Martin Short /

Martin Hayter Short, CM (born March 26, 1950) is a Canadian comedian, actor, writer, singer and producer. He is best known for his comedy work, particularly on the TV programs SCTV and Saturday Night Live. He has also starred in many popular comedic films such as Three Amigos, Innerspace, Pure Luck, Jungle 2 Jungle, Mars Attacks!, Father of the Bride, and Father of the Bride Part 2. Short, youngest of five children, was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, the son of Olive (née Hayter), a violinist, and Charles Patrick Short, a corporate executive with Stelco, a Canadian steel company. He had three older brothers, David, Michael, and Brian, and one older sister, Nora. Short's father was a Roman Catholic refugee from Crossmaglen, South Armagh, Northern Ireland, who came to North America as a stowaway during the Irish War of Independence. Short's mother, who was the concertmaster of the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra, encouraged Martin's early creative endeavours. His eldest brother, David, was killed in a car accident in 1962, when Short was 12. His mother died of cancer when he was 17; and, two years later in 1969, his father died of complications from a stroke.