Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Steve Martin
Discover the career path of Steve Martin, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Stephen Glenn Martin is a highly acclaimed American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and musician. He is renowned for his contributions to comedy films, television, and music. His accolades include five Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Martin's contributions to American humor and the arts have been recognized with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, Kennedy Center Honors, an Honorary Academy Award, and an AFI Life Achievement Award. Comedy Central ranked him among the greatest stand-up comics.
1955: First Job at Disneyland
In 1955, Steve Martin's first job was selling guidebooks at the newly opened Disneyland, working weekends and full-time during summer break for three years.
1958: End of Disneyland Job
In 1958, Steve Martin ended his three-year employment at Disneyland.
1960: Job at Magic Shop
By August 1960, Steve Martin mastered magic tricks and illusions, taking a paying job at the Magic shop in Fantasyland in Disneyland.
1967: Writing Job at The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
In 1967, Steve Martin landed a writing job with The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, assisted by his former girlfriend Nina Goldblatt.
1968: First National Television Appearance
In 1968, Steve Martin made his first national television appearance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.
1969: Primetime Emmy Award
In 1969, Steve Martin won a Primetime Emmy Award for his writing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.
1969: Emmy Award for Writing
In 1969, Steve Martin, along with other writers for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, won an Emmy Award.
1970: Appearance on The Virginia Graham Show
Circa 1970, Steve Martin appeared on "The Virginia Graham Show" and was deeply disappointed with his performance.
1972: Small Role in Another Nice Mess
In 1972, Steve Martin had a small role in the film "Another Nice Mess".
1974: Starred in The Funnier Side of Eastern Canada
In 1974, Steve Martin starred in the Canadian travelogue production "The Funnier Side of Eastern Canada", created to promote tourism in Montreal and Toronto, which also included standup segments filmed at the Ice House in Pasadena, California.
1976: Emmy Nomination for Van Dyke and Company
In 1976, Steve Martin earned an Emmy nomination for his writing on "Van Dyke and Company".
1977: First Substantial Film Appearance and Academy Award Nomination
In 1977, Steve Martin had his first substantial film appearance in the short titled "The Absent-Minded Waiter", which he wrote and starred in, receiving an Academy Award nomination.
1977: Let's Get Small Album Release
In 1977, Steve Martin released his comedy album "Let's Get Small".
1977: Let's Get Small Album Release and Catchphrase
In 1977, Steve Martin released his first comedy album, "Let's Get Small", which featured the track "Excuse Me", helping establish a national catchphrase.
April 22, 1978: King Tut Performance
On April 22, 1978, Steve Martin performed "King Tut" on Saturday Night Live.
1978: A Wild and Crazy Guy Album Release
In 1978, Steve Martin released his comedy album "A Wild and Crazy Guy".
1978: "King Tut" Novelty Hit Song
In 1978, Steve Martin released the novelty hit song "King Tut".
1979: Starred in The Jerk
In 1979, Steve Martin starred in the comedy film "The Jerk", which he co-wrote and was a huge success.
1980: All Commercials Television Special
In 1980, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band appeared in Steve Martin's television special, "All Commercials", as a return for Martin opening for them previously.
1981: Stopped Stand-Up Comedy
In 1981, Steve Martin stopped doing stand-up comedy to focus on movies, not returning for thirty-five years.
1981: Pennies from Heaven
In 1981, Steve Martin tried his hand at his first serious film, "Pennies from Heaven", based on the 1978 BBC serial by Dennis Potter.
1982: Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
In 1982, Steve Martin starred in "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid".
1983: Starred in The Man with Two Brains
In 1983, Steve Martin starred in "The Man with Two Brains".
1984: Joined Los Angeles County Museum of Art board of trustees
In 1984, Steve Martin joined the Los Angeles County Museum of Art board of trustees.
1987: Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Roxanne
In 1987, Steve Martin starred in "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" and "Roxanne".
1987: Starred in Planes, Trains and Automobiles
In 1987, Steve Martin starred in the film "Planes, Trains and Automobiles".
1988: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
In 1988, Steve Martin performed in the Frank Oz film "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", alongside Michael Caine.
1989: Starred in Parenthood
In 1989, Steve Martin starred in the Ron Howard film "Parenthood".
1990: USO Tour to Saudi Arabia
In 1990, from October 14 to 21, Steve Martin went on a USO Tour to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm, meeting with military service men and women.
1991: Starred in L.A. Story and Father of the Bride
In 1991, Steve Martin starred in the films "L.A. Story" and "Father of the Bride".
1995: Starred in Father of the Bride films
In 1995, Steve Martin starred in "Father of the Bride films".
1999: Starred in Bowfinger
In 1999, Steve Martin starred in the film "Bowfinger".
2003: Starred in Looney Tunes: Back in Action and Bringing Down the House and Cheaper by the Dozen
In 2003, Steve Martin starred in the films "Looney Tunes: Back in Action", "Bringing Down the House", and "Cheaper by the Dozen".
2004: Left Los Angeles County Museum of Art board of trustees
In 2004, Steve Martin left the Los Angeles County Museum of Art board of trustees.
2005: Starred in Cheaper by the Dozen films
In 2005, Steve Martin starred in "Cheaper by the Dozen films".
June 2009: Appearance on A Prairie Home Companion
In June 2009, Steve Martin played banjo with the Steep Canyon Rangers on A Prairie Home Companion.
2010: Performances with the Steep Canyon Rangers
In 2010, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers performed at the New Orleans Jazzfest, Merlefest Bluegrass Festival, Bonnaroo Music Festival, ROMP Bluegrass Festival, Red Butte Garden Concert series, and on BBC's Later... with Jools Holland.
2010: Creation of the Steve Martin Prize
In 2010, Steve Martin created the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass to reward artistry and increase visibility for bluegrass performers.
March 21, 2011: Performance on The Colbert Report
On March 21, 2011, Steve Martin, along with the Steep Canyon Rangers, performed "Jubilation Day" on The Colbert Report.
May 3, 2011: Performance on Conan
On May 3, 2011, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers performed "Jubilation Day" on Conan.
July 4, 2011: Performance at "Capitol Fourth Celebration"
On July 4, 2011, Steve Martin performed "Me and Paul Revere" and two other songs at the "Capitol Fourth Celebration" in Washington, D.C.
July 6, 2011: Performance on BBC's The One Show
On July 6, 2011, Steve Martin performed "Jubilation Day" with the Steep Canyon Rangers on BBC's The One Show.
April 2013: Release of "Love Has Come for You" Album
In April 2013, Steve Martin and Edie Brickell released their collaboration album, Love Has Come for You.
May 2013: Tour with Steep Canyon Rangers and Edie Brickell
Starting in May 2013, Steve Martin began a tour with the Steep Canyon Rangers and Edie Brickell throughout the United States.
2015: Release of "So Familiar"
In 2015, Steve Martin and Edie Brickell released "So Familiar", the second installment of their partnership.
2015: "The Idea of North: The Paintings of Lawren Harris" Exhibition
In 2015, Steve Martin organized an exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and other locations, titled "The Idea of North: The Paintings of Lawren Harris."
2015: Comedy Tours with Martin Short
Since 2015, Steve Martin has embarked on several national comedy tours with Martin Short.
2016: Comeback to Live Comedy
In 2016, Steve Martin made a low-key comeback to live comedy, opening for Jerry Seinfeld.
2016: Bright Star on Broadway
In 2016, Steve Martin wrote the book to the musical "Bright Star", which premiered on Broadway and co-wrote the music.
February 2017: Saturday Night Live Hosting Record
As of February 2017, Steve Martin has hosted Saturday Night Live sixteen times, second only to Alec Baldwin.
June 9, 2017: Release of "Music from The American Epic Sessions" soundtrack
On June 9, 2017, the soundtrack "Music from The American Epic Sessions" was released, featuring Steve Martin and Edie Brickell performing "The Coo Coo Bird."
2017: Meteor Shower on Broadway
In 2017, Steve Martin wrote the book to the comedy "Meteor Shower", which premiered on Broadway.
2018: Netflix Comedy Special Release and Emmy Nominations
Also in 2016 he staged a national tour with Martin Short and the Steep Canyon Rangers, which yielded a 2018 Netflix comedy special, Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life. The special received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations with Martin receiving two nominations for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special and Outstanding Music and Lyrics for "The Buddy Song".
2018: Netflix Special Release
In 2018, Steve Martin and Martin Short released their Netflix special "An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life", which received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
2021: Assisted in launching NEIVA
In 2021, Steve Martin assisted in launching the National Endowment for Indigenous Visual Arts (NEIVA), a fund to support Australian Indigenous artists.
2021: Co-created Only Murders in the Building
In 2021, Steve Martin co-created and starred in his first television show, the Hulu comedy series "Only Murders in the Building", alongside Martin Short and Selena Gomez, receiving several award nominations.
2022: Hosted Saturday Night Live with Martin Short and Selena Gomez
In 2022, Steve Martin and Martin Short co-hosted Saturday Night Live together with Selena Gomez making an appearance.
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