablo Picasso.
Among his many accolades, Martin received the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2005 and was honored with the Kennedy Center Honors in December 2007. He also received an honorary Academy Award in 2013.