The First Time Martin Short Met Steve Martin, He Had One Big Question

Martin Short is reflecting on the beginning of one of comedy’s most beloved friendships and revealing the hilarious thought he had when he first met Steve Martin. The comedian recently shared the story during a live panel event while discussing their decades-long friendship and creative partnership.

The two stars first connected in the mid-1980s before starring together in the comedy Three Amigos! Their friendship quickly grew beyond work, eventually becoming one of Hollywood’s longest-lasting comedy collaborations both onstage and on screen.

Martin Short Had A Funny First Impression Of Steve Martin

According to PEOPLE, Short met Steve in 1985 after appearing on David Letterman’s television show. Soon afterward, he traveled to Los Angeles to pick up the script for Three Amigos directly from Steve’s house. While visiting the home, the comedian noticed Martin’s impressive art collection and expensive surroundings. Short joked that his first reaction was wondering how Steve became so wealthy because he had already seen his comedy act and could not connect it to such luxury.

The joke earned laughs from the audience during the Netflix Is a Joke Presents: This Better Be Funny with David Letterman event in Los Angeles. Short then explained that the two remained close friends ever since that first meeting and made a conscious effort to maintain their friendship after working together.

Their Friendship Continued Far Beyond One Movie

After starring together in Three Amigos!, the actors continued collaborating on tours, comedy shows, and television projects over the years. Short explained that they often perform dozens of live shows together annually and frequently change the titles of their comedy tours for fun. Short and Martin later reunited again for the hit series Only Murders in the Building, which premiered in 2021. Their chemistry on the show reflects the same playful friendship audiences have enjoyed watching for decades.

Both comedians have also publicly praised each other many times over the years. Martin previously described Short as the perfect dinner guest and someone who instantly makes every gathering more entertaining, while Short called Martin loyal, ethical, and deeply caring beyond his comedy success.