Steve Martin - IMDb IMDb Writer | Actor | Soundtrack Steve Martin was born on August 14, 1945 in Waco, Texas, USA as Stephen Glenn Martin to Mary Lee (née Stewart; 1913-2002) and Glenn Vernon Martin (1914-1997), a real estate salesman and aspiring actor. He was raised in Inglewood and Garden Grove in California. In 1960, he got a job at the Magic shop of Disney's Fantasyland, and while there he ... See full bio » Born: a list of 21 people created 14 Apr 2011 a list of 47 people created 24 May 2011 a list of 29 people created 09 Jun 2011 a list of 22 people created 15 Apr 2015 a list of 48 people created 1 month ago Do you have a demo reel? Add it to your IMDbPage How much of Steve Martin's work have you seen? User Polls Nominated for 5 Golden Globes. Another 22 wins & 34 nominations.

See more awards » Known For Fantasia 2000 Himself - Introductory Host (1999) 2001 The 73rd Annual Academy Awards (TV Special) (special material written by) 1999 Bowfinger (written by) 1986 Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills (TV Series) (creator - 1986) George Burns Comedy Week (TV Series) (story by - 1 episode, 1985) (story - 1 episode, 1985) 1998-2013 Saturday Night Live (TV Series) Various / Guy / Himself / ... 1982 Twilight Theater (TV Movie) Various Characters Soundtrack (29 credits) The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (TV Series) (performer - 3 episodes, 2015 - 2016) (music - 1 episode, 2016) (writer - 1 episode, 2015) - Martin Short & Steve Martin/Ruth Negga/Common (2016) ...

(performer: "My Little Buttercup" - uncredited) - Steve Martin & Edie Brickell/Martin Freeman/Bright Star (2016) ... (music: "Sun's Gonna Shine") / (performer: "I Don't Want to Do This Show") - Episode dated 23 April 2013 (2013) ... (performer: "When You Get to Asheville") - Episode #19.42 (2011) ... (performer: "Somethin' Stupid", "You Don't Bring Me Flowers", "Molly" - uncredited) - Episode #18.36 (2010) ... (performer: "Dueling Banjos", "Rye Whiskey" (uncredited)) - Episode #17.20 (2009) ... (performer: "Saga of the Old West" - uncredited) - Episode dated 15 November 2001 (2001) ...

(performer: "Foggy Mountain Breakdown") 2012 The Dust Bowl (TV Mini-Series documentary) (arranger: "Claw Hammer Medley") / (performer: "Claw Hammer Medley") 2012 Taken 2 (writer: "Handyman") Saturday Night Live (TV Series) (performer - 6 episodes, 1976 - 2012) (writer - 3 episodes, 1976 - 2009) - Mick Jagger (2012) ... (performer: "Ruby Tuesday") - Steve Martin/Jason Mraz (2009) ... (performer: "Late For School" - uncredited) / (writer: "Late For School" - uncredited) - Steve Martin/James Taylor (1991) ... (performer: "Not Going to Phone it in Tonight") The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode, 2012) (writer - 1 episode, 2012) - Episode #20.132 (2012) ...

(performer: "Me and Paul Revere") / (writer: "King Tut" (uncredited), "Me and Paul Revere") 2011 The Big Year (performer: "Pitkin County Turnaround") / (writer: "Pitkin County Turnaround") 2011 Conan (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - The Container Store of My Discontent (2011) ... (performer: "Dueling Banjos", "Jubilation Day" (uncredited)) The Colbert Report (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode, 2011) (writer - 1 episode, 2011) - Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers (2011) ... (performer: "Jubilation Day") / (writer: "Jubilation Day") 2010 Nostalgia Critic (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Top 11 Villain Songs (2010) ...

(performer: "Dentist!" - uncredited) 2009 American Idol (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Finale (2009) ... (performer: "Pretty Flowers") 2008 30 Rock (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Gavin Volure (2008) ...

(performer: "Tomorrow" - uncredited) 2005 White Noise (writer: "In My Nursery") Freaks and Geeks (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode, 2000) (writer - 1 episode, 2000) 1983 The Man with Two Brains (performer: "Under the Bamboo Tree" - uncredited) 1981 Pennies from Heaven ("I'll Never Have to Dream Again" (1932), "Did You Ever See a Dream Walking?" (1933), "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries" (1931)) / (performer: "Pennies from Heaven" (1936), "Yes, Yes!" (1931), "It's the Girl" (1931), "Let's Face the Music and Dance" (1936), "The Glory of Love" (1936) (uncredited), "I Get a Kick Out of You" (1934) (uncredited)) 1981 Steve Martin's Best Show Ever (TV Special) (performer: "Theme from New York

, New York", "Fit as a Fiddle" - uncredited) 1980 Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty (TV Special) (performer: "Born to Be Wild", "Drop Thumb Medley", "Some Enchanted Evening", "Lullaby of Broadway" - uncredited) / (writer: "Drop Thumb Medley" - uncredited) 1979 The Jerk (performer: "You Belong To Me") The top 25 films of Steve Martin | Den of Geek Search The top 25 films of Steve Martin We salute the finest screen work of Steve Martin, a brilliant comedy actor, and an underrated dramatic performer too...

2. The top 25 films of Steve Martin Few people on the planet have made me laugh as hard as Steve Martin. I first encountered him when All Of Me appeared on telly one afternoon, which I could barely watch through the tears of laughter in my eyes. From that point on, I devoured every film I could lay my hands on, as well as his early comedy material. I've found things to like in the many remakes he's tackled, where others, er, weren't so keen. And I'm now going through the stages of introducing my own kids to his work. For me, though, I had no curator. Steve Martin was the first leading actor or actress whose work I actively seeked out, back in the days when you had to wait for HMV to do a three for £20 offer on videos, or for the video shop bargain section to get one of his movies back in. That, or wait for ITV to stick one of his films on. This, then, is clearly going to be a very subjective countdown we're about to embark on. But hopefully we can at least be unified in the belief that Mr Steve Martin is an actor, comedian, musician and writer we should be cherishing.

There are some films you may like that aren't on the list, because they didn't do an awful lot for me. But rather than chat about those, I'd rather talk about this little lot... 25. Sgt Bilko "All I ever wanted was an honest week's pay for an honest day's work" Let's start with one of Martin's least-liked films. In truth, I can fully understand the backlash that appeared - even in pre-internet times - when it was announced that a remake of Sgt Bilko was on the way. Sacrilege, right? Who could really bring to the screen what Phil Silvers already had, in realising the role of Bilko, the US army's most entertaining scam artist? Nobody. So Steve Martin didn't try. Instead, he went his own way with the character, and the resultant film is a thoroughly decent comedy in its own right. Helmed by Jonathan Lynn - the Yes Minister co-creator who also directed Marisa Tomei towards the Oscar stage with My Cousin Vinny - it's brisk, likeable, and works. Do I rewatch it often? No. Did I enjoy it? Yes.

The original Sgt Bilko series is still a flat-out classic of 50s television, of course. The 1996 film hasn't changed that. 24. The Pink Panther "I would like to take a closer look at your bawls" And whilst I'm taking hits for remakes, I'll say this too: the first of Steve Martin's The Pink Panther movies is really quite fun. I'm not just saying that because Jason Statham's in it, but rather because Martin was clearly having an awful lot of fun playing Inspector Clouseau. His take on the character was different enough to Peter Sellers' for the film to just about work, and again, if you put the originals out of your head, there's a decent amount to enjoy here. I do share the frustration that at the peak of his box office powers, Martin was tackling remakes such as these, and I don't have much time for the Pink Panther sequel. But still: it's a decent, solid comedy. No amount of hate for the project's existence can hide the fact that Martin is a skilled comedy actor, and his Clouseau is further proof of that. 23.

Novocaine "I've always said the worst thing a man can lose is his teeth. It's true, I should know" A decent low key thriller this, that's not the best Steve Martin film involving a dental role, but still warrants a look. Laura Dern and Helena Bonham Carter co-star, in the story of a dentist who becomes a suspect for murder, after being conned into prescribing drugs. It's a slightly unconventional piece of work, but perhaps not unconventional enough for people to really notice it. With elements of dark comedy to it, there's the sense that a better film could have been made with the same ingredients, but the strong performances really do lift it. 22. Housesitter "Wow, you're a genius! You're like the Ernest Hemingway of bullshit!" Of the two movies that Martin made with Goldie Hawn in the 1990s - this, and the remake of The Out-Of-Towners (a film worth it for Hawn spitting out the line "I have grass, grass, grass in my ass") - it's Frank Oz's Housesitter that I slightly veer towards.

I can't say I love the film, but there are two standout Steve Martin moments that wouldn't work with any other actor. The first looks simple: a stumble over some furniture. That Martin plays it so naturally and carries in is what makes the moment work. It's not a demonstrative yearning for a laugh, it's a very good actor doing some very good acting. The second is the movie's standout moment, where he sings 'Tura Lura Lura'. I'm just going to cheat and give you the video of that one. By distance, it's the highlight of the movie... 21. It's Complicated "Did you get this high from one hit?!" Nancy Meyers makes films that feel like they exist in a slightly different, exaggerated, middle- to upper-class world. That's no dig, incidentally - I think she makes films that others aren't really tackling, and there's a familiar feel to movies such as What Women Want, Something's Gotta Give and The Holiday.

It's Complicated certainly fits into the Meyers Movie Universe (TM), and for her third collaboration with Martin (only one of which, Father Of The Bride Part II, isn't listed here) she teamed him up with Alec Baldwin and Meryl Streep too, for a light romantic comedy aimed at grown-ups. It's centred on a divorced couple who come back together for family reasons, and it's a movie that works when its senior trio are on screen. It's a good, solid movie this, and more of a dramatic role for Martin again. 20. A Simple Twist Of Fate "When you turn a gift away from your door, it goes to the one who takes it in" Another interesting low key movie this, that saw Martin star alongside Gabriel Byrne, Laura Linney and Catherine O'Hara. He wrote this one, based on the book Silas Marner by Geroge Eliot, and it's a modern day telling of the story. It's not an entirely successful one in truth, nor does it stick in the mind too long. But it does boast an excellent central performance from Martin, as the recluse who finds an orphan on his doorstep one day.

It's quite a quiet and straightforward drama, nicely played and quite touching too. A bit of a tear jerker as well, if you're in the right mood. It barely got any attention on its original release mind, and it's so unfussy, I can understand why. But it's a quiet, impressive piece of work. 19. Father Of The Bride "Drive carefully. And don't forget to fasten your condom". A sizeable box office hit at the start of the 90s, and for the most part, this is a straight leading man role for Martin (perhaps his most obvious movie star role of the decade). A good one, too. It's a remake of the 1950 Spencer Tracey movie of the same name, with Martin starring opposite Diane Keaton in a straightforward story of a man watching his daughter get married. Nancy Meyers penned the screenplay for this one, with Charles Shyer directing. There's a real generosity to Martin's performance here, and he's happy to stand back and let Martin Short waltz in to steal the movie as Frank, the wedding planner.

Furthermore, it's hard not to warm to his struggle to let his beloved daughter go, contrasted with the rising cost and scale of the wedding too. A few comedy slapstick moments are thrown in - a comedy dog chase the main one - but this is actually a fairly straight character comedy for the most part, and a warm one. The sequel, which in turn was based on the earlier movie Father's Little Dividend, is best avoided though. Thankfully, all concerned decided that a trilogy was a bad idea... 18. The Lonely Guy "I'm not really jogging. I only ran about fifty yards. This is not real sweat, either. I sprayed it on" A real oddity this amongst the movies that Martin made in the early 1980s. It paired him with director Arthur Hiller, best known for making Love Story, and it contrasted deeply with the comedy roles that Martin had thus far been taking on for Carl Reiner. We'll be talking about those shortly. The Lonely Guy is quite a sombre film, and one that I recall Martin in an interview agreeing didn't quite work.

But still, it's an ambitious character piece, about a man who comes home from work, and finds his girlfriend with another man. There's humour in it too - as you'd expect from a movie penned by Neil Simon - although tonally it feels just a little uneven at times. That said, there's still plenty to get your teeth into here, and it remains a quietly interesting film in the Martin back catalogue. 17. The Muppet Movie "Don't you want to smell the bottlecap?" I've tried to resist including Martin's supporting and cameo roles in this list (sorry, Baby Mama), but I couldn't resist adding The Muppet Movie into the mix. Mainly because I love The Muppet Movie. Martin's cameo here is as the waiter who serves Kermit and Miss Piggy. Said waiter has a rich line in sarcasm too. "Don't you want to smell the bottlecap?" Ah, it cheers me every time. Martin also popped up in The Muppet Show, of course, so take this entry in the list as a commendation of his united Muppets work. I'd happily watch a fresh Muppet film, with Steve Martin as co-star. 16.

Grand Canyon "All of life's riddles are answered in the movies" After a string of successful comedies in the late 80s and early 90s, Martin took a part in the ensemble for Lawrence Kasdan's drama, Grand Canyon. Furthermore, it put Martin on the receiving end of one of the most genuinely shocking moments of screen violence in the 1990s. Here, he plays movie producer Davis, one of six central characters in 90s Los Angeles that Kasdan's film explores. Davis' films are violent, and that's what he's built his career off the back of. And in a film where each character experiences something that turns their life in a different direction, Davis becomes the victim of a real act of violence. Even writing about it now, nearly 25 years since I first saw the film, I can remember the shock at how casual Kasdan put across such a moment on screen. There's no build up, no fanfare. Just simple, cold brutality.

Martin's story is one of the standout narratives of Grand Canyon, a film that doesn't quite measure up to Kasdan's earlier The Big Chill (nor, arguably, his subsequent Mumford, a movie I have a lot of time for). It's still, at best, a very good drama, and it has moments and performances that ensure that at least some of it sticks in the head for a good deal after you've watched it. Over 20 years in my case... 15. L.A. Story "Why is it that we don't always recognise the moment when love begins but we always know when it ends?" A really charming film this, penned by Martin and co-starring his then-wife Victoria Tennant. Directed by Mick Jackson, who would go on to helm The Bodyguard, it's Martin's love letter to the city of Los Angeles. A love that's brought home in his conversations with a traffic sign. It shouldn't work, but it really does. It's a gentle, relaxed comedy this, that pokes fun at the L.A. life (and thus tends to garner a lot more love from Los Angeles folk), but also puts a sweet romance at the heard of it. L.A.

Story also boasts a smart cast, not least including the mighty Richard E Grant, and at its heart is a lovely, grown-up piece of writing 14. Pennies From Heaven "I'm Arthur... and I love you" Early in his film career, this was the first sign that Steve Martin was willing to take a left turn and try something different. The Jerk had hit big at the box office, and he took on Herbert Ross' film of Pennies From Heaven, adapted from his own work by Dennis Potter. Martin was Golden Globe nominated for his work here, in a depression-era musical that tends to leave as many people cold as it does warm in truth. There's an argument too that the 1978 television series is your better bet, and it's certainly what interested Martin, who lobbied for the work, and spent months preparing for it. Pennies From Heaven disappointed at the box office, but certainly doesn't deserve to be forgotten. A bold choice from Martin, and very early proof that he had plenty to offer the screen.

Steve Martin's 13 best films Steve Martin's 13 best films List Martin Chilton 4 June 2015 • 4:00pm As Steve Martin wins the American Film Institute's lifetime achievement awards, we look at the jerk who became the king of Hollywood comedy 1. The Jerk, 1979 Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters in the 1979 movie The Jerk Credit: Rex Features Steve Martin's film career began in 1972 with a small role as a hippy in a political comedy called Another Nice Mess. But the stand-up comedian's first real triumph was the 1979 Carl Reiner-directed movie The Jerk. Martin starred as Navin R Johnson, the simpleton adopted white son of African-American sharecroppers. The Jerk is a warm and engagingly silly film, featuring jokes about cat jugglers, but at the time of its release it had a mixed reception. "It took a long time to get over the bad reviews," Martin later said. He added that British comedian Peter Sellers had offered him great encouragement at what was a difficult time in his career.

Best line: "For one dollar I'll guess your weight, your height, or your sex." 2. Pennies From Heaven, 1981 Steve Martin plays Arthur Parker in Pennies From Heaven, a role that had been performed by Bob Hoskins in the original BBC TV adaptation of Dennis Potter's Great Depression musical. In 1981 Potter was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Martin, who plays a sheet music salesman, said: "The people who get the movie, in general, have been wise and intelligent; the people who don't get it are ignorant scum." Although the film lacks some of the charm of the BBC version it is, at times, dazzling. "I loved doing Pennies from Heaven," said Martin. "You have to understand that I'd been doing comedy for 15 to 20 years, and suddenly along came the opportunity to do this beautiful film. It was so emotional to me. I loved it. I don't think it was a good career move, but I have no regrets about doing it." Martin was nominated for a Best Actor Golden Globe for his performance. Best line: "Oh, there’s always time for this.

Joan, come on." 3. Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, 1982 Steve Martin in Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, a 1982 comedy directed by Carl Reiner Credit: Allstar Picture Library Steve Martin plays private investigator Rigby Reardon in this 1982 comedy directed by Carl Reiner. It's a parody and celebration of the Forties film noir thrillers and has a running gag (a vaudeville routine tribute) in which Martin goes berserk every time he hears the phrase: "The cleaning lady". Using splicing and trick photography the black-and-white film also has appearances from celebrated actors and actresses including Ingrid Bergman, Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis and Lana Turner. Legendary costume designer Edith Head, who had created outfits for films such as Double Indemnity (1944), Notorious (1946) and Sunset Boulevard (1950), created more than 20 suits for Martin. Best line: "Carlotta was the kind of town where they spell trouble T-R-U-B-I-L, and if you try to correct them, they kill you." 4.

The Man With Two Brains, 1983 Steve Martin in The Man With Two Brains (1983) Credit: Rex Features Steve Martin has one of the great Hollywood fictional names in this 1983 Carl Reiner comedy: Doctor Michael Hfuhruhurr. Hfuhruhurr is a widowed brain surgeon who has invented a method of "cranial screw-top" brain surgery. Kathleen Turner plays Hfuhruhurr's nasty and unfaithful second wife, Dolores Benedict. Sissy Spacek voices the disembodied brain that Hfuhruhurr falls in love with. It's a brilliant madcap comedy. Best line: "O pointy birds, o pointy pointy, anoint my head, anointy-nointy." 5. All Of Me, 1984 This came after the slightly disappointing The Lonely Guy and was a critical and commercial success. The on-screen chemistry between Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin (playing a sour and spoiled heiress called Edwina Cutwater) is superb and the zany plot, featuring soul transference and an Indian mystic, sparkles with wit.

Martin, who plays an attorney named Roger Cobb, said: "All of Me was like going to school. I learned a lot about structure and character." It was another collaboration with director Carl Reiner. Best line: "You're like an energy vampire. You suck the life out of people." 6. ¡Three Amigos!, 1986 The Three Amigos: Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Short Credit: Rex Features Steve Martin joined up with singer and songwriter Randy Newman (and Saturday Night Live's Lorne Michaels) to write this spoof western, directed by John Landis. Newman also contributed some songs. Martin (Lucky Day), Chevy Chase (Dusty Bottoms) and Martin Short (Ned Nederlander) star as the Hollywood silent film actors who portray the Amigos on screen and get dragged into a real-life battle with Mexican bandits. Best line: "Oh great. REAL bullets!" 7. Roxanne, 1987 Steve Martin and Daryl Hannah in the 1987 comedy Roxanne Credit: Rex Features Steve Martin reinvents Edmond Rostand's 1897 Cyrano de Bergerac for a modern Colorado setting.

The film was directed by Fred Schepisi and Martin plays Charlie 'CD' Bales, a small-town fire chief with a large hooter who is desperately in love with astronomer Roxanne Kowalski (Daryl Hannah). The film is charming and earned Martin a string of awards, including the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor and Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Best line: "Say, who mows your nose hair?" 8. Planes, Trains and Automobiles, 1987 Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987): Steve Martin, left, and John Candy Credit: Rex Features Steve Martin teamed up with John Candy for a comedy that was written, produced and directed by John Hughes (National Lampoon's Vacation, The Breakfast Club, Home Alone). Martin played Neal Page, a highly-strung businessman who has to rely on the help of Candy's character Del Griffith, a bumbling and garrulous shower-curtain-ring salesman, to get home from New York to Chicago in in time for Thanksgiving.

Martin has a memorably angry swearing scene in which he says f------ 18 times within a minute, earning this feelgood comedy an 'R' rating in America. Best lines: (when Neal and Del wake up in the same hotel bed, holding hands) Del: "Why are you holding my hand?" Neal: "Where's your other hand?" Del: "Between two pillows." 9. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, 1988 Steve Martin and Michael Caine in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Credit: Rex Features An affable buddy comedy, directed by Frank Oz, in which Steve Martin is paired with Michael Caine as two con men on the French Riviera. Caine described the movie as one of the most enjoyable to make in his whole career. Martin said: "We had so much fun. We laughed all day." The film took more than £35 million at the box office. Best line: "Do you ever have a single thought that originates from above the waist?" 10. Parenthood, 1989 Steve Martin was nominated for a Best Actor Golden Globe for his portrayal of Gil Buckman in director Ron Howard's sentimental comedy.

The film was a box-office smash hit, grossing more than £120 million worldwide. Keanu Reeves also starred in the film. In real life, Martin is a talented banjo player. Best lines: Frank: "Gil, you have a good memory. Uh, was it yours or Helen's or Susan's wedding I got drunk at?" Gil: "It was all three, Dad. Congratulations." 11. LA Story, 1991 Steve Martin plays Los Angeles TV weatherman Harris K Telemacher in this engaging romantic comedy, in which a freeway sign flashes up life advice for Martin's character. The film is less a narrative than an accumulation of neat jokes about smog, fads, traffic, dress, earthquakes, romance and trendy restaurants. The name of the restaurant in the movie is pronounced 'Leedy-O' but spelled L'Idiot. Best line: "Hello, this is Harris. I'm in right now, so you can talk to me personally. Please start talking at the sound of the beep." 12.

Father of the Bride, 1991 Father of the Bride (1991) starring Diane Keaton, Steve Martin, Martin Shoty and Kimberly Williams Credit: Rex Features Father of the Bride and its sequel garnered Steve Martin a host of film awards and nominations for his role as family man George Stanley Banks. His wife Nina was played by Diane Keaton. Best line: "I used to think a wedding was a simple affair." 13. Bowfinger, 1999 Eddie Murphy and Steve Martin in Bowfinger Credit: Film Stills The chemistry between Eddie Murphy and Steve Martin works terrifically in this satire on Hollywood film-making. Martin stars as director Robert K 'Bobby' Bowfinger and Murphy plays actor Jefferson 'Jiff' Ramsey. The film was directed by Frank Oz. Asked whether he would like to be a director one day, Martin replied: "Even after all these years of doing films, the camera, the lenses... Maybe I'm a little bit lazy, I don't know. I like dealing with the script, I like dealing with the comedy." Best line: "This film is only for Madagascar and Iran.

Neither of which follow American copyright law." Related to Competition 28 Apr 2016 The Jerk (1979) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error An idiotic man struggles to make it through life on his own in St. Louis. Director: From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC Famous Directors: From Sundance to Prominence From Christopher Nolan to Quentin Tarantino and every Coen brother in between, many of today's most popular directors got their start at the Sundance Film Festival . Here's a list of some of the biggest names to go from Sundance to Hollywood prominence.

a list of 40 titles created 25 May 2011 a list of 25 titles created 03 Feb 2012 a list of 30 titles created 09 Sep 2014 a list of 36 titles created 05 Oct 2015 a list of 25 titles created 08 Jan 2016 Search for " The Jerk " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. A brain surgeon marries a femme fatale, causing his life to turn upside down. Things go more awry when he falls in love with a talking brain. Director: Carl Reiner Two con men try to settle their rivalry by betting on who can swindle a young American heiress out of $50,000 first. Director: Frank Oz Based on the play "Cyrano de Bergerac", large nosed C.D. Bales falls for the beautiful Roxanne while she falls for his personality but another man's looks.

Director: Fred Schepisi Three actors accept an invitation to a Mexican village to perform their onscreen bandit fighter roles, unaware that it is the real thing. Director: John Landis A man must struggle to travel home for Thanksgiving with an obnoxious slob of a shower curtain ring salesman as his only companion. Director: John Hughes Film noir parody with a detective uncovering a sinister plot. Characters from real noirs appear as scenes from various films are intercut. Director: Carl Reiner When a desperate movie producer fails to get a major star for his bargain basement film, he decides to shoot the film secretly around him. Director: Frank Oz A dying millionaire has her soul transferred into a younger, willing woman. However, something goes wrong, and she finds herself in her lawyer's body - together with the lawyer. Director: Carl Reiner With the help of a talking freeway billboard, a "wacky weatherman" tries to win the heart of an English newspaper reporter, who is struggling to make sense of the strange world of early-90s Los Angeles. Director: Mick Jackson Edit Storyline Navin is an idiot.

He grew up in Mississippi as adopted son of a black family but on his 18th birthday he feels he wants to discover the rest of the world and sets out to St. Louis. There everyone exploits his naivety, but then a simple invention brings him a fortune. Written by Tom Zoerner <Tom.Zoerner@informatik.uni-erlangen.de> A rags to riches to rags story See more » Genres: 14 December 1979 (USA) See more » Also Known As: Did You Know? Trivia First of four films that actor Steve Martin made with director Carl Reiner . The other movies are All of Me (1984), The Man with Two Brains (1983), and Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982). See more » Goofs The telephone is visible and off the hook when Navin runs toward the garage to call in the stolen credit card. See more » Quotes [first lines] Navin R. Johnson : Huh? I am *not* a bum. I'm a jerk. I once had wealth, power, and the love of a beautiful woman. Now I only have two things: my friends, and...

uh... my thermos. Huh? My story? Okay. It was never easy for me. I was born a poor black child. I remember the days, sittin' on the porch with my family, singin' and dancin' down in Mississippi... Pig Eye Jackson - Cat Juggler (Steve Martin) See more » Connections Spoofed in Bowfinger (1999) See more » Soundtracks Sung by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee (as Brownie McGee) Words and Music by Leadbelly (as Huddie Ledbetter) Overwhelmingly and brilliantly funny with genius throwaways. 24 December 2003 | by douglasreid-1 (Northern Ireland) – See all my reviews To enter the realm inhabited by Martin's blissfully original caricatures, you must first be tested for wit, intellect and an innocent revelry in life itself. If you qualify, you will be led on to a rollercoaster of oxygen-sapping gags, stupendously clever motifs, brilliant performances and an absolutely fabulous script. There are gags here so new and surprising that to try and emulate them could only court failure.

The joy of true love accompanied by him on the ukelele and on the last stanza by her on the........ trumpet: and a beautiful little song. Is it the humour or the innocence brings a tear to your eye? Don't call the dog "life saver", call him "s***head" - and for evermore, he is. The white man who is distraught to discover that he is not black. The goodbye note and Martin reading bits of words as they are washed away. The seminal "all I need" scene which is milked to the point of asphixia. The Jerk is simply the funniest most understatedly clever movie ever produced. There has simply never been anything this good, nor will there ever be. The message is simple and is a very old one: the buffoon as saint. From Bottom in Shakespeare, to Tristram Shandy, to Chaplin, to the genius understatement of Cary Grant, to Norman Wisdom: they have all touched on and come tantalisingly close, but they have all lacked one ingredient, an ingrediant calledSteve Martin.

Like Orson Welles and Kane or Frederick Forsyth and the Jackal or Men at Work and Land Down Under, Martin has played his best shot first, unfettered, undisciplined, unconstrained genius. Let us all be better, brighter, cleverer and genuinely funnier by being the jerk. And if that's too frightening, just watch it. 79 of 102 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes The Top 25 Steve Martin Movies | Den of Geek Search The Top 25 Steve Martin Movies We salute the finest screen work of Steve Martin, a brilliant comedy actor, and an underrated dramatic performer too... 2. The Top 25 Steve Martin Movies Few people on the planet have made me laugh as hard as Steve Martin. I first encountered him in All Of Me, which I could barely watch through the tears of laughter in my eyes. From that point on, I devoured every film I could lay my hands on, as well as his early comedy material. I've found things to like in the many remakes he's tackled, where others, er, weren't so keen. And I'm now going through the stages of introducing my own kids to his work.

For me, though, I had no curator. Steve Martin was the first leading actor or actress whose work I actively sought out, back in the days when you had to wait for things to show up on cable. This, then, is clearly going to be a very subjective countdown we're about to embark on. But hopefully we can at least be unified in the belief that Mr Steve Martin is an actor, comedian, musician, and writer we should be cherishing. There are some films you may like that aren't on the list, because they didn't do an awful lot for me. But rather than chat about those, I'd rather talk about this little lot... 25. Sgt. Bilko "All I ever wanted was an honest week's pay for an honest day's work" Let's start with one of Martin's least-liked films. In truth, I can fully understand the backlash that appeared - even in pre-internet times - when it was announced that a remake of Sgt. Bilko was on the way. Sacrilege, right? Who could really bring to the screen what Phil Silvers already had, in realising the role of Bilko, the US army's most entertaining scam artist? Nobody.

So Steve Martin didn't try. Instead, he went his own way with the character, and the resultant film is a thoroughly decent comedy in its own right. Helmed by Jonathan Lynn - the Yes Minister co-creator who also directed Marisa Tomei towards the Oscar stage with My Cousin Vinny - it's brisk, likeable, and works. Do I rewatch it often? No. Did I enjoy it? Yes. The original Sgt. Bilko series is still a flat-out classic of 50s television, of course. The 1996 film hasn't changed that. 24. The Pink Panther "I would like to take a closer look at your bawls" And while I'm taking hits for remakes, I'll say this too: the first of Steve Martin's The Pink Panther movies is really quite fun. I'm not just saying that because Jason Statham's in it, but rather because Martin was clearly having an awful lot of fun playing Inspector Clouseau. His take on the character was different enough to Peter Sellers' for the film to just about work, and again, if you put the originals out of your head, there's a decent amount to enjoy here.

I do share the frustration that at the peak of his box office powers, Martin was tackling remakes such as these, and I don't have much time for the Pink Panther sequel. But still: it's a decent, solid comedy. No amount of hate for the project's existence can hide the fact that Martin is a skilled comedy actor, and his Clouseau is further proof of that. 23. Novocaine "I've always said the worst thing a man can lose is his teeth. It's true, I should know" A decent low key thriller this, that's not the best Steve Martin film involving a dental role, but still warrants a look. Laura Dern and Helena Bonham Carter co-star, in the story of a dentist who becomes a suspect for murder, after being conned into prescribing drugs. It's a slightly unconventional piece of work, but perhaps not unconventional enough for people to really notice it. With elements of dark comedy to it, there's the sense that a better film could have been made with the same ingredients, but the strong performances really do lift it. 22. Housesitter "Wow, you're a genius!

You're like the Ernest Hemingway of bullshit!" Of the two movies that Martin made with Goldie Hawn in the 1990s - this, and the remake of The Out-Of-Towners (a film worth it for Hawn spitting out the line "I have grass, grass, grass in my ass") - it's Frank Oz's Housesitter that I slightly veer towards. I can't say I love the film, but there are two standout Steve Martin moments that wouldn't work with any other actor. The first looks simple: a stumble over some furniture. That Martin plays it so naturally and carries in is what makes the moment work. It's not a demonstrative yearning for a laugh, it's a very good actor doing some very good acting. The second is the movie's standout moment, where he sings "Tura Lura Lura." I'm just going to cheat and give you the video of that one. By distance, it's the highlight of the movie... 21. It's Complicated "Did you get this high from one hit?!" Nancy Meyers makes films that feel like they exist in a slightly different, exaggerated, middle- to upper-class world.

That's no dig, incidentally - I think she makes films that others aren't really tackling, and there's a familiar feel to movies such as What Women Want, Something's Gotta Give, and The Holiday. It's Complicated certainly fits into the Meyers Movie Universe (TM), and for her third collaboration with Martin (only one of which, Father Of The Bride Part II, isn't listed here) she teamed him up with Alec Baldwin and Meryl Streep too, for a light romantic comedy aimed at grown-ups. It's centred on a divorced couple who come back together for family reasons, and it's a movie that works when its senior trio are on screen. It's a good, solid movie this, and more of a dramatic role for Martin again. 20. A Simple Twist Of Fate "When you turn a gift away from your door, it goes to the one who takes it in" Another interesting low key movie this, that saw Martin star alongside Gabriel Byrne, Laura Linney and Catherine O'Hara. He wrote this one, based on the book Silas Marner by Geroge Eliot, and it's a modern day telling of the story.

It's not an entirely successful one in truth, nor does it stick in the mind too long. But it does boast an excellent central performance from Martin, as the recluse who finds an orphan on his doorstep one day. It's quite a quiet and straightforward drama, nicely played and quite touching too. A bit of a tear jerker as well, if you're in the right mood. It barely got any attention on its original release mind, and it's so unfussy, I can understand why. But it's a quiet, impressive piece of work. 19. Father Of The Bride "Drive carefully. And don't forget to fasten your condom." A sizeable box office hit at the start of the '90s, and for the most part, this is a straight leading man role for Martin (perhaps his most obvious movie star role of the decade). A good one, too. It's a remake of the 1950 Spencer Tracey movie of the same name, with Martin starring opposite Diane Keaton in a straightforward story of a man watching his daughter get married. Nancy Meyers penned the screenplay for this one, with Charles Shyer directing.

There's a real generosity to Martin's performance here, and he's happy to stand back and let Martin Short waltz in to steal the movie as Frank, the wedding planner. Furthermore, it's hard not to warm to his struggle to let his beloved daughter go, contrasted with the rising cost and scale of the wedding too. A few comedy slapstick moments are thrown in - a comedy dog chase the main one - but this is actually a fairly straight character comedy for the most part, and a warm one. The sequel, which in turn was based on the earlier movie Father's Little Dividend, is best avoided though. Thankfully, all concerned decided that a trilogy was a bad idea... 18. The Lonely Guy "I'm not really jogging. I only ran about fifty yards. This is not real sweat, either. I sprayed it on" A real oddity this amongst the movies that Martin made in the early 1980s. It paired him with director Arthur Hiller, best known for making Love Story, and it contrasted deeply with the comedy roles that Martin had thus far been taking on for Carl Reiner. We'll be talking about those shortly.

The Lonely Guy is quite a sombre film, and one that I recall Martin in an interview agreeing didn't quite work. But still, it's an ambitious character piece, about a man who comes home from work, and finds his girlfriend with another man. There's humour in it too - as you'd expect from a movie penned by Neil Simon - although tonally it feels just a little uneven at times. That said, there's still plenty to get your teeth into here, and it remains a quietly interesting film in the Martin back catalogue. 17. The Muppet Movie "Don't you want to smell the bottlecap?" I've tried to resist including Martin's supporting and cameo roles in this list (sorry, Baby Mama), but I couldn't resist adding The Muppet Movie into the mix. Mainly because I love The Muppet Movie. Martin's cameo here is as the waiter who serves Kermit and Miss Piggy. Said waiter has a rich line in sarcasm too. "Don't you want to smell the bottlecap?" Ah, it cheers me every time. Martin also popped up in The Muppet Show, of course, so take this entry in the list as a commendation of his united Muppets work.

I'd happily watch a fresh Muppet film, with Steve Martin as co-star. 16. Grand Canyon "All of life's riddles are answered in the movies" After a string of successful comedies in the late '80s and early '90s, Martin took a part in the ensemble for Lawrence Kasdan's drama, Grand Canyon. Furthermore, it put Martin on the receiving end of one of the most genuinely shocking moments of screen violence in the 1990s. Here, he plays movie producer Davis, one of six central characters in '90s Los Angeles that Kasdan's film explores. Davis' films are violent, and that's what he's built his career off the back of. And in a film where each character experiences something that turns their life in a different direction, Davis becomes the victim of a real act of violence. Even writing about it now, nearly 25 years since I first saw the film, I can remember the shock at how casual Kasdan put across such a moment on screen. There's no build up, no fanfare. Just simple, cold brutality.

Martin's story is one of the standout narratives of Grand Canyon, a film that doesn't quite measure up to Kasdan's earlier The Big Chill (nor, arguably, his subsequent Mumford, a movie I have a lot of time for). It's still, at best, a very good drama, and it has moments and performances that ensure that at least some of it sticks in the head for a good deal after you've watched it. Over 20 years in my case... 15. L.A. Story "Why is it that we don't always recognise the moment when love begins but we always know when it ends?" A really charming film this, penned by Martin and co-starring his then-wife Victoria Tennant. Directed by Mick Jackson, who would go on to helm The Bodyguard, it's Martin's love letter to the city of Los Angeles. A love that's brought home in his conversations with a traffic sign. It shouldn't work, but it really does. It's a gentle, relaxed comedy this, that pokes fun at the L.A. life (and thus tends to garner a lot more love from Los Angeles folk), but also puts a sweet romance at the heard of it. L.A.

Story also boasts a smart cast, not least including the mighty Richard E. Grant, and at its heart is a lovely, grown-up piece of writing 14. Pennies From Heaven "I'm Arthur... and I love you" Early in his film career, this was the first sign that Steve Martin was willing to take a left turn and try something different. The Jerk had hit big at the box office, and he took on Herbert Ross' film of Pennies From Heaven, adapted from his own work by Dennis Potter. Martin was Golden Globe nominated for his work here, in a depression-era musical that tends to leave as many people cold as it does warm in truth. There's an argument too that the 1978 television series is your better bet, and it's certainly what interested Martin, who lobbied for the work, and spent months preparing for it. Pennies From Heaven disappointed at the box office, but certainly doesn't deserve to be forgotten. A bold choice from Martin, and very early proof that he had plenty to offer the screen.

Question: What was Steve Martin's first film?
Answer: The Jerk