Martin, Steve

Martin, Steve, 1945–, American comedian, actor, and writer, b. Waco, Tex. An Emmy-winning television comedy writer in the late 1960s, he began performing stand-up in the early 70s, achieving acclaim as a regular on Saturday Night Live in the late 70s. His catchphrases, e.g., “I'm a wild and crazy guy,” became instant clichés, and his characters, e.g., a hopelessly gauche Eastern European swinger, instant classics. He recorded several comedy albums, two of them Grammy winners, and starred in TV specials. Turning to films, Martin starred in and wrote The Jerk (1979), Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982), The Man with Two Brains (1983), and Bowfinger (1999). He also starred in the comedies All of Me (1984), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), and Roxanne (1987) as well as in the despairing Pennies from Heaven (1981), the drama Grand Canyon (1991), David Mamet's dark The Spanish Prisoner (1998), and the black thriller Novocaine (2001). Martin also has written humorous pieces; several plays, notably Picasso at the Lapin Agile (1993); and two novellas, Shopgirl (2000; he wrote the screenplay and starred in the 2005 film version) and The Pleasure of My Company (2003).

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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