I Must Say

“Short’s endearing memoir is, of course, funny, but it’s also a rare thing: the tale of a genuine human being who’s thrived on planet Hollywood.” — Washington Post

In this engagingly witty, wise, and heartfelt celebrity memoir, Martin Short tells the tale of how a showbiz-obsessed kid from Canada transformed himself into one of Hollywood's favorite funnymen, known to his famous peers as the "comedian's comedian."

Short takes the reader on a rich, hilarious, and occasionally heartbreaking ride through his life and times, from his early years in Toronto as a member of the fabled improvisational troupe Second City to the all-American comic big time of Saturday Night Live, and from memorable roles in such movies as ¡Three Amigos! and Father of the Bride to Broadway stardom in Fame Becomes Me and the Tony-winning Little Me.

He reveals how he created his most indelible comedic characters, among them the manic man-child Ed Grimley, the slimy corporate lawyer Nathan Thurm, and the bizarrely insensitive interviewer Jiminy Glick. Throughout, this beloved SCTV alum freely shares the spotlight with friends, colleagues, and collaborators, among them Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, Gilda Radner, Mel Brooks, Nora Ephron, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Paul Shaffer, and David Letterman.

But there is another side to Short's life that he has long kept private. He lost his eldest brother and both parents by the time he turned twenty, and, more recently, he lost his wife of thirty years to cancer. In I Must Say, Short talks for the first time about the pain that these losses inflicted and the upbeat life philosophy that has kept him resilient and carried him through.

In the grand tradition of comedy legends, Martin Short offers a funny, heartfelt show-business memoir densely populated with boldface names and rife with retellable tales: a hugely entertaining yet surprisingly moving self-portrait of love and loss that will keep you laughing—and crying—from the first page to the last.

How does a man who experienced so much loss become one of the world’s most beloved comedians?
A Heartbreaking Story of Resilience: For the first time, Short opens up about the unimaginable tragedies of losing his parents and brother by age twenty, and the devastating loss of his wife of thirty years, Nancy.Saturday Night Live and SCTV: Go behind the scenes for the real story of his iconic characters Ed Grimley and Nathan Thurm, and the relentless pressure of performing on the world’s most famous stages.Friendships with Comedy Legends: Read unforgettable stories of his enduring friendships with collaborators and comedy royalty like Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, and Gilda Radner.An Unbreakable Spirit: Discover the surprisingly upbeat life philosophy—including his personal "Nine Categories" system—that helped him navigate unimaginable grief and the chaotic world of show business with grace and humor.