Martin Short

Martin Hayter Short Bio

Martin Hayter Short OC is a Canadian comedian, actor, and writer known for his energetic comedic style and versatility across multiple entertainment mediums. With a career spanning more than five decades, Short has established himself as a prominent figure in sketch comedy, film, television, and Broadway theater. His distinctive characters and quick wit have made him a beloved presence in entertainment since the 1970s. Short has received numerous accolades including two Primetime Emmy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Tony Award. In 2019, he was honored as an Officer of the Order of Canada for his contributions to the arts.

Short gained widespread recognition through his work on the sketch comedy shows Second City Television and Saturday Night Live. He created memorable characters including Ed Grimley and Jiminy Glick, showcasing his talent for physical comedy and celebrity impersonations. Beyond sketch comedy, Short has built an impressive filmography with roles in popular comedy films such as Three Amigos, Innerspace, and Father of the Bride. His career continues to thrive with recent success in the Hulu crime comedy series Only Murders in the Building.

Early Life and Background

Martin Hayter Short was born on March 26, 1950, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He was the youngest of five children born to Olive Grace Hayter, a concertmistress at the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra, and Charles Patrick Short, a corporate executive at the Canadian steel company Stelco. His father had emigrated from Crossmaglen, County Armagh, Northern Ireland as a stowaway during the Irish War of Independence. Short grew up in a Catholic household alongside his three older brothers and one older sister.

Tragedy struck Short’s family during his childhood. His eldest brother David was killed in a car accident in Montreal in 1962 when Short was 12 years old. His mother died of cancer in 1968, followed by his father’s death two years later from complications of a stroke. Despite these early losses, Short’s mother had encouraged his creative endeavors before her passing. Short attended Westdale Secondary School before pursuing higher education at McMaster University.

Short graduated from McMaster University in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work. During his university years, classmates Eugene Levy and Dave Thomas encouraged him to pursue comedy. Rather than immediately beginning a career in social work, Short moved to Toronto to try acting. His brother Michael would also become a successful comedy writer, earning multiple Emmy Awards for his work on Second City Television.

Path to Celebrity

In March 1972, shortly after graduating from university, Short landed his first paid acting role playing a plastic credit card in a Chargex television commercial. He was then cast by composer Stephen Schwartz in the 1972 Toronto production of Godspell at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. The production featured several performers who would become comedy stars, including Victor Garber, Gilda Radner, Eugene Levy, and Andrea Martin. Short and Radner dated during this period. The successful production moved to the Bayview Playhouse and ran for 488 performances.

Short’s growing stage presence led to appearances on Canadian television, including guest spots on the teen program Right On and a role as Smokey the Hare on the children’s show Cucumber. In 1974, he worked as a writer on Everything Goes, a nightly variety show on the Global Television Network. Although many of his Godspell colleagues joined the newly formed Toronto Second City improvisation group in 1973, Short initially resisted auditioning due to what he described as a phobia of being funny on demand, considering himself instead a traditional song and dance performer.

By March 1977, Short overcame his hesitation and joined the Second City company in Toronto, taking over for John Candy in their ninth revue called The Wizard of Ossington. This marked a crucial turning point in his career, as Second City Television would soon launch him to national prominence. Short also met Canadian comic actress Nancy Dolman during the 1972 run of Godspell, beginning a personal relationship that would lead to marriage in 1980.

Martin Hayter Short Career

Early Career (1977-1985)

Short made his feature film debut in 1978 with a supporting role in the British romantic comedy Lost and Found, starring George Segal and Glenda Jackson. The film received a limited North American release in 1979. In 1979, he landed a starring role in the American sitcom The Associates, which focused on young lawyers at a Wall Street firm. The following year, he joined the cast of I’m a Big Girl Now, a sitcom starring Diana Canova and Danny Thomas.

Short achieved wider recognition when the Toronto Second City group produced Second City Television for broadcast. SCTV ran for several years in Canada before reaching American audiences. Short joined the cast in 1982-1983 and developed several characters during his tenure. His success on SCTV led to his joining Saturday Night Live for the 1984-1985 season. Short’s appearance on SNL helped revive the show’s fanbase after Eddie Murphy’s departure and launched his career in film and television.

Breakthrough (1986-1999)

Short transitioned to film stardom with his role in the 1986 comedy Three Amigos alongside Steve Martin and Chevy Chase. He followed this success with Innerspace in 1987, The Big Picture in 1989, Three Fugitives in 1989, and Pure Luck in 1991. His portrayal of wedding coordinator Franck Eggelhoffer in the 1991 remake of Father of the Bride became one of his most memorable film roles. He reprised the character in Father of the Bride Part II in 1995 and later in a 2020 short film.

Throughout the 1990s, Short continued to build an impressive film resume. He appeared in Captain Ron in 1992, Clifford in 1994, Mars Attacks! in 1996, A Simple Wish in 1997, Jungle 2 Jungle in 1997, and Mumford in 1999. He also ventured into voice acting, providing voices for animated films including The Pebble and the Penguin, The Prince of Egypt, and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. His distinctive voice became a valuable asset in animation work.

Parallel to his film career, Short made significant contributions to theater. He made his Broadway debut in 1993 in the musical adaptation of Neil Simon’s The Goodbye Girl, earning a Tony Award nomination and an Outer Critics Circle Award. In 1999, he took the lead role in the Broadway revival of the musical Little Me. This performance earned him the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, along with another Outer Critics Circle Award, cementing his reputation as a versatile stage performer.

Notable Works and Milestones

Short created iconic characters that became cultural touchstones, most notably Ed Grimley, the geeky everyman obsessed with Wheel of Fortune, and Jiminy Glick, the unpredictable entertainment interviewer. His television work expanded to include hosting his own shows, including The Martin Short Show in 1994 and The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show in 1995. He starred as Jiminy Glick on Comedy Central’s Primetime Glick from 2001 to 2003, with The New York Times calling the character the most unpredictable and hilariously uninhibited comic creation to hit television in decades.

Martin Hayter Short Award Nominations

Martin Short has received numerous award nominations throughout his distinguished career. He has earned sixteen Primetime Emmy Award nominations across various categories, including Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. His work on Only Murders in the Building has brought him recent nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Critics’ Choice Television Award. Short also received a Tony Award nomination for The Goodbye Girl in 1993, adding to his recognition in theater.

Martin Hayter Short Awards Won

Short has won prestigious awards across television, theater, and comedy. He received his first Primetime Emmy Award in 1983 for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series for his work on SCTV. His second Primetime Emmy Award came in 2014 for the AFI Life Achievement Award tribute to Mel Brooks. In 1999, Short won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in Little Me. He has also won two Screen Actors Guild Awards, including one for his role in Only Murders in the Building. Short has received numerous honors from Canada, including the Earl Grey Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995 and being named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2019.

Martin Hayter Short Family

Martin Short married Canadian comic actress Nancy Dolman in 1980 after meeting her during the 1972 production of Godspell. Dolman retired from show business in 1985 to focus on raising their family. The couple adopted three children together: Katherine, Oliver, and Henry. Tragically, Nancy Dolman died of ovarian cancer on August 21, 2010, after thirty years of marriage. Short has spoken openly about his enduring love for his wife, famously noting on a television interview that they were together for 36 years and he was madly in love with her, choosing not to correct a host who spoke about their marriage in the present tense unaware of Dolman’s death.

Personal Life

Short and his family make their home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. He also maintains a residence on Lake Rosseau in Ontario, Canada. Short became a naturalized United States citizen while retaining his Canadian citizenship, as well as Irish and British citizenship. He has remained connected to his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, and is a fan of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. Short has been involved in philanthropic efforts, including campaigning for the Women’s Research Cancer Fund and participating in charity game shows to raise money for educational institutions. In 2025, Short took over hosting duties for Match Game on ABC, continuing his active presence in television entertainment.