Steve Martin Birthday Special: All you need to know about the actor’s six-decade long career

Steve Martin recently announced his plans to retire from acting. The actor, who currently stars in the Hulu show ‘Only Murders in the Building, told The Hollywood Reporter that he is not going to seek other TV shows, movies or cameos. ‘This is, weirdly it,’ he said.

In a career spanning six decades, Steve Martin has worn many hats- comedian, actor, writer, producer, and musician. He is now one Tony Award away from becoming an EGOT (Emmy-Grammy-Oscar-Tony) winner.

Let’s take a look at the many talents he's exhibited during his journey.

Stand-up comedian

Steve Martin was born in Texas and raised in California. He started his career as a writer on the 1960s show ‘The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour’, for which he bagged an Emmy in 1969. He then went on to host ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 1970s, which he hosted 15 times, and gained further recognition by performing stand-up comedy in his own offbeat style by incorporating music and props.

In 1980s, Steve retired from stand-up and moved on to acting. Later, he was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2005.

In 2016, he returned to stand-up when he opened for Jerry Seinfeld. That year, he went on a national tour with Martin Short, his ‘Only Murders in the Building’ co-star. The duo released a Netflix special, titled ‘An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life’, in 2018.

Acknowledged actor

Steve Martin has starred in numerous movie. He is best known for his role in films like ‘Three Amigos’ (1986), ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ (1987), and ‘Father of the Bride’ and ‘Cheaper by the Dozen’ franchises.

The actor has never been nominated for an Oscar, but he received an honorary award in 2013.

Steve wrote and composed his first Broadway musical ‘Bright Star’ in 2016, for which he received five Tony nominations.

Steve has been a co-creator of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ since 2021, in which he features as an amateur podcaster. The show is currently nominated for seven Emmys, three of them being for Steve Martin.

Grammy-winning musician

Steve Martin started playing the banjo as a teenager. In the 19070s, he incorporated the instrument in his stand-up routines. He won a Grammy for his cover of Earl Scrugg's ‘Foggy Mountain Breakdown’ in 2002.

‘The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo’ is his first and only music album which was released in 2009. The album won him the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album in 2010.

Steve Martin later won three more Grammys for his contributions to the bluegrass genre.

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