Martin Short is a well-known Canadian comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He gained recognition through his appearances on popular TV comedy shows and continued to rise to fame with his role on the immensely popular program, “Saturday Night Live.” In addition, Short successfully hosted his own talk and comedy shows, which greatly contributed to his widespread success.
Martin Short’s Early Life & Education
Martin Hayter Short was born to Charles Patrick Short and Olive Grace on 26 March 1950 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. His mother was a concertmistress and his father worked as an executive in a steel company. Short was the youngest of five siblings, including three brothers and one sister.
Since he was a child, Martin Short has showcased his skills as an actor, imitator, and performer, thanks to the support and encouragement of his mother. He attended Westdale Secondary School in Hamilton, his hometown.
In 1971, Martin Short graduated from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario with a bachelor’s degree in social work. This was a challenging period for him, as he had recently lost both of his parents. His mother passed away from cancer three years before he graduated, and his father passed away two years after her.
Career: Movies & TV Shows
After completing his studies in social work, Martin Short had his heart set on pursuing a career in the field. However, in 1971, the same year he graduated, he landed his first acting role in the play ‘Godspell’.
This opportunity allowed him to network with established actors, and the following year he appeared in the drama ‘Fortune and Men’s Eyes’.
After joining the comedy group known as ‘Toronto’s Second City’, Martin Short began hosting the music program ‘Right On’ in 1972. He spent seven years working in television and theatre in Canada before landing a role on the relatively unknown American show ‘The Associates’.
In 1982, Martin Short’s career took off when he made his debut on the comedy series ‘Second City Television’ or SCTV. This brought him widespread recognition and he quickly became a familiar face on television.
In 1984, Martin Short became a member of the renowned show “Saturday Night Live” and is widely credited with revitalizing the show after Eddie Murphy’s departure.
In addition to his appearances on “Saturday Night Live,” Short also starred in several special programs, such as “Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas,” “Martin Short Comedy Special,” “I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood,” and the talk show “The Martin Short Show,” among others.
Martin Short joined Steve Martin and Chevy Chase for a special episode of ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 2013. He then starred as Lou Cannon on the Fox sitcom Mulaney from 2014 to 2015.
In 2021, he and Steve Martin joined forces with singer-actress Selena Gomez for the Hulu show Only Murders in the Building. In the series, their three characters create a true-crime podcast under the same name following a murder in their upscale apartment building located in the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
Personal Life
Martin Short was previously married to Nancy Dolman, who was a former actress in comic book roles. They first met in 1972 while both were cast in the musical Godspell. After dating for a while, they tied the knot on December 22, 1980.
During their marriage, they welcomed three children – a daughter named Katherine and two sons, Oliver and Henry – through adoption. Sadly, their joyful union came to an end in August 2010 when Nancy passed away from ovarian cancer.
Net Worth
With a net worth of $30 million, Martin Short has made a name for himself as a dynamic actor, comedian, writer, and producer in both the film and television industries for many years.
Before relocating to New York, he honed his skills as a writer and performer on the popular sketch comedy program “SCTV” (1981-1984) and was part of the renowned Second City comedy group in Toronto.
