Steve Martin Hints At Retiring At 77, Says 'This Is, Weirdly, It'

Aug 16, 2022 by apost team

In his latest role, actor Steve Martin plays a close-to-life, aging actor unsure of his place in an ever-changing, ever-digitizing world. The 77-year-old plays Charles-Haden Savage in the series "Only Murders in the Building,” a once-dashing lead in a popular, fictional crime drama called “Brazzos."

In speaking with the Awards Circuit podcast, Martin said the idea for the show "comes from worry. I think about actors who’ve had these hits, they’re on TV for eight years. And then they don’t really work that much again, because they’re maybe too identified with the part. And I’ve always been curious about that life.” Martin perhaps referenced his own experience of being strongly aligned with a particular role. His parts in "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles," as well as "Father of the Bride," and "The Jerk" made him both a household name as well as a somewhat typecast actor.

However, years in the business do eventually make even the most stereotyped actors savvy. Martin successfully navigated his comedic career, moving from standup to acting to even music over the course of the last few decades. The resulting know-how is channeled into "Only Murders in the Building." 

Martin touched on his own experience as an older man in Hollywood to help him inform the character. Now well into his 70s, the Hollywood veteran understands that characters of his age aren't always going to learn new tricks, and it's something he played up in his performance. He explained their set-in-their-ways demeanor, as he said: “I’m very happy with my character not growing." 

He continued: "They always say, ‘What’s the arc of the character? What does he learn?’ Once you get to 75, there’s not a lot left to learn, there’s only more mistakes. So I don’t worry about those things. (It’s about) being true to the character.”

While Martin himself is a seasoned actor, some of his co-stars are still making their name. Speaking of co-star Selena Gomez, who played neighbor Mabel Mora, Martin said, it was lovely “to watch that relationship develop on screen." Gomez, who is only 30 and decades younger than Martin, experienced some of the generational divides both in front of the camera as well as off-screen. Touching on their very organic dynamic, Martin said: "Their characters mirrored what was happening off stage too. I felt that was authentic to the plan for the story that we were telling, but also mirrored very sweetly, this sort of growing trust that was happening between the three of them. Now we’re aiming towards something that is just electric. And that was the thing you can’t ever predict.”

Despite Gomez's age, Martin found himself impressed with the young actress's burgeoning career. Having only met Gomez “over zoom,” Martin recalled a moment when he researched his co-star. Remembering that fateful Google search, he said: "I thought I’d better look up her credits, because I know she’s done a lot of things that I wouldn’t have seen. And I kept thinking of her as a beginner — but then I realized she’s done as many movies as I have!” 

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Martin was not only surprised at Gomez's prowess, but the success of their show together. He then added: “We’re proud to have a hit at this point in our lives. We’re proud that it’s good. And we love doing our live stage show too. We’re going to enjoy it while we can.” 

Martin was referencing the comedy tour he performed with his other "Only Murders in the Building" co-star Martin Short, "You Won’t Believe What They Look Like Today!" Recalling the very autobiographical and self-satirizing show, Martin said: “We were very happy just doing the live show. ... There may be a natural end to that — somebody gets sick, somebody just wears out — but I wouldn’t do it without Marty."

In addition to enjoying one last lap around the comedy circuit, Martin also seems to see "Only Murders" as his sort of swan song, a final achievement that perhaps signals the end of his sprawling career. While "Only Murders" was renewed for a third season in July 2022, Martin seems happy to allow his most recent achievement to come to a natural conclusion and not drag it out for dozens of seasons until it finally, fatally jumps the shark. 

About his future, the actor said: "When this television show is done, I’m not going to seek others ...This is, weirdly, it.” While this may be the last season we see Martin on screen, he will always be remembered as a comedic presence that made us laugh until we were in tears for years and years past.  

What's your favorite Steve Martin movie? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends and family!