Martin Short was born on March 26, 1950, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, the youngest of five children.3 His family faced significant tragedies early on - his eldest brother died in a car accident when Short was 12, his mother passed away from cancer when he was 17, and his father died of a stroke just two years later when Short was 20.23

Short attended McMaster University in Hamilton, initially pursuing pre-med before switching his course of study to social work, from which he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1971.234 Despite these early hardships, Short was drawn to comedy and acting, appearing in many college productions encouraged by his classmates and future comedy stars Eugene Levy and Dave Thomas.3

Martin Short's career in entertainment began with humble roots in Canadian television. His first paid acting job was a Chargex credit card commercial, marking his entry into the industry1. In 1972, Short landed a role in the Toronto production of Godspell, a pivotal moment that connected him with future comedy stars like Gilda Radner and Eugene Levy12.

Short's television career took off in the early 1980s when he joined the cast of the groundbreaking sketch comedy show SCTV (Second City Television). It was here that he created some of his most iconic characters, including the manic, cowlicked Ed Grimley3. His success on SCTV led to a stint on Saturday Night Live in 1984-85, where he further developed his comedic repertoire and introduced audiences to characters like the sycophantic celebrity interviewer Jiminy Glick3. These early television roles established Short as a versatile and energetic comedic talent, setting the stage for his future success across various entertainment mediums.

Martin Short has had an acclaimed stage career on Broadway, earning a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in the 1999 revival of Little Me.135 He previously received a Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for his lead role in the 1993 production of The Goodbye Girl.135

In addition to his Broadway roles, Short has starred in several autobiographical one-man shows that allowed him to showcase his beloved comedic characters. His 2006 Broadway production Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me featured appearances by his iconic creations like Ed Grimley and Jiminy Glick.134 The show was both a critical and commercial success, with Short earning a Drama Desk Award nomination.15

Short's ability to deliver show-stopping performances both in musicals and in his own original comedy shows has cemented his status as a true triple threat on the Broadway stage.135