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Martin Short, CM (born March 26, 1950) is a Canadian-American actor, comedian, writer, singer and producer who was a cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1984 to 1985 with only one season (Season 10). Before he became a cast member of SNL, Short was also a cast member of Second City Television (SCTV).

On SNL, Short helped revive the show with his many characters for the show's tenth season (the last one produced by Dick Ebersol), which was in danger of falling in quality, thanks to the departures of Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo, so Ebersol decided to fill his cast with experienced actors and comedy performers in order to keep the show alive (Lorne Michaels would attempt the same thing in season 11, with disastrous results). Short's SNL characters included manic man-child and Wheel of Fortune fan Ed Grimley, which he borrowed from his SCTV days. The Grimley character became more popular on SNL than it did on SCTV. He also was recognized for his impressions of such celebrities as Jerry Lewis and Katharine Hepburn. SNL proved to be Short's springboard to a long career in film and TV.

He returned to Saturday Night Live to hosting for the first-time on December 6, 1986, with co-hosts and the stars of the 1986 hit Western comedy film ¡Three Amigos! Steve Martin and Chevy Chase, the sixth episode of SNL's 12th season, thus making Chase the former five-time host, with musical guest Randy Newman, thus making him a former five-time musical guest.

On December 7, 1996, he returned to Saturday Night Live to hosting for the 2nd time, the eighth episode of 22nd season, with musical guest No Doubt, a rock band.

On December 15, 2012, he returned to Saturday Night Live to hosting for the 3rd time and his first appearance in 10 years and 1 day, on the tenth episode and the Christmas show of Saturday Night Live's 38th season, with musical guest Paul McCartney.

He returned to Saturday Night Live again to host for the 4th time, with his longtime friend, fellow comedian and Only Murders in the Building co-star Steve Martin, on December 10, 2022, the eighth episode of Saturday Night Live's 48th season, with musical guest Brandi Carlile. Also, the second time, he co-hosted with Steve Martin.

Characters/Impressions[]

Characters[]

  • Ed Grimley
  • Irving Cohen
  • Jackie Rogers, Jr.
  • Lawrence Orback
  • Nathan Thurm

Impressions[]

SNL Career[]

Gallery[]

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