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That is, until STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces , a documentary by director Morgan Neville, playing on Apple TV+. At 78, after more than 50 years in the spotlight, Martin continues to surprise his fans. Here are a few insights he has shared from the documentary and along the way.
Since Steve Martin burst onto the comedy scene in the ’70s, he’s been a man of mystery. Despite leading sold-out stadiums in his “Excuuuuse Me routine,” headlining a roster of quotable movies, penning best-selling books, leading a banjo revival, and his bromance with Martin Short, Martin has kept his cards close to the vest, like the accomplished magician he is.
WHAT DREW YOU TO A LIFE ON STAGE? As a kid, I had a little magician act, and I’d look at the stage and think, wow, it’s like heaven up there. There is always a little anxiety when you’re doing something you hope works out.
HOW DID YOU BUILD THE WILD AND CRAZY GUY CHARACTER? I noticed the indicators — the things comedians do to indicate that the joke is over. Whether it is funny or not, the audience has made a pact; that’s when we laugh. But that’s not real laughter. So I thought, “What if I created tension and never released it?”
FUN FACT: From age 10 to 18 Steve Martin worked at Disneyland
HOW DID YOUR FAMILY REACT TO YOUR SUCCESS? After the premiere of The Jerk (1979), my father said, “He’s no Charlie Chaplin.” Later, my mother said people at the store were excited that she was my mother, and I asked her how they knew. She told them!
WHY DID YOU WALK AWAY FROM STANDUP? It’s a simple story. I was exhausted by the travel. With a movie, there’s a sense of permanence; you could get the thing exactly right. And my early act was very conceptual; I was making fun of comedy. Once the audience understood the idea, it was a dead end.
WHY ARE YOU OPENING UP NOW? I see it as an antidote to the sort of anodyne interviews, generic things I’ve talked about a million times. What an odd life I’ve had. My whole life is backward. How did I go from riddled with anxiety in my 30s to [age] 78 and really happy? How did this happen?”
33 ROMAN JEWELERS MAGAZINE
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