Martin Short Says He's 'Mr. Emmy This Year' Ahead of the Awards Show

Martin Short picked up three personal Emmy nominations this year across two projects, and a third project, in which he's the subject, is also in the running.

It’s a busy season for Martin Short, who’s celebrating not just one, but three Emmy nominations. Short, who’s connected to three Emmy-nominated projects this year, has been nominated under three different categories.

Martin Short during the Los Angeles premiere of "Marty, Life is Short" on May 6, 2026 | Source: Getty Images

First, he's competing for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in Hulu's "Only Murders in the Building." The show, which he also executive produces, also earned a nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series. As the host of ABC’s “Match Game,” Short is also nominated for Outstanding Host for a Game Show.

On what he thinks of the triple nomination, Short told Variety in August, “Let’s do the cliché, it’s a tremendous honor to be recognized by your peers,” adding, “I am Mr. Emmy this year!”

Martin Short during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 15, 2024 in Los Angeles | Source: Getty Images

While Short is getting quite an Emmy run this year, this is far from his first time to be recognized by the award-giving body. He won his first Emmy in 1983 for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program for his work on Canada's "SCTV Comedy Network.”

In 2014, the show “AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Mel Brooks,” which he hosted, also won Outstanding Variety Special. Short has also picked up dozens of nominations along the way, including for "Primetime Glick" and "Damages."

Another highlight for Short in this year’s Emmy nominations is the inclusion of the Netflix documentary “Marty, Life is Short,” which earned three, including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special.

Martin Short during the premiere of "Marty, Life is Short" on May 6, 2026 | Source: Getty Images

Short didn’t produce the documentary, so he won't personally win an Emmy if it does, but he was supportive of the project due to his decades-long friendship with its director, Lawrence Kasdan.

"He phoned and said that he and Ron Howard and Imagine would love to do this documentary on me, and I kind of went, 'I don't know, I've written a book, I'm Canadian, we're a little more reserved, let me think about it,'" Short recalled to Variety. But after Kasdan sent him an eight-minute voicemail explaining why he felt Short's story was worth telling, the actor eventually gave the green light.

Kasdan had a lot of material to work with. "Through all these years, I've always had a camcorder," Short said. "With all my kids, I would just film. And I'd have them transferred to DVD." Short trusted Kasdan enough to hand over his old home movies. Steven Spielberg also contributed footage he’d filmed with Short over the years.

The documentary was released following the death of Short's daughter, Katherine, in February. Though Kasdan offered to delay, Short chose not to. "I think this really could be called 'Love, Loss and Survival,'" he said. "My daughter had mental health struggles. And it's a disease. Some diseases are terminal, whether they're cancer or mental health. And so, I said, 'I think we should proceed.'"

Martin Short and his daughter, Katherine Elizabeth Short, attending the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 27, 2011 | Source: Getty Images

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Since the documentary's global premiere in May, Short says he's heard from many people about how the film helped them process their own experiences with loss.

Incidentally, another documentary, in which Short appears, is also competing alongside “Marty, Life is Short” for the same category. Amazon's "John Candy: I Like Me," about Short’s late friend and "SCTV" co-star, is also nominated for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, among others.