Martin Short Biography

Martin Short was born in 1950 in Hamilton, Ohio. After graduating from college with a degree in social work in 1972, Martin joined the cast of the play Godspell, performing in Toronto, and decided to pursue a career in acting instead. Dozens of small roles in plays and on television followed, and Short remained in Canada until 1979, when he returned to the United States to star in the sitcom The Associated.

A role on the show I’m a Big Girl Now in 1980 followed, and then came Martin Short’s big breakthrough with the television show Second City Television, or SCTV. Martin remained with SCTV until 1984, when he moved to Saturday Night Live, where he developed some of the show’s most memorable characters, including: Ed Grimley, Irving Cohen, Brock Linehan, and Nathan Thurm. As it has been for so many other comedians, SNL launched Martin Short’s career, and by the mid 1980’s, he was in demand for not only television appearances, but major film roles as well, resulting in his appearance in Innerspace (1985) and Three Amigos (1986.)

Martin Short has also appeared on a number of television specials, including; Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas (1985, Showtime), The Martin Short Comedy Special (1986, in Canada), I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood (1989, HBO.) He has enjoyed his own television programs, including the Martin Short Show, The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show, and the talk show The Martin Short Show. Martin has also appeared on the television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Muppets Tonight, Arrested Development, Damages, Weeds, and – most recently, the show How I Met Your Mother (2011.)

Martin Short has also made his mark on the stage, appearing in The Goodbye Girl (1993), Little Me (1999), The Producers (2003), and Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me. For his roles onstage he has earned two Tony nominations, with one win. Martin Short has also earned: an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Variety of Music Program, SCTV Comedy Network (1983), an Outer Critics Circle Award for his performance in The Goodbye Girl (1993), A Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), and an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role on Damages (2010.)

Short also continues to tour as a one-man show, and has plans to write his memoir in the next few years.