One Wild and Crazy Guy!

Steve Martin

Stephen Glenn Martin was born on August 14, 1945 in Waco, Texas. He was raised in Orange County, California.

Left: 4 year old Steve in Waco, Texas; Right: Steve in 6th grade.

Steve attended Garden Grove High School where he was a member of the cheerleading squad and was voted Most Talented. He graduated in 1963.

Left: Steve (front row, farthest on the right) on the Garden Grove High School Cheerleading Squad; Right: High School Picture

Studied philosophy at California State University at Long Beach and considered becoming a philosophy professor. His study of philosophy was a source of much of his material in his 1970’s standup act.

Some of his early jobs include working at Knott’s Berry Farm as a comedian in their “Birdcage Theatre,” working at Disneyland at the Magic Shop on Main Street, USA, where he developed his talents for music, juggling, playing the banjo, and creating balloon animals.

His first real job was in 1967 as a comedy writer on the “Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.” He, along with the other writers, won an Emmy in 1969. Martin also wrote for John Denver and “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour.”

Began performing his own material and sometimes was the opening act for groups such as the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and The Carpenters. He also appeared on the following television shows during the 1970’s: “Ray Stevens Show,” “The Ken Berry Show,” “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour,” “The Smothers Brothers Show,” and “Johnny Cash and Friends.”

Steve Martin began making frequent appearances as a stand-up comedian on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.”

His first comedy album was “Let’s Get Small,” released in 1977. The album was a huge success and one of it’s tracks, Excuse Me, helped establish a national catch phrase. His second comedy album, “A Wild and Crazy Guy,” was an even bigger hit and reached the number two slot on Billboard charts. This album also spawned another catch phrase which was based on an SNL skit with Dan Akroyd. The single King Tut became a top 40 hit in 1978. Both of these albums won Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Recording in 1977 and 1978.

In 1979, Steve Martin wrote and starred in his first full-length film, “The Jerk.” Carl Reiner directed the movie and it was a huge success. Stanley Kubrick saw Martin in “The Jerk” and considered him for Tom Cruise’s role in “Eyes Wide Shut.”

Steve Martin as "The Jerk." Click HERE to hear a clip from the movie.

An avid art collector. Has works by famous artists including O’Keefe, Twachtman, Diebenkorn, Kline, Twombly, Frankenthaler, Hopper, Hockney, de Kooning, Lichtenstein, and Picasso.

Although, contrary to popular belief, Steve Martin was never a cast member on Saturday Night Live, he does have the distinction of having the most appearances on the sketch show than anyone else – over 20 at last count.

Dated Bernadette Peters, Anne Heche, and Helena Bonham Carter. Married to actress Victoria Tennant from 1986-1994.

Steve Martin and Helena Bonham Carter at the premiere of their movie "Novocaine."

He is a vegetarian and would make fun of hot dogs in his 70's standup act.

Steve is an accomplished banjo player. He plays the instrument on the song Foggy Mountain Bottom on the "Earl Scruggs and Friends" album. He also played on the Muppet Show.