Steve Martin: A life in photos – ABC News

Before he was “The Jerk” or “Father of the Bride,” Steve Martin wrote and performed stand-up comedy for his acts and various TV shows. His erratic, offbeat comedy made him a beloved household name.

Steve Martin in his eighth grade Lampson Intermediate School portrait in Garden Grove, Calif., circa 1959.

After leaving college to pursue a career in entertainment, Steve Martin performed stand-up comedy at local comedy clubs and made several appearances on “The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson,” eventually filling in for Carson as guest host.

Steve Martin performs in character on an episode of the TV variety series, “The Ken Berry Wow Show,” July, 15, 1972.

Martin started his career writing for TV variety shows like “The Ken Berry Wow Show,” “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” and “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” for which he won his first Emmy award.

Comedians Dan Aykroyd and Steve Martin pose as their “two wild and crazy guys” characters, a sketch from the television show “Saturday Night Live.”

Martin is second to Alec Baldwin for most guest host appearances on the show.

Steve Martin, as Dr. Maxwell Edison, in a scene from “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”

While Martin played a deranged plastic surgeon, the film featured many of the music industry’s top names like The Bee Gees and Aerosmith, as well as music from the Beatles.

Steve Martin, as Navin, in a scene from “The Jerk.”

The film, which Martin co-wrote, follows his title character as he struggles to make his way through life.

Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters attend a performance of “42nd Street” on Broadway in New York City, Sept. 30, 1980.

After working on two movies together, the pair developed a brief romantic relationship.

Martin Short, left, Steve Martin and Chevy Chase in a scene from “Three Amigos!”

The comedy follows three unemployed actors who travel to Mexico and get mistaken for heroes of a local village that is terrorized by a group of bandits.

Steve Martin and John Candy in a scene from “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.”

Martin plays an uptight marketing executive who befriends an upbeat salesman (John Candy) while trying to get home to his family in time for Thanksgiving.

Steve Martin plays C.D. Bales, an intelligent, charismatic fire chief of a small ski town, who gets tangled up in a love triangle between new-to-town Roxanne, played by Daryl Hannah, and her love interest Chris, played by Rick Rossovich, in the film “Roxanne.”

Steve Martin, front, as Freddy Benson, and Michael Caine, as Lawrence Jamieson, in a scene from “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.”

Taking place on the French Riviera, the film follows the pair of cads as they try to swindle an American heiress out of her money.

Victoria Tennant and husband Steve Martin attend the “Cross Your Heart” premiere, Nov. 9, 1987, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Martin and Tennant were married for eight years before divorcing and had no children together.

Steve Martin, dressed as a rodeo clown, plays Gil Buckman, a neurotic father who, after finding out his children have emotional issues and need therapy, blames himself and questions his parenting in a scene from the film “Parenthood.”

Eddie Murphy, left, as Kit Ramsey, and Steve Martin, as Bowfinger, in a scene from the film “Bowfinger.”

Martin wrote the satirical comedy that follows a lowly filmmaker trying to produce a small budget film.

Aside from writing screenplays for films and his stand-up comedy, Martin has numerous books and novels published and was a brief contributor to The New Yorker in the 90s.

Steve Martin promotes his new book, “The Pleasure of My Company,” at Borders Books and Music, Oct. 9, 2003, in Westwood, Calif.

Steve Martin, right, as Tom Baker, the father of 12 children, in a scene from “Cheaper by the Dozen.”

Martin would reprise his role in the subsequent follow-up, “Cheaper by the Dozen 2.”

Honoree Steve Martin arrives at the 30th annual Kennedy Center Honors, Dec. 2, 2007, in Washington, D.C.

Martin received the honor for his contributions to American culture alongside Martin Scorsese, Diana Ross and Brian Wilson.

29. Steve Martin accepts an honorary Academy Award onstage during the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Governors Awards, Nov. 16, 2013, in Hollywood, Calif.

Martin has never been nominated for an Oscar but was given an honorary one for his work in the industry.