Despite hosting the Academy Awards on three separate occasions, Hollywood veteran Steve Martin recently shared that he would not steer the Oscars again, citing insufficient compensation as a reason for his decision.
“The Golden Globes pay, so they get Tina Fey and Amy [Poehler]. And Ricky Gervais. The Oscars should pay,” he continued. “When you consider the amount of work, it’s at least several months of mental churning.”
In addition to his claims that he did not receive payment, Martin said he had to prepare for his hosting engagements months in advance. “And now I have a completely different life,” he shared. “I’m not as free. It’s a lot of work.”
He added with a laugh that the awards organisers have also not asked him to host the event again.
The Emmy Award-winning actor hosted the annual telecast for the first time in March 2001, helming the stage of the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium at the 73rd Academy Awards ceremony.
Martin resumed his hosting duties at the 75th Academy Awards, held at the Dolby Theatre (then called the Kodak Theatre) in Hollywood on March 23, 2003—just three days after the United States invaded Iraq.
During his opening monologue, the actor took a humorous jab at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences—the organization responsible for the Oscars—for proceeding with the ceremony amidst the divisive war.
In 2010, Martin made his return to the Oscars to co-host the film industry’s esteemed awards ceremony alongside actor Alec Baldwin. The occasion was notable because it marked the first time multiple stars had hosted the Oscars since 1987, when Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn, and Paul Hogan took on the hosting responsibilities together.
Speaking with the Los Angeles Times, Martin recalled being nervous during his first two hosting gigs. “But I overcame it because I’m a professional,” he offered. “And then the third time, I hosted with Alec Baldwin and I was not nervous at all. Looking back, I realized, ‘Oh, I had someone else out there with me.’”
Honorary Oscar
Martin began his decades-long career in Hollywood in the late ‘60s, writing and performing for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.” His work on the variety show garnered him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy, Variety or Music in 1969.The comic actor went on to write the screenplays for some of his most memorable films, including “The Absent-Minded Waiter” (1977), “The Jerk” (1979), “Three Amigos!” (1986), “Roxanne” (1987), “L.A. Story” (1991), “Bowfinger” (1999), and “Shopgirl” (2005), among others.
In 2014, Martin was recognized for his work in the entertainment industry, receiving an Academy Honorary Award for his “extraordinary talents and the unique inspiration he has brought to the art of motion picture,” according to the Academy.
“To get an award for something that you realize has seeped into your bones and to understand tonight that the work over the decades has at least meant something to someone is especially satisfying,” he continued.
“But working in the movies has also brought something, an amazing gift, that has accumulated through these decades of filmmaking that cannot be matched, something wonderful and magical and its impact on my life is profound: Friends—fascinating, funny, and lifelong.”
The actor is now set to appear in the fourth season of Hulu’s hit show “Only Murders in the Building,” which premieres on Aug. 27.
The comedic murder-mystery series stars Martin’s longtime friend, actor Martin Short, and singer Selena Gomez. The show has amassed 21 nominations ahead of the 2024 Emmy Awards, set to air on Sept. 15, including Best Outstanding Comedy. Both Martin and Short are also nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
