Steve Martin gets the documentary film treatment

The comedian known for being wild and crazy is now the subject of a documentary on Apple TV+, titled "STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces." Correspondent Tracy Smith talks with Steve Martin, and with filmmaker and longtime fan Morgan Neville, about telling the 78-year-old legend's life story, from his comedy records and "SNL," to walking away from standup, to playing a mean banjo.
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[@MattLeger]

He sure doesn't sound or move like he's 78! Steve Martin is ageless and a gift to the world.

[@michaelmonthey5974]

“Parenthood” is my favorite Steve Martin movie, even though it’s an ensemble movie. It’s not only funny, it’s also realistic. It’s one of the most relatable movies ever made.

[@SeanSalas]

Agreed! As a child it was funny then I became a father I’m like wow

[@demondsims5411]

I agree. Parenthood is my favorite Steve Martin movie too. I'd watch that movie anytime it came on back in the day. It is relatable. Plus the all star cast is so great too.

[@paulguthrie4857]

"My whole life is 'have to"!"

[@roberthevern6169]

Saw Steve at Caesar's Palace in 1977! During his balloon animal phase. He was/is riotous! Truly a national treasure!

[@Dooguy]

You beat me to it.......exactly. A national treasure, No drama, no bad headlines just a wild and crazy guy.

[@carolz5090]

Only Murders in the Building. Brilliant. It’s a gift for us all. So much nuance, quick throwaway lines that are spectacular and just plain heart. I particularly love Season 3 with all the theater insider jokes and love for the stage and musicals. I came for the mysteries (I’m a mystery geek) but found so much more.

[@cynthianaslim]

All right. I'm sold.

[@saint6563]

Steve's talent is intelligence.

[@carmarasmussen8118]

I loved Steve Martin in Roxanne. Such an endearing role for him and a very sweet movie.

[@KassyKlown]

I remember seeing him for the first time when I was 8 as I was passing by and my mom was watching this movie and I literally felt my tiny heart flutter😂❤and I fell so in love instantly and he is still so precious to this day. My fluttering heart agrees 😊😅

[@thetinkercook5430]

I love his smile. It's disarming and easing, when difficult questions are asked

[@krisj827]

Steve Martin is one of the last of the great comedian superstars. Watching him on tv and movies left a big effect on so many people through the decades.

[@voiceguy3635]

In the 70s,80s and 90s,we had so many funny people and as with great rock and pop bands,they disappeared.Steve is one of a handful left--if that many.

[@teacherericka]

Steve Martin is a national treasure. Unbelievably talented. ❤ Love love love! 👏👏👏

[@Alan-gi2ku]

His King Tut skit on SNL is fabulous.

[@yvonnecooper5004]

You bet!!😊

[@samadamms3432]

Very offensive today, surprised he hasn’t been cancelled for it.

[@luddite4change449]

The Vandals on SNL is a pretty good one as well. Unfortunately on streaming it is always missing the final crawl.

[@mohammedcohen]

...it never gets old...I saw it on the night it was first performed...same with the Blues Brothers...

[@525Lines]

Steve coming on Johnny Carson was an EVENT. His appearances in SNL were essential viewing.

[@glancycorner7425]

I have loved Steve ever since he started his comedy in the 70’s. ♥️♥️♥️🥰🥰🥰

[@carolynturk-hu7je]

A fan since the beginning! I have every comedy album. There is something special about Steve Martin....as a human being, comedian, actor, writer, screenwriter, playwright, musician, collaborator...... He simply makes me happier.....that is a gift! 😊❤

[@goodpainlive]

Planes Train and Automobiles is a masterpiece.

[@yvonnecooper5004]

Watch it every year.

[@dannoonan6215]

Del Griffith is one of the greatest movie characters

[@ukulelemikeleii]

Those aren't pillows!!!!

[@goodpainlive1]

Best line ever

[@yvonnecooper5004]

@@ukulelemikeleii awesome!!

[@islandbirdw]

Bowfinger was the most hysterical movie, couldn’t stop laughing. All of Me is a close second. Thanks Steve. My most favorite skit on SNL was you and Gilda deer trying to cross the road.

[@Hello-xp5wz]

Had the pleasure of watching Steve on every episode of Saturday Night Live he was one the night it aired. If we were at a party, someone would turn it on and we'd all gather around the TV to watch. Brilliant man.

[@clove8763]

We LUV You Steve Martin, One of my FAVORITE Comedic Inspirations 💐 💐 💐 💐

[@sallyindelaware2826]

I've watched "All of Me" so many times & still love it.

[@pdoylemi]

One of my favorite lines was a minor one- when Ty says, "If I can be any help... you in big trouble."

[@yvonnecooper5004]

One of my late husband's favorites too. He was also a Lily Tomlin fan. 😁.

[@tracymorgan5386]

One of my all time favorite movies

[@toddsalkowski448]

Huge part of my childhood. Never missed SNL when he was on. He looks remarkable for 78!!

[@markhammond7452]

The banjo is perfect. Steve Martin and the banjo are perfectly American.

[@choleluvstoshop8134]

..."I have this theory that as you age, you either become your worst self or your best self." -Steve Martin #wise

[@vickioneal1401]

What a kind & humble beautiful man he is, love you sir , Blessings

[@fdrstan]

Can’t wait to see this doc. Steve Martin is an American legend and easily one of the greatest comic actors to ever live.

[@maryannevitale2515]

I too love Steve Martin & not just as a Comic,his musical career, talk shows, everything about him!!

[@maryannevitale2515]

Jane Pauley you’re still at the top of your game.

[@edwardbaker1331]

You mean her game of being a professional airhead?

[@SirBarth]

My first introduction to Mr. Martin was "The Muppet Movie". Loved him then, love him now. I watched the Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You'll Forget For The Rest of Your Life on Netflix. I laughed a lot - They play off each other so very very well.

[@americanpancakelive]

Steve Martin became who his by sheer will. His story is amazing and inspiring.

[@DavidBrown-hy4vm]

The Great Flydini, a magic act that was both touching and comedic.

[@Alan-gi2ku]

I love Steve Martin. 🙃

[@user-rt9zq8rs9k]

Steve Martin's performance alone in the Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band movie makes it worth watching .

[@ukulelemikeleii]

What the hell is that? What the hell is THAT?!? Oh, I know what that is..... What the hell IS that?!?!? (My second favorite Steve Martin gag!)

[@gwenniegirl50]

Loved Steve in all of his genres including acting in the very funny movie Housesitter

[@newtonduck1]

I have always liked Steve Martin and look forward to the documentary. His autobiography was really great.

[@miz_logo_lee]

For younger boomer/older GenX, there was nothing quite like seeing your friends on Monday morning if Steve Martin had been on Saturday Night Live over the weekend. It was all we could talk about.

[@ryanb1022]

Man with Two Brains is very underrated

[@marydawkins4190]

He's been one of our comic geniuses since he first appeared on stage. I know big stars like to be humble and that's admiral, but he can also entitled to be really really proud of his work and his contributions. His genius is deep and often goes over the heads of a lot of people.

[@DaltonNichols]

Was able to see him live with Martin Short in Ft. Myers, FL. An unbelievable talent. His career is insane.

[@r3d5ive87]

I’m may be the only one but dead men don’t wear plaid is my favorite Martin work.

[@Alan-gi2ku]

Ive watched it many times and agree 100%

[@ririmr4978]

I've seen all his movies. While in High School I would go to local theatres and ask for his posters and cardboard cuts out after his movie left the theater and decorated my room with them.

[@kitano0]

"Pennies from Heaven" is a great movie, and Steve dances like a madman in it! It's a dark movie, but well worth watching. Christopher Walken is great in it, too.

[@akrenwinkle]

I remember it was dark, somber, and may have reflected what he and Bernadette Peters were going through. She bearded for him for a while and he made a serious attempt at getting her a film career. These things almost never work.

[@kitano0]

@@akrenwinkle What do you mean she bearded for him? Are you saying that Steve Martin is in the closet? I've never seen that implied anywhere.

[@akrenwinkle]

@@kitano0 Maybe I shouldn't have said it. I can't keep up anymore, who's in and who's out.

[@davidharris3252]

I loved him & still love him, he's always been my all time favorite!

[@lindasearle8623]

Always love Steve Martin!

[@edithlazenby5839]

My favorite comedian of all time..

[@petiewolfe3]

A friend helped him in a clothing store in Boston years ago and said he was really rude. I am so happy he learned to be kind and gracious as the years come upon him. 🥳

[@gardensofthegods]

Here he probably talks about how he's changed because maybe he knows there's too many stories about him being unkind and rude .

[@wattheheck6010]

My fav comedian. Thanks, Steve, if you're reading this.

[@kathysarmiento4652]

If I’m ever stranded on a desert island, I hope it’s with Steve!

[@garygray3834]

One of the best period

[@juliadplume3097]

I ❤️ Steve Martin

[@romstar]

One of My first celebrity crushes! 😭❤Still is...!🎉😂 and to be nearly 80! 🥺🥴

[@yvonnecooper5004]

He does not look his age and I hope he will be with us for years to come.

[@taydrabrookshire347]

0:31 “Once upon a time in the magical realm of Manhattan, there was a handsome white haired prince who played an enchanted instrument called… a ‘banjo’ in his royal palace. He’s literally just chilling out and minding his business, not hurting anyone. Why am I even doing this”

[@charlenemack7040]

I have no idea how Steve Martin lived through that arrow through his brain thing. Must’ve had really good sturgeons for that one! I meant to say surgeons!

[@captainez]

First time for me to go to a Nitty Gritty Dirt Band performance in Meridian Mississippi and have a great experience seeing Mr Martin open 1972 or 73 ?

[@kurtgellert9166]

Love his humility. One of my all time favorite celebrities.

[@JoseMorales-lw5nt]

Always wondered if he was the one playing the banjo during the bridge of SQUEEZBOX by The Who?😂

[@Yourmission9]

When the documentary starts out discussing his childhood years, “I was born a poor black child in the Mississippi delta”

[@rays2794]

I graduated high school in 1978 and under the picture in our yearbook they allowed us to put a saying that had meaning to us, as most yearbooks do. Mine was “Let’s get small”. I was sure that one day I would be a great comedian like Steve, but unfortunately I got small too many times and before I knew it that dream went up in smoke. Love everything this man has ever done.

[@spiritualseekeramor]

Bless you, Sir. You've brought much joy to rhe world. I loved My Blue Heaven. 😂

[@Typical.Anomaly]

Hell yeah! Aykroyd was just on Howard Stern today too! Did y'all know that Ghostbusters was originally written for John Belushi and Eddie Murphy? Dan got a phone call that Belushi had died _as he was writing a line for him._

[@joshuaa9513]

My generation loved Steve Martin. Now days there is so much other stuff on tv you don't see the classics.

[@whimsicalhamster88]

I love a guy with that much fame, fortune and great movies yo his name to be like “I don’t think I’m all that great. I doubt myself. I wonder how all of this happened.”

[@Julieglam3]

I agree with what he said about aging as far as you either get better or you get worse. But I think its a conceious choice you make. I volunteer once a week at my local senior center. There are younger seniors like me and much older ones. Some of them are just the most insufferable people you'd ever hope to meet. Others are quite open and lovely, so full of life. I think it also has to do with how much trauma you have experienced in your lifetime and how you delt with it. There are some super angry people out there whom I don't think even realize that they are, which is sad to me. To reach your golden years to be nothing but a huge angry, self entitled narcissist is such a pathetic way to spend that precious time in one's life. Not everyone is blessed with the opportunity/gift to BE an older person, so to me you should embrace it and find your bliss!!!

[@London20258]

What a lovely, insightful response - thank you for sharing this - I never considered whether one gets better or worse with age. I'm 67 and in a word, I would say I'm wholly GRATEFUL to have gotten to this stage of life.....and I love it!

[@Julieglam3]

@@London20258 thank you 💕

[@carolynturk-hu7je]

@Julieglam3 My husband and I had this favorite place to eat and one time eating there we witnessed an elderly couple arguing and being really nasty to each other. We exclaimed to each other that would not be us.....we simply could not imagine that being us at that stage of life.....well, it never was us, as he passed away from cancer at 43 yrs young when our son was 4 yrs old. Trauma certainly changes you, affects you, devastates you.....but you can also be grateful for the gift of love. Two years later our son lost his Paternal Grandfather, two years later my Dad, three years later one of his favorite Aunts, both Grandmothers by 18. 26 years has passed since my husband passed away. I do not believe I am angry, bitter, or insufferable. But I do miss my Husband everyday, he was and is my soulmate, the love of my life! Life is hard, but death, loss is harder. It is the fire you can not avoid......you have to walk through it to heal, to really feel gratitude, to still love....a dream come true!

[@Julieglam3]

@@carolynturk-hu7je it's true, none of us knows how much time we have for life, for love and for laughter & joy...you must embrace it and live in gratitude for whatever time you've been blessed with. My goodness, I can't imagine losing your husband so young with a small child to care for. And then the other deaths that followed, I'm so sorry for the losses you have experienced. You're right you just have to keep moving forward. It's the only way I know to honor those you have lost. Trauma changes you most definitely. But what I have discovered is that it doesn't have to define you. Life is a gift to be cherished every single precious day...💜

[@rjschools2803]

Genius

[@malinagonnella5025]

Steve dancing with Gilda Radner........love it.

[@yvonnecooper5004]

I remember that!!

[@khicks2832]

I loved him in It’s Complicated! Such a funny movie.

[@yvonnecooper5004]

Anyone who makes 40 films is clearly talented. I hope the documentary is more widely available soon. Good interview.

[@wildoceanappaloosawomangay2535]

He’s a comic & musical genius, kind, respectful He’s always been my favorite comedian I listened as a teen to his “Let’s Get Small” album over and over He started stand-up in my hometown of San Francisco He wrote for the Smothers Brothers & Johnny Carson ✍️ 😁

[@autumn1231]

I have a picture of Steve holding my dog, a Boston Terrier back in early 80's. He was at my job filming a scene for The Man With Two Brains. I think he was kidding but he asked to buy my dog.

[@leslierainer5001]

He’s the best❤

[@leavemealone8336]

the world needs more steve martin....... he is amazing!!!

[@goeshen4359]

Mr Martin you are such an amazing essence in this world and I am so grateful that you are in it. For you, your wife and child, wishing all the best of making memories for many many many years to come 💐

[@DonMayfield]

Waco, Texas... What starts here changes the world.

[@carmelaszymanski8232]

THIS GENTLEMAN CRACKED ME UP WHEN I WAS A CHILD.. FROM MOVIES..SNL.. LOVE THIS GENTLEMAN AND A MUSICIAN TO BOOT.. GOTTA LOVE HIM.. I DO..❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@marymagdalene3004]

A very respectable body of work and then when you see how musically talented he is as well - kind of puts him over-the-top brilliant!

[@MelissaHash]

Steve Martin is a gosh darn national treasure & I absolutely lurve all his movies & Only Murders In The Building, a comedic gem of a series! My Blue Heaven, Three Amigos, Father of the Bride, L.A. Story, The Man With Two Brains I could go on but Steve Martin is just #AWildNCrazyGuy!!

[@Bottlecap]

I started listening to a lot of Bluegrass/Folk Country music recently. The other day I just happened to notice the “About the artist” picture of one of the songs I listen to most. It was a picture of Steve Martin. Until then, it hadn’t even crossed my mind that the Steve Martin I’d been listening to was *that* Steve Martin.

[@paulwilkinson407]

Steve is a legend and completely ageless. I didn't realise he was 78. He's pretty much looked the same to me for the last 40 years. Advantage of going grey early I suppose ha.

[@user-yw5cb4zq9t]

Right, everyone goes through highs and lows. Love his work, he’s made me laugh for years. Thanks, Steve.

[@janelleetsitty36]

My most movie fave of Steve Martin will always be "Bringing Down the House" 😆 the scene where he goes up into the club dressed like some rapper, the lingo he used in that the voice 🤣 the best.

[@appnzllr]

Steve Martin's brilliance is knowing what people will find humorous/funny - and knowing what other comics have not done before. Much of comedy is the surprise, and Steve was always ready to do that.

[@doogboh]

I wouldn't describe myself as a die-hard fan, but -- the funniest thing that I think I've ever seen in my life was Steve Martin's retrieval of his answering machine messages on THE TONIGHT SHOW.

[@loristitt65]

He is an amazing personL

[@pibly7784]

Steve is truly versatile : comedian, actor, musician, author.

[@VerseauT-cm6tj]

Hey Steve, is this moment (of getting a documentary made about you) similar to the moment when Navin saw his name in the phone book? You should’ve ended this interview by saying, “Things are going to start happening to me NOW!”

[@loristitt65]

Here it is 2024 and I love this guy!

[@starchild2358]

Steve is such a LEGEND 🌠👑❤️

[@arianemariano3807]

Love him! Brilliant. ❤

[@lowden7268]

Best smile in show business.

[@carmelaszymanski8232]

SO WELL DESERVED.. ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@maxmustermann1206]

"Leap of Faith" is my favorite Steve Martin movie. "Roxanne" and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" are also really good.

[@jedisquidward]

That director is really something else. It would be a dream come true to be able to make a project like that with the person I look up to; truly expressing that they are as important to the qorld as they are to me.

[@carmelaszymanski8232]

BEST EVER MOVIE.. SIMPLE FAITH

[@VitalityMassage]

I used to live in Brevard NC close to where Steve's retreat house is. It's said that he is always a very nice guy when in and around town.

[@kerryrobinson9947]

The day the dopes came over. Comedy gold. 😁

[@lashropa]

Awesome. ❤

[@mecarr]

Surprised there was not any mention of Planes, Trains and Automobiles, his best movie in my opinion.

[@sallyindelaware2826]

I also recommend the underrated "Pennies from Heaven". Martin is a very good dancer (he studied Tap for this film) plus "Pennies from Heaven" is one of my three favorites of Christopher Walken.

[@davidmack4495]

what a talent.......

[@kjmav10135]

Steve Martin is my hero.

[@d.e.7467]

I saw his '77 (I think) show at the UNI-Dome. I worked directing traffic before and after his performance. As we left to do our jobs, we turned to see what I'm guessing didn't occur very much. His white bus entered the stadium and he ran down behind the stage and stuck up his thumb hitching for a ride. He entered the bus and left the stadium. The audience loved it. His bus happened to drive past me outside at my post. I stuck up my thumb hitching for a ride but no luck. 🥴

[@myfrestuff3453]

I ❤ Gern Blanston!