Martin Short Net Worth: Career, Salary, Actor, Comedian, Singer, Writer, Wife, Age, Movies, Biography

The iconic comedian and actor Martin Short has had a lasting career, thanks to his unforgettable roles and performances on Broadway and television. Many generations continue to love Short for his energetic personality and timeless jokes. According to sources, as of 2025, his net worth is estimated to be $50 million.

Martin Short

What Are Martin Short’s Net Worth and Salary?

As of 2025, Martin Short’s net worth is estimated to be $50 million. Earning laughs with his high-octane style, lightning-quick comebacks, and lovable characters has made Martin Short a very wealthy funnyman. Short’s multi-pronged career in television, film, theater, and live comedy has been so prolific and lucrative that he still makes big bucks today from acting, hosting, and syndication deals on past projects.

CategoryDetails
Full NameMartin Hayter Short
Date of BirthMarch 26, 1950
BirthplaceHamilton, Ontario, Canada
NationalityCanadian-American
EducationMcMaster University
ProfessionActor, Comedian, Singer, Writer
Years Active1972–present
Net Worth (2025)$50 Million
Famous WorksSCTV, SNL, Three Amigos, Only Murders in the Building
Marital StatusWidowed (Nancy Dolman, 1980–2010)
ChildrenThree (Katherine, Oliver, Henry)
ResidencesPacific Palisades, California; Ontario, Canada
AwardsTony Award, Emmy Award, Order of Canada
Social Media[None Official; Public Appearances Only]
PhilanthropyCancer research, Canadian arts support
Martin Short

Early Life

Martin Hayter Short was born on March 26, 1950, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

The first of five children, he was raised in an atmosphere of creativity. But tragedy struck quickly: His older brother died when he was 6, and both parents were dead by the time he was 20.

Short had originally intended to pursue a career in social work after earning a degree in that field from McMaster University. However, at the urging of friends, he began taking classes in acting and comedy instead, a move that would set the course for his life.

Career

Martin Short got his start in Canada in the early 1970s with the theater troupe Toronto’s Second City, where he performed with future legends like Gilda Radner, Eugene Levy, and John Candy.

Key career highlights include

  • Breakthrough: SCTV (Second City Television), where he created such unforgettable characters as Ed Grimley.
  • Saturday Night Live (SNL): Short was one of the biggest stars on SNL in the early 1980s, and his characters helped to revitalize the show.
  • Character Creations: Ed Grimley, Jiminy Glick, Jackie Rogers Jr., and many more. With a career in show business spanning over 40 years, Short has consistently maintained a reputation for possessing genuine acting skills, rather than merely posing for the camera.
Martin Short

Television Career

Television Career: Martin Short’s television career has been extensive.

  • SCTV (1977–1984) Saturday
  • Night Live (1984–1985)
  • The Martin Short Show (1999)
  • Primetime Glick (2001–2003)
  • Damages (dramatic role)
  • Only Murders in the Building (2021)—alongside Steve Martin and Selena Gomez

Only Murders in the Building stars Short alongside fellow comedy legends Steve Martin and Martin Short. The show has done so well among critics and audiences that it’s already been renewed for a second season.

Film Career

Martin Short has starred in many popular movies.

  • Three Amigos (1986): with Steve Martin and Chevy Chase
  • Innerspace (1987): also stars Meg Ryan.
  • Father of the Bride (1991) and Father of the Bride Part II (1995): as the eccentric wedding planner Franck
  • Mars Attacks! (1996)
  • The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006), as Jack Frost

While Short has rarely been a film’s main star since the ’80s ended, his supporting turns are inevitably showstoppers, and he continues to work with our kind.

Stage Career

Martin Short’s love for performing on stage indeed paid off, as he tasted the sweet fruit of success on Broadway too.

  • The Goodbye Girl (Tony Award Nominee)
  • Little Me (1999) Won Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical
  • It’s Only a Play (2014–2015): alongside Nathan Lane

Live theater and comedy tours have been major income streams, with Short often combining music, impressions, and storytelling.

Martin Short

Awards and Honors

Martin Short’s career is filled with accolades:

  • Tony Award (Best Actor in a Musical, Little Me)
  • Emmy Award (Outstanding Writing for a Variety Show, SCTV Network 90)
  • Order of Canada (One of the country’s highest civilian honors)
  • I have received multiple Primetime Emmy nominations for acting and producing.

He received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for his role in Only Murders in the Building in 2023.

Personal Life

Martin Short married actress Nancy Dolman in 1980, after the pair met during a Toronto production of Godspell.

They had three children together: Katherine, Oliver, and Henry.

In 2010, however, Nancy passed away from cancer. It’s a tragedy that Short has spoken about in various interviews and his memoir I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend (2014).

One of his close friends is Steve Martin. They met on the set of Three Amigos and worked together on ¡Three Amigos! screenplays for a year-and-a-half on Martha’s Vineyard. Levy has also remained close friends with John Candy since they appeared in three movies together, and they would have made four had John Candy not died abruptly in 1994.

Martin Short

Real Estate

Martin Short’s Smart Real Estate Investments:

  • Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles Home:
    • She owns a beautiful estate, which she bought for about 1.1 million dollars in 1997 (estimated value today: 5-6 million).
    • The property also features a flourishing backyard garden and oceanside views.
  • Ontario Cottage:
    • He maintains a summer home in Ontario, Canada, to this day, which speaks to his lasting connection and affection for his Canadian roots.

Short’s properties have appreciated markedly thus far, enhancing the concrete long-term value component of his fortune.

Martin Short Career Earnings

Career SourceEstimated Lifetime Earnings
Television Shows (SNL, SCTV, Only Murders)~$25 million+
Film Roles~$10 million+
Broadway and Stage~$5 million+
Live Tours and Appearances~$5 million+
Book Sales and Memoirs~$1–2 million
Endorsements and Voice Work~$2–3 million

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FAQs

1. What is Martin Short’s net worth in 2025?

Martin Short’s estimated net worth is $50 million.

2. What led to Martin Short’s rise to fame?

He became famous through his work on SCTV and Saturday Night Live, creating beloved characters and becoming a staple of American comedy.

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