STEVE MARTIN

Name, Age & Place of Birth

Stephen Glenn Martin, better known as Steve Martin, was born on August 14, 1945, in Waco, Texas, U.S. He’s currently 79 years old .

Early Life & Family

Steve is the son of Mary Lee (née Stewart) and Glenn Vernon Martin, and has an older sister, Melinda . The family moved to California when he was five, settling first in Inglewood and later in Garden Grove . From a young age, he started developing his performance skills—selling guidebooks at Disneyland, practicing magic tricks, juggling, and even cheering at Garden Grove High .

Education & Early Entertainment

Martin began college at Santa Ana College and briefly studied philosophy at California State University, Long Beach, before transferring to UCLA to pursue theater . Around this time, he performed in comedy troupes at Knott’s Berry Farm’s Bird Cage Theatre, strengthening his stage presence .

Stand-Up & TV Writing

In 1967, Steve began his career writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, earning an Emmy in 1969 for outstanding writing . His unique stand-up style—blending absurdist humor, magic, banjo tunes, and props—made him a sensation. Through the 1970s, he released comedy albums like Let’s Get Small and A Wild and Crazy Guy, both Grammy winners, and frequently appeared on The Tonight Show and Saturday Night Live .

Breakthrough in Film

Steve said goodbye to stand-up in 1981, shifting focus to his film career . He wrote and starred in The Jerk (1979), which grossed over $100 million on a $4 million budget . He went on to star in comedy classics such as Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid, The Man with Two Brains, All of Me, Three Amigos!, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Roxanne, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Parenthood, and Father of the Bride, among others .

Music & Writing Endeavors

A skilled banjo player, Steve’s passion for bluegrass led to award-winning projects. His album The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo won a Grammy in 2010, and he later collaborated with Edie Brickell on Love Has Come for You, earning further recognition .
As a writer, he’s published novels, memoirs like Born Standing Up (2007), and stage plays, including the Broadway musical Bright Star (2016) and the comedy Meteor Shower (2017) .

Awards & Honors

Steve’s impressive accolades include:

• 5 Grammy Awards (comedy and music categories)

• Primetime Emmy Award (1969 writing) 

• Kennedy Center Honors (2007), Mark Twain Prize (2005), Honorary Oscar (2013), and the AFI Life Achievement Award (2015) .

Recent Highlights

Steve co-created and stars in Hulu’s hit series Only Murders in the Building (2021–present), earning Emmy and Golden Globe nominations . He continues performing live, including comedy tours with Martin Short, with their Netflix special An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life debuting in 2018 .

A two-part Apple TV+ documentary, STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces, released in April 2024, offers deep insight into both his early years and reflective present life .

Personal Traits & Legacy

Steve Martin is often described as “the reluctant superstar”—despite his huge fame, he remains modest, private, and constantly evolving. His career spans comedy, music, film, television, writing, and theater. At heart, he cherishes his roles as a musician, collaborator, and family man—becoming a father later in life and embracing new creative pursuits .