Martin Short’s Triple Threat: 3 Wildly Different Roles, 1 Epic Emmy Race
Martin Short’s Big Emmy Year: Three Nominations, One Amazing Story
Who Is Martin Short?
Martin Short is a funny man from Canada who has been making people laugh for a very long time. You might know him from movies like Father of the Bride or The Santa Clause 3. This year, something really special is happening — he’s nominated for three different Emmy Awards all at once!
IMPORTANT POINT: An Emmy is like a gold star for TV shows and actors. It’s one of the biggest honors in television.
The Three Emmy Nominations
Martin isn’t just nominated once — he’s nominated in three completely different categories for three different shows:
-
Best Actor in a Comedy Series
For playing Oliver Putnam in Hulu’s hit show "Only Murders in the Building" (he also produces the show!) -
Best Game Show Host
For hosting ABC’s reboot of "Match Game" - Subject of a Documentary
The film "Marty, Life Is Short" (on Netflix) is nominated for Best Documentary — and he’s the star of it!
FUN FACT: Martin joked, "I am Mr. Emmy this year!" with a big smile.
The Documentary: "Marty, Life Is Short"
This documentary is extra special because it was made by Martin’s friend of 40 years, famous movie director Lawrence Kasdan (he directed The Big Chill, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back).
How the Documentary Happened (Step by Step)
- The Phone Call — Larry Kasdan called Martin and said he, Ron Howard, and Imagine Entertainment wanted to make a documentary about Martin’s life.
- The Hesitation — Martin said, "I don’t know… I’m Canadian, we’re a little more reserved. I wrote a book already. Let me think."
- The 8-Minute Message — Larry left an 8-minute voicemail explaining why Martin’s story matters — about celebrating life, using humor through sadness, and more.
- The Home Movies — Martin said yes! He had shelves and shelves of home videos he’d filmed of his kids over the years (he always had a camcorder).
- The Bonus Treasure — Steven Spielberg also sent over home movies he’d made with Martin in them!
- The Result — Larry had a "great little treasure trove" to make the film.
A Friendship of 40 Years
Martin and Larry Kasdan have been friends for four decades. That trust is why Martin felt comfortable handing over his entire collection of family videos. He knew Larry would treat them with care and tell the story the right way.
Home Movies and Hidden Treasures
- Martin started filming because of his friend John Candy (another comedy legend).
- In 1981, John had a Betamax player (an old video format). Martin bought a VHS machine, realized they couldn’t share tapes, so he traded his VHS for a Betamax!
- Martin even had a LaserDisc collection (giant shiny discs from the ’80s and ’90s).
IMPORTANT POINT: John Candy inspired Martin’s habit of recording everything — and now those memories are in the documentary!
Facing Loss with Courage
This part is sad but important.
- Martin’s daughter Katherine passed away in February.
- Larry and Netflix offered to delay the documentary’s release if Martin wasn’t ready.
- Martin met with Larry a few weeks later. Larry said, "Netflix will do whatever you want. I will do whatever you want."
- Martin thought: "This could be called ‘Love, Loss and Survival.’"
- He spoke openly about Katherine’s mental health struggles, saying:
"Some diseases are terminal, whether they’re cancer or mental health. And so, I said, ‘I think we should proceed.’ And he said, ‘I think we should too.’" - Since the film came out in May, many people have told Martin how much it helped them see how he navigated such tremendous loss.
IMPORTANT POINT: Mental health struggles are real illnesses. Talking about them helps others feel less alone. Martin’s openness is helping people.
Another Documentary: Remembering John Candy
Coincidentally, Martin also appears a lot in another nominated documentary: "John Candy: I Like Me" (on Amazon). It’s about his dear friend and SCTV co-star John Candy.
- Both documentaries are nominated in the SAME category (Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special)!
- Martin says John was the reason he started filming home movies in the first place.
What’s Next for Martin Short?
- "Match Game": No new seasons planned right now — but Martin says "never say never!"
- "Only Murders in the Building": Season 4 is coming! It’s moving to London with a new batch of A-list guest stars. (Martin’s keeping the rest secret!)
- Emmy Night: Martin will be in Los Angeles next month for the ceremony.
Summary
| What Happened | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| 3 Emmy nominations | For acting, hosting, AND being the subject of a doc |
| "Marty, Life Is Short" | Made by 40-year friend Larry Kasdan |
| Home movies from Martin + Spielberg | Gave the film amazing personal footage |
| Daughter Katherine’s passing | Martin chose to share his grief to help others |
| "John Candy: I Like Me" | Also nominated — two docs, one category! |
| Season 4 of "Only Murders" | Coming soon, set in London! |
Martin Short is having a once-in-a-lifetime Emmy season — and he’s handling it all with humor, heart, and honesty.
FAQ
Q: How many Emmys is Martin Short nominated for this year?
A: He’s nominated for three Emmys across three different projects.
Q: Will Martin Short get an Emmy if "Marty, Life Is Short" wins?
A: No — he’s the subject of the documentary, not a producer. Only the producers get the award.
Q: Why did Martin agree to do the documentary after saying no at first?
A: His friend Larry Kasdan left an 8-minute message explaining why his story — about life, humor, and grief — was important to share.
Q: What happened to Martin’s daughter Katherine?
A: She passed away in February. She had mental health struggles, which Martin speaks about openly in the film to help others.
Q: Is "Only Murders in the Building" coming back?
A: Yes! Season 4 is filming now in London with new famous guest stars.
Q: Are both documentaries about Martin nominated for the same award?
A: Yes! Both "Marty, Life Is Short" (Netflix) and "John Candy: I Like Me" (Amazon) are nominated for Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special.