Steve Martin

'Steve Martin' (qv) was born on August 14, 1945 in Waco, Texas, USA as Stephen Glenn Martin to Mary Lee (née Stewart; 1913-2002) and Glenn Vernon Martin (1914-1997), a real estate salesman and aspiring actor. He was raised in Inglewood and Garden Grove in California. In 1960, he got a job at the Magic shop of Disney's Fantasyland, and while there he learned magic, juggling, and creating balloon animals. At Santa Ana College, he took classes in drama and English poetry. He also took part in comedies and other productions at the Bird Cage Theatre, and joined a comedy troupe at Knott's Berry Farm. He attended California State University as a philosophy major, but in 1967 transferred to UCLA as a theatre major.His writing career began on _The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967)_ (qv), winning him an Emmy Award. Between 1967 and 1973, he also wrote for many other shows, including _The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour (1969)_ (qv) and _The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour (1971)_ (qv). He also appeared on talk shows and comedy shows in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1972, he first appeared on _The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)_ (qv), doing stand-up several times each year, and even guest hosting a few years later. In 1976, he served for the first time as guest-host on _Saturday Night Live (1975)_ (qv). By 2016, he has guest-hosted 15 times, which is one less than 'Alec Baldwin' (qv)'s record, and also appeared 12 other times on SNL.In 1977, he released his first comedy album, a platinum selling "Let's Get Small". He followed it with "A Wild and Crazy Guy" (1978), which sold more than a million copies. Both albums went on to win Grammys for Best Comedy Recording. This is when he performed in arenas in front of tens of thousands of people, and begun his movie career, which was always his goal. His first major role was in the short film, _The Absent-Minded Waiter (1977)_ (qv), which he also wrote. His star value was established in _The Jerk (1979)_ (qv), which was co-written by Martin, and directed by 'Carl Reiner' (qv). The film earned more than $100 million on a $4 million budget. He also starred in _Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)_ (qv), _The Man with Two Brains (1983)_ (qv), and _All of Me (1984)_ (qv), all directed by Reiner. To avoid being typecast as a comedian, he wanted do more dramatic roles, starring in _Pennies from Heaven (1981)_ (qv), a film remake of 'Dennis Potter' (qv)'s 1978 series. Unfortunately, it was a financial failure.He also starred in 'John Landis' (qv)'s _Three Amigos! (1986)_ (qv), co-written by himself, opposite 'Martin Short' (qv) and 'Chevy Chase' (qv). That year, he also appeared in the musical horror comedy, _Little Shop of Horrors (1986)_ (qv) opposite 'Rick Moranis' (qv). Next year, he starred in _Roxanne (1987)_ (qv), co-written by himself, and in 'John Hughes' (qv)' _Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)_ (qv), opposite 'John Candy' (qv). His other films include _Parenthood (1989)_ (qv) and _My Blue Heaven (1990)_ (qv), both opposite Moranis. In 1991, he wrote and starred in _L.A. Story (1991)_ (qv), about a weatherman who searches meaning in his life and love in Los Angeles. It also starred his then-wife, 'Victoria Tennant' (qv). Same year, _Father of the Bride (1991)_ (qv) was so successful that a 1995 sequel followed.During the 1990s, he continued to play more dramatic roles, in _Grand Canyon (1991)_ (qv), playing a traumatized movie producer, in _Leap of Faith (1992)_ (qv), playing a fake faith healer, in _A Simple Twist of Fate (1994)_ (qv), playing a betrayed man adopting a baby, and in 'David Mamet' (qv)'s thriller _The Spanish Prisoner (1997)_ (qv). Other, more comedic roles include in _HouseSitter (1992)_ (qv) and _The Out-of-Towners (1999)_ (qv), opposite 'Goldie Hawn' (qv), in 'Nora Ephron' (qv)'s _Mixed Nuts (1994)_ (qv), and in _Bowfinger (1999)_ (qv), written by himself and co-starring 'Eddie Murphy' (qv). After Bowfinger, he starred in _Bringing Down the House (2003)_ (qv) and _Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)_ (qv), both earning more than $130 million. He wrote and starred in _Shopgirl (2005)_ (qv), and appeared in the sequel of Cheaper by the Dozen. After them, he appeared in _The Pink Panther (2006)_ (qv) and _The Pink Panther 2 (2009)_ (qv), which he both co-wrote, as Inspector Clouseau.He continues to do movies, more recently appearing in _The Big Year (2011)_ (qv), _Home (2015)_ (qv), and _Love the Coopers (2015)_ (qv). Besides aforementioned, he has been an avid art collector since 1968, written plays, written for The New Yorker, written a well-received memoir (Born Standing Up), written a novel (An Object of Beauty; 2010), hosted the Academy 'Awards' (qv) three times, released a Grammy award winning music album (The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo; 2009), and another album (Love Has Come For You; 2013) with 'Edie Brickell' (qv). Since 2007, he has been married to Anne Stringfield, with whom he has a daughter.::imoth