If you’re anything like us, you probably binged through all the seasons of Only Murders in the Building. Or, maybe, you’re a religious watcher of Saturday Night Live (SNL).
Either way, if you know Steve Martin, then you know how loveable and funny he is. Did you know that he’s the guy who popularized air quotes?
From his early life to his decades-long career, here’s everything you need to know about this star. We have real high school yearbook photos of him, too, courtesy of Classmates®.
Full Name: Steve Glenn Martin
Comedian, Actor, Writer
Birthdate: Aug 14, 1945
High School: Garden Grove High School
Yearbooks: 1963
Yearbook photos of Steve Martin from Garden Grove High School
Who is Steve Martin?
Stephen Glenn Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an 80-year American comedian, actor, writer, musician, and producer. He was born in Waco, Texas, and grew up in Inglewood, California, and, later, Orange County, California.
Davidwbaker, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Steve always knew that he wanted to be a comedian. His very first job took him to a Disneyland that had just opened near his house, selling guidebooks. Here, he found mentors in the form of Jim Barlow, who performed magic tricks, and Wally Boag, who created funny balloon animals.
He admits that he always worked very hard on his comedy in his younger years. During college, he used to take part in comedy productions at the Bird Cage Theatre inside of the amusement park Knott’s Berry Farm. He also played banjo with Mason Williams, a guitarist. It was Williams who got him his first “big boy” job as a writer on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967).
What Should You Know About Steve Martin?
- Steve Martin Education & Early Life: Born in Waco, Texas, Steve Martin grew up in Southern California. He attended Garden Grove High School (Class of 1963), where he was a cheerleader and drama club president, before studying philosophy at CSU Long Beach and theater at UCLA.
- Stand-Up Phenomenon: In the 1970s, he became a global sensation with platinum-selling comedy albums like Let’s Get Small and A Wild and Crazy Guy, eventually selling out massive arenas.
- Film Icon: He has starred in and co-written some of Hollywood’s most beloved comedies, including The Jerk, Three Amigos!, Father of the Bride, and the modern hit series Only Murders in the Building.
- Multi-Talented Artist: Beyond acting, Martin is an accomplished Grammy-winning bluegrass musician, a playwright, and the author of the best-selling memoir Born Standing Up.
- Personal Life: After a previous marriage to Victoria Tennant, Martin married writer Anne Stringfield in 2007. He became a first-time father at age 67.
Where Did Steve Martin Go to School?
Where Did Steve Martin Go to High School?
Steve Martin attended the Garden Grove High School in Garden Grove, California, graduating from here in 1963. He was a cheerleader in high school and President of the drama club. He was also crowned the King of his school Mardi Gras dance. Talk about being popular!
Where Did Steve Martin Go to College?
After graduating from high school, Steve Martin attended Santa Ana College, studying English poetry and drama.
He enrolled at the California State University, Long Beach as a philosophy major. He was so inspired by the subject, that he briefly considered going down the path of becoming a professor instead of a comedian! What a loss that would have been to Hollywood.
In 1967, Steve shed his philosophy coat and transferred to UCLA as a theatre major, which is where his career kicked off with The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967).
What Does He Look Like Today? Steve Martin Then vs. Now
Steve Martin, with his suits and white hair, might be a familiar face to you today. But, ever wondered what he looked like during his teen years?
English: Garden Grove High School, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Joella Marano from Manhattan, NY, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Steve Martin’s Career Through the Ages
Writer and Comedian
After his success with The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967), he focused on writing and comedy for the next decade. He wrote for shows such as The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour (1969), The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour (1971), and Van Dyke and Company (1976).
In the ‘70s, he began appearing on several shows, performing stand-up comedy. These include The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Gong Show, and SNL.
In 1977, Steve released his first comedy album, Let’s Get Small, which became a platinum seller. His next album, A Wild and Crazy Guy (1978), performed even better than the first!
He began performing stand-up shows in huge arenas, becoming a successful phenomena. Since 2015, Steve and Martin Short have performed several comedy tours together.
Actor
Since 1977, Steve has starred in and co-written several films. His debut as an actor was through the short film, The Absent-Minded Waiter (1977).
Some of the films he’s most known for include:
- The Jerk (1979)
- L.A. Story (1991)
- Parenthood (1989)
- Three Amigos! (1986)
- Father of the Bride (1991)
- The Pink Panther 1 (2006) and 2 (2009)
- Love the Coopers (2015)
Miscellaneous
In addition to his acting and comedy, Steve is also a great banjo player. He has also written several plays, musicals, and books. His most famous book is a memoir called Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life, which was published in 2007.
Awards
Steve has won several awards throughout his long career, for his comedy, writing, music, and acting.
- Outstanding Writer for a Variety Series: 1969 Emmy Awards for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
- Best Comedy Recording: 1978 Grammy Awards for his comedy album Let’s Get Small
- Best Comedy Recording: 1979 Grammy Awards for his comedy album A Wild and Crazy Guy
- Best Adapted Screenplay Awards: 1988 Writer’s Guild of America Awards for Roxanne
- Favorite Actor in a Comedy Motion Picture: 1992 People’s Choice Awards for L.A. Story
- Favorite Actor in a Comedy Motion Picture: 1993 People’s Choice Awards for Housesitter
- Best Country Instrumental Performance: 2002 Grammy Awards for the instrumental Foggy Mountain Breakdown
- Mark Twain Prize for American Humor: 2005
- Best Bluegrass Album: 2010 Grammy Awards for his music album The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo
- Best American Roots Song: 2014 Grammy Awards for the album Love Has Come for You
- Honorary Award: 2014 Academy Awards in recognition of his extraordinary talents
- Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series: 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards for Only Murders in the Building
Who Are Steve Martin’s Parents and Siblings?
Steve was born to Mary Lee Stewart and Glenn Vernon Martin. His father was a real estate salesman by day and aspiring actor by night. He had an older sister named Belinda. The Martins were a Baptist household.
In various interviews, Steve has talked about the fraught relationship he had with his father. His father was stern, critical, and emotionally unattached, and even wrote a scathing review of Steve’s first appearance in SNL. But, they reconciled later in life.
Who is Steve Martin’s Wife? Does He Have Kids?
Steve Martin has been married twice. His first marriage was with Victoria Tennant, an actress and producer. They were married a total of six years, from 1986-94.
He’s currently married to Anne Stringfield, an actress and a writer for The New Yorker. You might remember her as Cindy from Only Murders in the Building. The pair met when Anne was asked to fact-check one of Steve’s comedy pieces.
Steve and Anne got married in 2007, and their wedding was a surprise! The pair had invited 75 guests to their home for a party. Only when the guests reached their home did they realize that the party was actually their wedding!
The wedded pair have an age gap of around 26 years. They have a daughter who was born in 2012. It was Steve’s first time becoming a dad, at the grand old age of 67.
Does Steve Martin Have Social Media?
You can keep up with Steve and his hilarious quips on his social media accounts:
Think You’ll Recognize Your Favorite Celebrities From Their High School Photos?
With over 480,000 yearbook archives spanning back decades, Classmates is a veritable treasure trove of memories. (Yes, we have real high school photos of celebrities, too!)
Curious about what your favorite stars looked like during their teenage years? Were they as awkward as you were? Browse through Classmates’s yearbook archives and find old yearbook photos of Steve Martin and other celebs. You can also search to see if your own yearbook photos are available.
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