Biography
Who is Martin Short?
Early life and education
Martin Short Hayter Short was born in Hamilton, Canada, on March 26, 1950. He grew up as the youngest of five children born to Olive Grace Hayter and Charles Patrick Short. His mother worked as a concertmistress for the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra, while his father was a corporate executive. During his youth, he attended Westdale Secondary School in his hometown.
After finishing high school, Martin enrolled at McMaster University. He pursued higher education and successfully graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in social work in 1971. Although he trained in social work, he soon shifted his focus toward acting and entertainment after moving to Toronto around the time of his graduation.
Early acting and theatre career
Shortly after completing his university studies, Martin secured his first professional acting role in a television commercial. He then joined the cast of the theatrical production Godspell at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto. This production featured several other well-known performers and ran for hundreds of performances, raising his profile in the local theatre scene.
Following his stage success, Martin appeared in various Canadian television programs and stage plays. He joined the Toronto branch of the Second City improv comedy theatre troupe. His work in live comedy and television laid the foundation for his future success in sketch comedy and television broadcasting.
Television and film stardom
Martin achieved broader public recognition when he appeared on the television program Second City Television. He later joined the cast of Saturday Night Live for the 1984 through 1985 season, helping to revive the show's audience base. During his time on these programs, he created memorable characters such as Ed Grimley, Nathan Thurm, and Jiminy Glick.
In addition to his sketch comedy work, Martin acted in numerous feature films throughout his career. His film credits include comedy roles in Three Amigos, Innerspace, Father of the Bride, Captain Ron, and Mars Attacks! He also lent his voice to several animated motion projects, including The Prince of Egypt and Frankenweenie.
Recent projects and stage work
Martin has maintained an active presence on both stage and screen in recent years. He starred in Broadway productions including Neil Simon's musicals The Goodbye Girl and Little Me, with the latter earning him a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He also began touring nationally alongside fellow comedian Steve Martin, releasing a Netflix special that received multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
Since 2021, Martin has co-starred in the Hulu comedy series Only Murders in the Building alongside Steve Martin and Selena Gomez. His performance in the streaming series has earned him nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Critics Choice Television Award, as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award win.
Birthday and age
Martin Short was born on March 26, 1950, which makes Martin 76 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. Martin shares the date with 36 other famous people.
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