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STEVE MARTIN: ‘I’M NOTHING LIKE MY PUBLIC PERSONA’

Posted by Adam

Sunday March 7, 2010

Steve MartinSTEVE Martin insists he’s “a lot of fun”.

The actor — who teams up with Alec Baldwin to host tonight’s Academy Awards — says he doesn’t live up to his public image.

“I keep reading things about myself that make me seem distant and oddly shy,” Martin said.

“But when I’m with my wife or my friends, I’m telling you, I can be a lot of fun. There is nothing better than talking and joking over dinner.

“I feel like I’ve been through a lot. I’ve survived a lot, and I’m still creative. And I’m still working, which makes me very happy.

“I love the idea that I can deliver laughs to people who might be a little depressed.”

Martin, 64, has previously revealed how humor helps him deal with stress.

“I’m sorry for the stressful climate, but I think it helps to be funny,” he said last year.

“We’ve got to find a way to have a laugh at the things that are getting us down.

“This is the best time of my life.

“Everything is so good right now that I can hardly even analyze it.”

Steve Martin

Steve Martin
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  • Dibrini

    I was never a big Steve Martin fan, till I heard “Let’s Get Small.” For all his accomplishments as a writer, producer, actor, author, musician etc, nothing can compare in my opinion to that album when talking about this guy (other than the line, “You Son of a Motherless Goat!” from “Three Amigos).

    • http://yahoo tom

      HEY GARRY WWWWEEEEELLLLLLLL EEEEXXXXCCCCCCCUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEE MMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!! GARRY,YOU OBVIOUSLY ARE SSSSOOOO MUCH MORE FUNNY THEN MARTIN,LETS HEAR ABOUT ALL YOUR SUCCSSES………..YEH,I THOUGHT SO…

  • Garry

    Martin hasn’t done much in the past 20 years except make inferior re-makes of classic films (Father of the Bride, The Out-Of-Towners, The Pink Panther, etc.) That’s his idea of still being creative? He should be ashamed of himself.

  • J

    Yeah Steve you are nothing like yourself when you are playing a banjo on TV. That is just a banjo loving persona that you made up to help your public image. Give me a break.

  • tim s

    Steve is the best in the business. When you say all he has done is remakes well you have missed out on the other 90% of his career! He is also considered one of the best Banjo players to ever play the instrument and this is not just by me or the public, he is considered this by his musical peers………Steve you are the best!!

    • http://yahoo tom

      Maria,i believe it was queen latifa that he played in onother movie that was very funny,and he is BRILLIENT

  • maria

    Steve is the best. “Ashamed of himself” ? Garry YOU must be joking. I can’t count the number of times I’ve watched him in Grand Canyon w/ Keven Kline or in Housesitters w/ Goldie Hawn. He is BRILLIANT. Anyone who can make me laugh and make me think about something in a different way gets my vote.

  • Rory

    I have “grown up” w/Steve M. When he 1st started out on the 1st telecasts of Sat. Night Live, he was discovered there. He was hysterical! He sang songs he wrote himeself that were current & funnier than h—. This was in the day of John Belushi, Gildna Radner, Eddie Murphy et. al, all of whom were discovered there. Over the years Steve made many memorable movies. Actually, they were made back in the late 70′s, 80′s early 90′s, I believe. The later ones were okay. BUT I enjoy Steve. It’s great anytime I get to see him.

    So, if the people who responded are younger & didn’t get a chance to see what he did – check it out; although it seems younger people & people in general are getting more jaded & “don’t really quite “get the witty dialogue or situations” they may see or hear. I’m a musician/singer & I’m out “there” all the time. It’s too bad most movies are geared for the 20 – 30ish age group and mostly deal w/toilet humor, T&A, & a pretty formulaic plot. I wonder why the studios are “dumbing down” our young men & women. Sorry for prob going off-subject.

    If you want to see the beginning of the real deal in stand-ups rent “Richard Pryor Live on Sunset?”, “George Carlin” any of them, prob the most current u would like. Try renting DVD the bio of “Lenny Bruce” the stand-up/addict who back in early 60′s kept getting thrown in jail for using what was cconsidered then “foul language.” Now it’s so frick— common place – thanks to George Carlin – He’s the creator of “the 7 dirty words u can’t say on TV/Radio” (that was prob back in late 60′s)some u still can’t say – publicly.

    In order of creation where we r today: 1)Lenny Bruce – dark, 2.Carlin – brillant. 3. Ricard Pryor – they’ll never be another. 1st Afro American who crosed over “barrier” to the whites & kept his fellow black audience. All the while saying it like it was to the crackers the the “ni—–” (in his own words). Laughed till I cried. 4. Then there’s Robin Williams, he has the most amazing mind & makes me laugh so hard, no sound comes out:) Check out his latest HBO special – Or find it on DVD, I think it’s “Robin Williams – Destruction.” Something w/word destruction it it. His latest & greatest. No holding back. Hope this gets through! Sorry uf I’ve been long-winded. Got on m soapbox.

    • bev

      Robin williams live performance is called weapons of self destruction

  • J.P.

    Thank you, Tim and Maria!
    If people only know Steve from SNL and his comedy albums, or from his mainstream comedies, they have missed much of his work. He is also a very accomplished writer, having written several novels and novelettes. One of those he produced into a film, “Shopgirl”. It bothers me when people are critical of artists they clearly aren’t familiar with. If you don’t care for someone’s work, that doesn’t mean they aren’t good, it just means you might prefer other artists’ work. Steve Martin’s collective body of work is highly regarded by his peers and critics alike.

  • brad

    The Jerk was a goodun.

    • bev

      Not to mention trains, plains and automobiles and my favourite dirty rotten scoundrels

  • Skywalker

    His “King Tut” music video is still one of the funniest things I’ve EVER seen. I think it was first on SNL in 1977 or something.

  • Jay

    I’m glad that Steve Martin is having the best time of his life. He’s earned it. He’s a wonderfully talented person with a body of work behind him and hopefully much more to come!

    • http://yahoo shawnie

      steve martin is a classic he never goes out of style no matter how old or long hes out of the spotlight he is soooo funny in just about every movie he has done i gotta say bowfinger was not a good one but how can you not love the jerk,planes trains and automobiles,cheaper by the dozen,or wild and crazy guys from snl.i love ya steve.

  • Louann Spitler

    Some of my best memories of growing up are of Steve Martin. My brother and I had some of our best times together watching him on SNL and listening to his albums. We still talk about the “and I bought some dumb stuff too” and “I’m so mad at my mother” routines. And Let’s Get Small? Totally a classic! As far as his banjo playing, he is totally awesome and as a bluegrass fan, I can tell you he is well respected in that arena as well. I just hope he comes close enough to my home in Ohio so that I can see him in person sometime.

  • I.A.L. Diamond

    I liked him with Jerry Lewis as a partner.

    • konstantina

      TO I.A.L. Diamond: I believe you are mistaken. Jerry Lewis’ partner was DEAN Martin, not Steve Martin.

  • Bobby Jo

    You want to see Steve Martin being funny? Do a search on YouTube for “flydini”.

    I f that doesn’t make you laugh, you’re already dead.

    • bev

      I’ve just had a look at “flydini” – great, thanks for that.

  • http://showbizspy Vito

    Steve in “All of Me” with Tomlin was one of his all time best!!!

    • bev

      Forgot all about that one – fantastic film, Tomlin is brilliant as well

  • Jeana

    Steve Martin-I’ve watched all of your movies, many times. Your comic timing is spot on and your versitility is incomparable. Thank you for making me laugh all of these years. You are and have always been a class act in a business where people think your business is everybodys business. People who have made negative comments have a negative point of view. They probably aren’t fans of Jim Carey, Rodney Dangerfield, The Marks Brothers or any other comedians who’s rare talent for making people laugh is timeless.

  • Julir

    I want to know when to expect Steve Martin, Robert DeNiro, and Jack Nicholson in a movie!!

    I saw Bringing Down the House last night. Steve Martin as a ghetto rapper is priceless.

  • Julir

    It’s just weird to see him all old now. We are used to this vibrant, slap stick guy. He is all about his banjo and old look now :(

  • Maria

    Skywalker: I forgot about King Tut. You got me laughing at the very mention of it! I bought his albumns as a teenager…like bottled laughter…you just had to play them and they were as fresh as the first time you heard them. On these albumns Steve has the kind of humor that allows him to look really stupid (and I mean that as a compliment)to make a point and get the laugh. He doesn’t hold back. He just goes there. We laugh because we can feel that kind of stupid/silly only at home and he has the nerve to do it publicly!

  • Lauren

    I am only 21 and I am a huge Steve Martin fan. Aside from “The Jerk” and his other classic films, I am really into his writing. “Shopgirl” is wonderful and his short stories and essays have been in the New Yorker several times. He has a sensitive and sharp mind and I will totally forgive the popcorn flicks he did like “Cheaper By the Dozen”.

  • Steev

    92nd St. Y should be ashamed of itself for pandering instead of enlightening the public. When I heard about this I felt pain for Steve Martin. One of the most talented, hilarious and versatile human beings on the planet. The people who bought tickets should have known better, put the ipods away and listened. Steve Martin has said that art and philosophy are the things that interest him and that inform his humor. Ever heard of the play “Picasso at the Lapine Agile?” A masterpiece! Intelligent theatre for intelligent people. These tweeters (in the audience)just demonstrated for everyone how low cultural discourse has gone in this country. Turn off the reality TV and READ something! If the interview was dull, that was the interviewer’s responsibility. But don’t blame the guest for being “unfunny.” Blame yourself for being too closed-minded to learn something new.

  • Steev

    Whoops, I posted this on the wrong story. Sorry.

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