History of Martin Short in Timeline
Martin Short is a celebrated Canadian-American entertainer known for his energetic comedic performances. He rose to fame through sketch comedy and has an impressive career spanning film, television, and stage. His talent has earned him numerous accolades, including Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and recognition as an Officer of the Order of Canada.
1909: Birth of Charles Patrick Short, Martin Short's Father
Charles Patrick Short, who would become Martin Short's father, was born in 1909.
1913: Birth of Olive Grace Hayter, Martin Short's Mother
Olive Grace Hayter, who would later become Martin Short's mother, was born in 1913.
March 26, 1950: Birth of Martin Short
Martin Hayter Short was born on March 26, 1950, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
1962: Death of David Short, Martin Short's Brother
Tragedy struck the Short family in 1962 when Martin's eldest brother, David, died in a car accident in Montreal.
1968: Death of Olive Grace Short
Olive Grace Short, Martin Short's mother, passed away in 1968.
1968: Olive Grace Short Loses Battle with Cancer
Olive Grace Short, Martin Short's mother, succumbed to cancer in 1968.
1970: Death of Charles Patrick Short
Charles Patrick Short, Martin Short's father, died in 1970.
1971: Martin Short Graduates from McMaster University
Martin Short graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work in 1971.
March 1972: Martin Short Lands First Acting Role
In March 1972, Martin Short secured his first paid acting job for a Chargex commercial.
1972: Martin Short Performs in "Fortune and Men's Eyes"
In 1972, Martin Short took on the challenging role of a tough and predatory prison inmate in a production of John Herbert's play "Fortune and Men's Eyes."
1972: Meeting Nancy Dolman
Martin Short met his future wife, Canadian comic actress Nancy Dolman, in 1972 during the run of the musical "Godspell".
June 1973: Second City Opens in Toronto
Chicago's Second City improv comedy theater expanded to Toronto in June 1973.
1974: Martin Short Begins Writing for "Everything Goes"
Martin Short took on a writing role for "Everything Goes," a variety show hosted by Norm Crosby, Mike Darow, and Catherine McKinnon, which aired on Global Television Network in 1974.
1977: Martin Short Joins The Second City
Encouraged by his McMaster classmates Eugene Levy and Dave Thomas, Martin Short joined The Second City improvisation group in Toronto in 1977.
1978: Martin Short Films "Lost and Found"
Martin Short landed his first feature film role in the British romantic comedy "Lost and Found" in 1978.
June 1979: "Lost and Found" Sees Limited Release
Martin Short's debut feature film, "Lost and Found," had a limited release in North America in June 1979.
1979: Martin Short Stars in "The Associates"
Martin Short landed a starring role in the US sitcom "The Associates" in 1979.
1980: Bob Dolman and Andrea Martin's Marriage
In 1980, Nancy Dolman's brother, Bob Dolman, a screenwriter and director known for his work on "SCTV", married Andrea Martin, a close friend and colleague of the couple.
1980: Marriage to Nancy Dolman
Martin Short and Nancy Dolman were married in 1980.
1980: Martin Short Joins the Cast of "I'm a Big Girl Now"
Martin Short joined the cast of the sitcom "I'm a Big Girl Now," starring Diana Canova and Danny Thomas, in 1980.
1982: Martin Short Joins "Second City Television"
Martin Short joined the cast of "Second City Television" (SCTV) in 1982, where he further honed his comedic skills and developed memorable characters.
1983: Primetime Emmy Award Win for "SCTV"
Martin Short received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series for his work on "SCTV" in 1983.
1984: Martin Short Joins "Saturday Night Live"
Martin Short brought his comedic talents to the iconic sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) for the 1984-1985 season.
1984: Joined Saturday Night Live
In 1984, Martin Short joined the cast of Saturday Night Live for the 1984-1985 season.
1985: Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas
In 1985, Martin Short starred in his first live concert special, "Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas," which included studio sketches.
1985: Nancy Dolman Retires
In 1985, Nancy Dolman decided to retire from show business to focus on raising their family.
March 1986: The Martin Short Comedy Special Airs in Canada
In March 1986, "The Martin Short Comedy Special," co-produced by the CBC, aired in Canada.
1989: I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood
In 1989, Martin Short headlined a comedy special for HBO, "I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood," which was a parody of Hollywood.
1989: Three Fugitives and Other Films
In 1989, Martin Short starred in the movie "Three Fugitives."
1991: Father of the Bride and Pure Luck
In 1991, Martin Short appeared in the movie "Father of the Bride" and its sequel, and starred in the movie "Pure Luck."
1993: The Goodbye Girl
In 1993, Martin Short starred in the musical version of "The Goodbye Girl" on Broadway.
1993: Martin Short Stars in "The Goodbye Girl" on Broadway
Martin Short took on a starring role in the Broadway production of Neil Simon's musical "The Goodbye Girl" in 1993.
1994: The Martin Short Show
In 1994, Martin Short starred in a sitcom called "The Martin Short Show."
1995: The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show
In 1995, Martin Short had a sketch comedy show called "The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show."
1995: Earl Grey Lifetime Achievement Award
In 1995, Martin Short received the Earl Grey Lifetime Achievement Award in Canada.
1996: Mars Attacks!
In 1996, Martin Short appeared in the Tim Burton movie "Mars Attacks!"
1996: Guest Appearance on Muppets Tonight
In 1996, Martin Short made a guest appearance on "Muppets Tonight."
1997: Jungle 2 Jungle
In 1997, Martin Short appeared in the movie "Jungle 2 Jungle."
1998: Martin Short Stars in "Little Me" on Broadway
Martin Short began his starring role in the Broadway revival of the musical "Little Me" in 1998.
1999: Little Me
In 1999, Martin Short starred in the Broadway revival of the musical "Little Me."
1999: The Martin Short Show
In 1999, Martin Short's syndicated talk show, "The Martin Short Show," began its run.
1999: Sir Peter Ustinov Award
Martin Short was honored with the Sir Peter Ustinov Award at the Banff Television Festival in 1999.
1999: Tony Award Win for "Little Me"
Martin Short won a Tony Award for his performance in the Broadway revival of "Little Me" in 1999.
1999: Martin Short Wins Tony Award for "Little Me"
Martin Short's performance in "Little Me" earned him the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 1999.
2000: The Martin Short Show Ends
In 2000, Martin Short's syndicated talk show, "The Martin Short Show," ended.
2000: Star on Canada's Walk of Fame
Martin Short received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in 2000.
2001: Honorary Doctorate from McMaster University
Martin Short was awarded an honorary Doctor of Literature degree from McMaster University, located in his hometown of Hamilton, in 2001.
2001: Primetime Glick
In 2001, Martin Short began starring in "Primetime Glick" on Comedy Central.
2001: Appearance on "Celebrity Who Wants to Be a Millionaire"
Martin Short appeared on "Celebrity Who Wants to Be a Millionaire", hosted by Regis Philbin, in 2001. He won $32,000 for his chosen charity, Loyola High School.
2002: New York Times Calls Jiminy Glick Hilarious
In 2002, The New York Times praised Martin Short's character Jiminy Glick, calling him "the most unpredictable and hilariously uninhibited comic creation to hit TV since Bart Simpson was in diapers."
2002: Second Star on Canada's Walk of Fame and Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
Martin Short received a second star on Canada's Walk of Fame in 2002, this time as part of the comedic group "Second City Television". He was also awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal.
2003: Primetime Glick and The Producers
In 2003, "Primetime Glick" continued to run, and Martin Short starred in "The Producers" in Los Angeles.
2004: Bob Dolman and Andrea Martin's Divorce
Bob Dolman and Andrea Martin divorced in 2004.
2004: Jiminy Glick in Lalawood
In 2004, Martin Short wrote and starred in "Jiminy Glick in Lalawood."
2005: Guest Appearance on Arrested Development
In 2005, Martin Short made a guest appearance on the show "Arrested Development."
August 2006: Fame Becomes Me Opens on Broadway
In August 2006, Martin Short's show "Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me" opened on Broadway.
2006: The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
In 2006, Martin Short starred in the film "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause."
January 2007: Fame Becomes Me Closes
In January 2007, Martin Short's show "Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me" closed.
April 10, 2007: Fame Becomes Me Cast Album Released
On April 10, 2007, the cast album for Martin Short's show "Fame Becomes Me" was released.
August 21, 2010: Death of Wife, Nancy Dolman
On August 21, 2010, Martin Short's wife, Nancy Dolman, passed away due to ovarian cancer.
2010: Joins Damages Cast
In 2010, Martin Short joined the cast of the FX show "Damages."
2010: The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! Premieres
In 2010, "The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!," in which Martin Short voices the Cat in the Hat, premiered.
September 2011: Films New Comedy Special
In September 2011, Martin Short filmed a new comedy special in Toronto called "I, Martin Short, Goes Home."
2011: "Courage Award" Acceptance
In 2011, Martin Short accepted a "Courage Award" from the Women's Research Cancer Fund on behalf of his late wife, Nancy Dolman, for her battle with ovarian cancer.
April 3, 2012: I, Martin Short, Goes Home Airs
On April 3, 2012, Martin Short's comedy special "I, Martin Short, Goes Home" aired on CBC Television.
2012: Appearance on SNL Christmas Special
In 2012, Martin Short appeared on the SNL Christmas special.
2012: Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
Martin Short was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.
March 9, 2013: Appearance on Saturday Night Live
On March 9, 2013, Martin Short appeared on an episode of Saturday Night Live as a waiter, as part of the "Five-Timers Club."
2013: The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! Ends
In 2013, "The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!" ended.
November 4, 2014: "I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend" Release
On November 4, 2014, Martin Short released his memoir, "I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend", which covers his 40-year career in show business.
2014: "Mulaney" Starring Role
Martin Short starred as Lou Cannon, the boss and game show host of the title character, in the Fox sitcom "Mulaney" from 2014 to 2015.
2014: Voices Cat in the Hat for TV Specials
In 2014, Martin Short voiced the Cat in the Hat for a number of TV specials.
2014: Publication of Martin Short's Memoir
Martin Short published his memoir in 2014, providing insights into his life and career.
2014: Multiple Awards and Honors
In 2014, Martin Short received several accolades: a Primetime Emmy Award for his work on the "AFI Life Achievement Award: Mel Brooks" special and a Robert Altman Award at the Independent Spirit Awards, shared with the cast of "Inherent Vice".
2015: Canada Post Stamp
Canada Post issued a stamp featuring Martin Short's image in 2015.
2015: Appearance on SNL 40th Anniversary Special
In 2015, Martin Short appeared on the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special.
2015: Broadway Return in "It's Only a Play"
In 2015, Martin Short returned to Broadway, replacing Nathan Lane in Terrence McNally's comedic play "It's Only a Play".
2015: Martin Short and Steve Martin Begin Touring Together
Martin Short and Steve Martin embarked on a national comedy tour in 2015, marking the start of a successful comedic partnership.
May 31, 2016: "Maya & Marty" Premieres
On May 31, 2016, Martin Short debuted a new variety show on NBC called "Maya & Marty", co-starring Maya Rudolph.
2016: Voices Cat in the Hat for TV Specials
In 2016, Martin Short voiced the Cat in the Hat for a number of TV specials.
2016: Canadian Screen Awards Lifetime Achievement Award
Martin Short received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Canadian Screen Awards in 2016, recognizing his significant contributions to the entertainment industry.
2017: "An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life" Tour with Steve Martin
In 2017, Martin Short embarked on a comedy tour with Steve Martin called "An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life". The tour was later filmed for a Netflix special and received Emmy nominations.
2018: Release of "An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life"
Martin Short and Steve Martin's Netflix comedy special, "An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life," premiered in 2018 and garnered critical acclaim, including multiple Emmy nominations.
2018: Release of the Documentary "Love, Gilda"
The documentary "Love, Gilda," exploring the life and legacy of comedian Gilda Radner, was released in 2018.
2019: Appearance on "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" and "The Morning Show" Role
In 2019, Martin Short appeared on an episode of Jerry Seinfeld's "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" and began his role as Dick Lundy in the Apple TV+ series "The Morning Show", which continued until 2021.
2019: Martin Short Appointed Officer of the Order of Canada
In 2019, Martin Short was honored as an Officer of the Order of Canada, a high civilian honor recognizing his contributions to Canadian society.
2019: Officer of the Order of Canada
Martin Short was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2019.
2020: Voice Roles in "The Addams Family" and "The Willoughbys"
Martin Short lent his voice to two animated films in 2020, playing Grandpa Frump in "The Addams Family" and Father Willoughby in Netflix's "The Willoughbys".
2021: Peabody Award Nomination for "Only Murders in the Building"
"Only Murders in the Building", the Hulu comedy series starring and executive produced by Martin Short, Steve Martin, and Selena Gomez, was nominated for a Peabody Award in 2021.
2021: "The Funniest Show in Town at the Moment" Tour with Steve Martin
Continuing their comedic partnership, Martin Short and Steve Martin toured together again in 2021 with "The Funniest Show in Town at the Moment".
2021: Martin Short Stars in "Only Murders in the Building"
In 2021, Martin Short began co-starring alongside Steve Martin and Selena Gomez in the acclaimed Hulu comedy series "Only Murders in the Building."
2021: "Schmigadoon!" Role
Martin Short joined the cast of the Apple TV+ series "Schmigadoon!" in 2021, showcasing his comedic talents.
July 2022: 13th Emmy Nomination for "Only Murders in the Building"
In July 2022, Martin Short received his 13th Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his role in the Hulu comedy series "Only Murders in the Building".