Martin was born on August 14, 1945, in Waco, Texas, to Mary Lee (née Stewart; 1913–2002) and Glenn Vernon Martin (1914–1997), a real estate salesman and aspiring actor. He has an older sister, Melinda.
Martin is of English, Scottish, Welsh, Scots-Irish, German, and French descent and was raised in Inglewood, California, and later in Garden Grove, California, in a Baptist family. He attended Garden Grove High School, where he was a cheerleader. One of his earliest memories is seeing his father, an extra, serving drinks onstage at the Call Board Theatre on Melrose Place.
During World War II, Martin’s father appeared in a production of Our Town in the United Kingdom with Raymond Massey. Though Martin’s father expressed his affection through gifts like cars and bikes, he was stern and emotionally distant. Martin later recalled that his teenage feelings toward his father were mostly of hatred due to his father’s critical nature.
Now, at the age of 78, Steve Martin has confirmed the recent rumors about him are true. Whatever direction he takes, his supporters are behind him.
After an illustrious career spanning six decades, iconic actor and comedian Steve Martin seemed prepared to hang up his hat. However, the arrival of a new show, Only Murders in the Building, which garnered him three Emmy nominations, prompted a revival. This led to a stage performance, a fresh book, and an array of other ventures, but now, he is genuinely easing into retirement.
This remarkably adaptable individual rose to prominence when he became part of the Saturday Night Live ensemble. His extraordinary acting skills and quick wit catapulted his career to unprecedented heights, making him a consistent presence on television screens, providing humor to millions of admirers.
Martin boasts a considerable collection of awards and has appeared in an extensive list of films over his career’s trajectory. Among his most notable works are classics such as Pink Panther, Cheaper by the Dozen, and Father of the Bride.
While most people usually retire in their sixties, Martin not only continued to work on projects and films at this age but also embraced fatherhood for the first time. He and his wife, Anne Stringfield, celebrated the birth of their daughter in 2012 when Martin was 67 years old.
Discussing his decision to wrap up his career, Martin stated, “There comes a point in your career when audiences can’t wait to see you… At this stage of my career, I’m the one who has to make the effort to show up.”
When it comes to his show Only Murders in the Building, Martin co-created it alongside John Hoffman. The show stars Martin himself, singer-actress Selena Gomez, and Martin Short. The 78-year-old comedian told Variety, “I’m very happy with my character not growing. They always say, ‘What’s the arc of the character? What does he learn?’ Once you get to 75, there’s not a lot left to learn, there’s only more mistakes. So I don’t worry about those things. [It’s about] being true to the character. If Marty Short is true to Oliver, and I’m true to Charles, then we can’t go wrong. They’re real people.”
He then added, “When this television show is done, I’m not going to seek others. I’m not going to seek other movies. I don’t want to do cameos. This is, weirdly, it.”
Not many can say they had a career as outstanding as that of Steve Martin. Saying goodbye to Hollywood with a win in his pocket is possibly the best kind of farewell.
