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Martin Short

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Martin Short is a prominent Canadian comedian, actor, and writer.

Martin Short (41065348171) (cropped)
Martin Short (41065348171) (cropped)

He is widely recognized for his high-energy performance style. Short has built a massive career across television, film, and live theater. His work has earned him several prestigious honors. He has received two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Tony Award. In 2019, he was appointed as an officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of the highest honors in his home country.

Martin Short star on Walk of Fame
Martin Short star on Walk of Fame

Short often uses sketch comedy and improvisation to create humor. Sketch comedy involves acting out short, scripted scenes. Improvisation is a technique where performers make up dialogue and actions on the spot. He is famous for creating unique, recurring characters. One such character is Ed Grimley, a geeky man obsessed with the game show Wheel of Fortune. He also created the character Jiminy Glick. These distinct personas allow him to showcase a wide range of comedic skills.

His career began with a move from Hamilton, Ontario, to Toronto.

Martin Short in 2001
Martin Short in 2001

He originally intended to pursue social work after graduating from McMaster University in 1971. However, he decided to try acting temporarily. His first paid acting job was in a 1972 television commercial. He soon moved into musical theater, appearing in a production of Godspell. This production was a major success at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. It ran for 488 performances in Toronto.

Martin Short crop
Martin Short crop

Short achieved stardom through influential television programs. He was a key cast member on Second City Television, known as SCTV. This show helped him develop many of his most famous characters. In the 1984–85 season, he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live. His presence helped revive the show's fanbase during that era. He also brought his characters to animation. For example, Ed Grimley was featured in his own series, The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley. This was the only animated series based on characters from both SCTV and Saturday Night Live.

His filmography includes many well-known comedy movies. He appeared in films such as Three Amigos (1986) and Innerspace (1987). He played a memorable character named Franck in the 1991 film Father of the Bride. He also appeared in the sequel, Father of the Bride Part II, in 1995. Short has also performed extensive voice work for animated films. He provided voices for The Prince of Egypt (1998) and Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012). He even voiced the Cat in the Hat for a PBS Kids series.

Short has also maintained a successful career on the Broadway stage. He starred in the musical version of The Goodbye Girl in 1993. This performance earned him a Tony Award nomination. In 1998, he starred in the musical Little Me. This role earned him the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. His ability to transition between comedy and musical theater shows his versatility as a performer.

In recent years, Short has continued to reach new audiences. Since 2021, he has co-starred in the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building. He performs alongside Steve Martin and Selena Gomez in this comedy. He also tours nationally with Steve Martin. The duo released a Netflix special titled An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life. This special received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

Nasim Pedrad, Martin Short, John Mulaney - September 2014
Nasim Pedrad, Martin Short, John Mulaney - September 2014

His career remains active through these diverse media platforms.

Martin Short 2021 2
Martin Short 2021 2
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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:Martin Short (41065348171) (cropped).jpg
Martin Short (41065348171) (cropped).jpg
File:Martin Short in 2001.jpg
Martin Short in 2001.jpg
File:Martin Short crop.jpg
Martin Short crop.jpg
File:Nasim Pedrad, Martin Short, John Mulaney - September 2014.jpg
Nasim Pedrad, Martin Short, John Mulaney...
File:Martin Short 2021 2.jpg
Martin Short 2021 2.jpg
File:Martin Short star on Walk of Fame.jpg
Martin Short star on Walk of Fame.jpg
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