Martin Short is not a national treasure — the Canadian comic actor and Hollywood superstar is a full-on continental treasure.
Short is getting his flowers with new Netflix documentary Marty, Life is Short, directed by Lawrence Kasdan, the writer-director of The Big Chill, Wyatt Earp and Body Heat. Kasdan is incredibly accomplished, clearly — he’s been nominated for four Oscars — but it is also worth mentioning he’s the father of Jake Kasdan (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and a bunch of TV work.)
In addition to (Lawrence) Kasdan, Marty, Life is Short is produced by Sara Bernstein, Meredith Kaulfers, Christopher St. John, Justin Wilkes and Blair Foster. It is executive produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howardthrough Imagine Documentaries, an arm of their Imagine Entertainment.
“Using beautiful, intimate, never-before-seen archive footage alongside exclusive interviews with some of the most established and beloved stars, the documentary takes a look at one of the most influential comedians of a generation,” the logline reads.
Perfectly, the trailer opens with good pal Steve Martin’s voice over footage of Short just having a blast (as he seems to in all situations). Short’s Only Murders in the Building co-star has the perfect summation for Marty’s big-persona-in-a-small-body reputation: “I’ll tell you something about Marty,” he says. “Let’s say you’re gonna host a dinner party. And you’re gonna invite Marty. And then it turns out Marty can’t come — you cancel the party.”
Pals Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara (rest in peace, queen) and Tom Hanks are also in the doc, though perhaps it is John Mulaney who sums Short up best: “Marty is good at life.”
Of course, Short, who is 76, has experienced (much) more than his fair share of personal tragedy. Short’s oldest brother died when Martin was 12; not so long after his parents died within two years of each other. Short’s wife Nancy Dolman died in 2010 — she was 58 — and their daughter Katherine died by suicide just a few months ago. She was 42.
Short and Dolman adopted three children together.
Marty, Life is Short releases globally on Netflix on May 12. Watch the trailer below.