Steve Martin is an award-winning American actor, comedian, and writer, known for his comedy work and his many performances in comedy and family films.
Born on August 14, 1945, in Waco, Texas, he initially studied philosophy before transferring to UCLA to study theater. He eventually dropped out, getting a writing job for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. He won an Emmy Award in 1969 along with the show’s other writers. He performed his own material aside from writing for other comedians such as John Denver.
In the mid-1970s, Martin was a regular guest on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, as well as on HBO’s On Location and NBC’s Saturday Night Live. He released the first of his four comedy albums, Let’s Get Small, in 1977. His next album, A Wild and Crazy Guy, was a bigger success; it reached number two on the Billboard Pop Albums Chart, an unlikely achievement for a comedy record. Both albums won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album.
In 1977, Martin co-wrote his first film, The Absent-Minded Waiter. His first feature film appearance, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Band, was released in 1978, and sees Martin singing The Beatles’ “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer.” In 1979, he co-wrote and starred in his first full-length film, The Jerk, which became a huge success. He also tried his hand at serious acting, with the 1981 film Pennies from Heaven.
Martin’s other notable films include: 1982’s Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid; 1983’s The Man with Two Brains; 1984’s All of Me; 1986’s Little Shop of Horrors; 1989’s Parenthood; 1991’s Father of the Bride; 1996’s Sgt. Bilko; 1999’s Bowfinger; 2001’s Novocaine; 2003’s Bringing Down the House; 2003’s Cheaper by the Dozen; and 2006’s Pink Panther. He has also appeared on plays, and has even written the play Picasso at the Lapin Angle.
Spouse:
Anne Stringfield (28 July 2007 - present)
Victoria Tennant (20 November 1986 - 1994)(divorced)
He is a fan of "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (1969). This led to him being the host/narrator of the do!$#!#entary Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python (1989) (TV).
As a vegetarian, he made fun of hot dogs in his 1970s stand-up act; a joke about hot dogs appears on his 1979 album "Comedy Is Not Pretty".
His study of philosophy was a source of much of his material for his 1970s standup act.
2003: Was listed as #50 in People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" List.
Played the banjo in his guest appearance on the "The Muppet Show" (1976).
Was voted Most Talented by his classmates at Garden Grove high school.
Was considered for the role of "Willy Wonka" in the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005).
Is a fan of "Doctor Who" (1963).
His performance as "Navin Johnson" in The Jerk (1979) is ranked #66 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.
Says his favorite movie of his own is Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987).
His wife is a writer for The New Yorker.
believe that sex is the most beautiful, natural, and wholesome thing that money can buy.
The greatest thing you can do is surprise yourself.
What is comedy? Comedy is the art of making people laugh without making them puke.
[while hosting The 73rd Annual Academy Awards (2001) (TV)] And now, I'm pleased to introduce the star of the film Gladiator (2000), and a man I like to call a close, personal friend, but he told me not to . . .
I wrote a novel this year called "Shop Girl", and several producers came to me and wanted to turn it into a movie. And I said, "If you think you're going to take this book and change it around, and Hollywoodize it and change the ending . . . that's going to cost you."
All I've ever wanted was an honest week's pay for an honest day's work.
Chaos in the midst of chaos isn't funny, but chaos in the midst of order is.
I believe entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you are an idiot.