Steve Martin is undoubtedly one of the most popular comedians of all time. He has been active for more than 50 years and he has starred in countless movies and TV shows.
As much as we think we know Martin, however, there are still things about him that surprised and impressed us when we found out!
Below, we have compiled 20 of the most interesting facts about Steve Martin’s life and career. We think they’ll make you see the famous actor in a whole new light.
1. He used to work at Disneyland
Steve Martin’s first job ever was selling guidebooks at Disneyland, where he made $0.02 for every book he sold. After that, he moved on to the Magic Shop on Disneyland’s Main Street, while he also worked in the Frontierland section.


2. He majored in Philosophy
Before becoming an actor, Martin attended Long Beach State University in California. While he was born in Texas, he was romantically involved with Stormie Sherk as a teen, which made him decide to move to California. After finishing his studies in Philosophy, he went on to study theater at UCLA.


3. He received an Emmy award at the age of 24
When he was still a student, he started working for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, writing comedic content for the show. His talent was recognized by critics and he won an Emmy award in 1969. Later, he started writing content for The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.
4. He’s an avid banjo player
When he was 17 years old, he picked up the banjo. He even used it in his stand-up shows in the 70s. His banjo performance for Earl Scruggs’s remake of “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” even earned him a Grammy award in 2001!
What’s happening? Banjo! pic.twitter.com/Vfy1ss1VMk
— Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo) August 4, 2021
5. He once appeared on “The Dating Game”
In 1968, he appeared on an episode of “The Dating Game,” where he tried to win the heart of Deana Martin, daughter of Dean Martin. Although it is said that he and Deana had met up beforehand, she did end up actually choosing him, Bachelor #2, and winning a trip together.


6. He is an art collector
Martin started collecting works of art when he was just 21 years old, and he has nurtured his hobby to this day. One can find pieces by David Hockney, Pablo Picasso, Roy Lichtenstein, and Edward Hopper in his collection, and his fans were delighted when, in 2001, he offered up a small section of his private collection for public viewing.
My love of Australian Indigenous painting keeps on growing. The current show at the Kluge-Ruhe museum in Virginia is historic. pic.twitter.com/PHKpTQiSK7
— Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo) June 30, 2021
7. He invented “air quotes”
Everyone today uses “air quotes”, and most of us seem to believe that the gesture has been around forever. Not really. In fact, it was Steve Martin who introduced them during one of his guest gigs on SNL. Since then, they have become a staple worldwide whenever irony is intended.


8. He suffers from Tinnitus
9. Martin was never part of the SNL cast
Although he has never been a member of the “SNL” cast, he has hosted the show 15 times – second only to Alec Baldwin – and appeared on it another twelve times. Apparently, when the show first aired in 1975, Martin was not famous enough to be part of the cast.
10. He organized a surprise wedding ceremony
In 2007, he married Anne Springfield, a writer and former staff member of The New Yorker magazine. Their guests – about 75 – only thought they were attending a party, until they realized they were actually attending the couple’s wedding.
#Bales2021FilmChallenge
Day 15: Something is given away in a movie
Father Of The Bride (1991)Steve Martin’s character “gives” his daughter away at her wedding. pic.twitter.com/wjq0wymX3J
— Virgil (@VCuppan) July 15, 2021
11. He became a first-time father at age 67
In 2012, his wife Anne gave birth to their daughter, making him a first-time father at the age of 67. To this day, the couple has tried – and managed – to keep their daughter entirely out of the limelight.


12. He has never won an Oscar
13. His father wasn’t a fan of his
14. He was a cheerleader in high school


15. He officially retired from stand-up comedy in 1981
As Martin explained in a 2009 interview, “I still had a few obligations left but I knew that I could not continue.” Meanwhile, he has continued playing comic roles in movies and shows to this day.
16. After his first dramatic role failed, he focused on comedy
Pennies From Heaven (1981) – Herbert Ross ~ Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters pic.twitter.com/PwoPNBkBeb
— 🎃 Nostromo Films 🎃 (@FilmsNostromo) September 12, 2020
17. He created an award for bluegrass performers
In 2010, he created the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo. This prize, which consists of $50,000, and a bronze sculpture, is meant to encourage new artists to keep doing what they love and what Martin also loves: playing the banjo.
A #HappyBirthday to Emmy/Grammy/Comedy Award winning actor, comedian, writer, filmmaker and musician Steve Martin (74). @nbcsnl #SNLVintage @SilverAgeTV #comedy #1970s pic.twitter.com/65iKWn79cF
— Carolyn Muse (@NLCarolynMuse) August 14, 2019
18. He used to have panic attacks
Young Steve Martin used to suffer from panic attacks. In fact, as he mentions in his autobiography, one of them was so severe that he thought he was having a heart attack. Thankfully, he didn’t and, as time went by, things got better.


19. He used to be hypochondriac
At a younger age, Martin used to worry too much about his health. Eventually, he stopped being overly stressed about it, because as he explained: “I worried all these years that I was going to die, and I never did. So why waste all that worry?”
20. He could have starred in Eyes Wide Shut
Stanley Kubrick was a great admirer of the comic actor, so when he saw Martin in The Jerk, he approached him in order to discuss a potential collaboration. At the time, the director envisioned the movie as a sex comedy!
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