Martin Short: Loving the person not the celebrity

Martin Short in "The Three Amigos" in 1986.

Source: Orion Pictures Credit: C/O

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He seems to be everywhere these days whether it is as a sleazy producer on “The Morning Show” or receiving an Emmy nomination – today in fact – for “Only Murders in the Building”.

However, Martin Short really got his career going in the 1980s with his turn as a comedian, with characters such as the Nebbish Ed Grimley; as part of an ensemble cast on “SCTV” and in a string of movies.

The years before
Martin Short worked exclusively in Canada until 1979, including “The David Steinberg Show” and an episode of “For the Record” on CBC.

Then, he headed south.

Dawn of the decade
Martin Short’s first role was in a sitcom in 1979-1980 called “The Associates” about a group of young Wall Street lawyers. It also starred other TV actors such as Joe Regalbuto, who went on to success in “Murphy Brown”; Alley Mills who went on to “The Wonder Years”; Shelley Smith; and Tim Thomerson.

The show only lasted 19 episodes, and my only exposure to the show was in the “TV Guide” fall preview issue.

In 1980, he was part of the cast of “I’m a Big Girl Now”, a show that I did watch on Channel 7 of peasant vision. It starred Diane Canova, who had left her supporting role of Corinne Tate on the groundbreaking sitcom “Soap” to take the starring role in this new comedy. Playing opposite her was the legendary Danny Thomas as her father, who she and her daughter move in with after she gets divorced. It was created by the same people who brought us “Soap”.

Not only do I remember the theme song, of the same name, but it was another song I taped off TV. I used an old tape recorder, with a corded microphone, my brother left behind when he went off to college. I recently discovered the song was also sung by Diana Canova.

I recall “I’m A Big Girl Now” being heavily promoted, but none of the episodes I watched were very funny. That’s why it only lasted 19 episodes, with Short appearing in 14, before being cancelled.

He would also guest star in shows such as “The Love Boat” and “Taxi” before getting his big break on TV in 1982.

Second City Television
According to Wikipedia, Short was encouraged to pursue comedy by Eugene Levy and Dave Thomas, who he went to university with at McMaster in Hamilton. That's Short is actually from. He then joined them in the improvisational group “The Second City” in Toronto in 1977.

Short came to public notice when the group produced “Second City Television”, or “SCTV”, for television, running first on Channel 7 which was loosely affiliated with the Global Television Network, then on the CBC Channel 9.

Short joined “SCTV” in 1982, for the final few episodes of its fourth season, then its fifth and sixth seasons, which concluded in the middle of 1984.

He had many characters, but the one that stands out is the weird, creepy Ed Grimley who had his hair styled straight up, was a man child, and was obsessed with “Wheel of Fortune”. Quite honestly, I never found him very funny because he was so hyper and just over the top.

However, his work on SCTV got Martin Short his next big break, in 1984.

Saturday Night Love
Martin Short joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” for the 1984-1985 season. He is credited with breathing new life into the show after it tailed off when Eddie Murphy left to pursue a movie career. This turn on “Saturday Night Live” would also launch his career in television and movies.

He brought many of his characters from “SCTV” to “Saturday Night Live” including Ed Grimley. Since then he has continued to periodically appear as a guest on “Saturday Night Live”.

The movies
Martin Short branched out again, this time into the movies. In 1986 he struck gold in “The Three Amigoes”, co-starring with Steve Martin and Chevy Chase as three silent film actors mistaken for real heroes by the people in a Mexican village.

A year later, in 1987, he co-starred with Dennis Quaid in “Innerspace” where Quaid is shrunk to microscopic size and injected into Short, a la “The Fantastic Voyage”.

It was around this time that I began to enjoy Martin Short more as he began to settle down and wasn’t so over the top and cartoon-like.

The years after
Martin Short’s career took off as the ‘80s ended, appearing in movies such as “Father of the Bride”; “Captain Ron”; “Clifford”; “Mars Attacks!”; and “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause”. He has also done tons of voice work in movies, a lot of work on stage, and TV specials.

Short has also done a lot of TV shows as a guest star and recurring character including “Arrested Development”; “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”; “Damages”; “Weeds”; “How I Met Your Mother”; “Modern Family”; “The Simpsons”; and most recently “The Morning Show” and “Only Murders in the Building”.

He continues to perform to this day.

Short has won two Primetime Emmy Awards, earned a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2000, and was named to the Order of Canada in 2019.

Parting Thoughts
I have to admit, Martin Short was an acquired taste for me. I never really found characters such as Ed Grimley that funny. Yet, whenever I saw him in interviews, I really liked him. He seemed, humble, kind, considerate and self effacing.

The best example was a story he told in an interview I saw. He was at a Toronto Argonauts football game when someone came up to him, obviously having recognized him.

“What’s that movie you’re in?” he asked. “The one that I hate.”

It was classic, and made Martin Short endearing in my eyes.

I also learned about his personal life, when I read his autobiography. It was just gripping reading. He talked about marrying Nancy Dolman, the love of his life, only to lose her to cancer. Since then he has worked raising money and awareness of women’s cancer.

The book also took us behind the scenes of his career, and the people he has met in his life. He writes again, with humility, and humour.

The most gut wrenching memory I have was when he was on a live TV interview with Kathie Lee Gifford. She talked to him about his wife, how long they were still married and why. He had to tell her in the commercial break his wife died a year and a half earlier. I could not believe she had not done any research. Again, Martin Short showed grace and sensitivity.

Ultimately, Martin Short has put together a career where he has done a lot, even branching out to do some good work beyond comedy. A good example is his role in “The Morning Show” where he is absolutely creepy as a lecherous, remorseless producer.

Yet, I have come to love the man – the person – more than the celebrity.