Will Steve Martin quit his career in the limelight completely? That is the question fans are left to wonder after a very unexpected comedy performance in New York that made the audience not only laugh but also speculate.
Last week Steve Martin, 79, with no prior announcement, appeared at NYC’s Comedy Cellar accompanied by his long-time partner in crime, Martin Short.
But it wasn’t just another comedy night. Word on the street is that the off-the-cuff acting was for SNL’s 50th anniversary special and that it could be one of Martin’s last on-stage appearances.
A Surprise Night in New York
This unplanned gesticulation occurred on the 19th of July, 2025. It was in front of a live audience that Martin and Short decided to present the stage for new material as a trial.
Comedy greats like John Mulaney, Ray Romano, and Chris Rock were also there to support them.
The place was at capacity. No one was allowed to use their phones. What was happening on the stage was very spontaneous and funny, according to the insiders.
Audience members describe the atmosphere as both festive and touching.
One audience member posted on Twitter: “It seemed like a goodbye. Steve was very composed and still charismatic. It was obvious that it was something significant.”
Why the Rumors Started
Once the gig was over, rumors started to flow: Could it be the last time for Steve Martin to perform live?
Those who are close to the project say Martin was really keen on being part of the SNL 50th celebration, but in a more intimate way.
He was not for a large arena or a big tour. He would prefer to do it in a small venue with just a few old friends, the way it used to be in the ’70s.
Such a choice made people wonder if this wasn’t a way for him to slowly close the curtains on his career while still remaining in control and doing it his way.
Clues From ‘Only Murders in the Building’
Martin recently wrapped up season 5 filming of Only Murders in the Building, the hit Hulu show he co-stars in with Martin Short and Selena Gomez.
The new season is set to premiere on September 9, 2025.
He also stated in an interview conducted in June 2023 that he would not be doing any more film or TV projects except for Only Murders. He also said, “Once this is done, I am done.”
But now, it surely seems like Martin is holding true to his word.
A Career Built on Laughs and Surprises
Steve Martin has been active in the entertainment industry for more than 50 years.
He commenced his career by performing stand-up comedy but later became a TV regular on the famous show SNL.
After that, he took the film world by storm with his part in many classic movies such as:
- The Jerk
- Father of the Bride
- Planes, Trains and Automobiles
He has also written novels, played banjo on albums which won Grammy awards, and co-created Only Murders, which garnered both critical and commercial acclaim.
Fans Don’t Want to Say Goodbye
In the virtual world, fans express mixed feelings: while some are hopeful that the retirement wish is not genuine and he will continue working, others are ready to support his decision and respect his wish.
Within only 24 hours, a Reddit thread entitled “Steve Martin’s Last Show?” amassed thousands of upvotes. A commenter there wrote: “If he wants to do it, he surely deserves to exit quietly. Great he made us laugh for a long time.”
Martin and Short’s Final Tour?
One more point that goes in favor of the speculation is the Dukes of Funnytown Tour, the event that Martin and Short will be performing from August till December 2025.
The last performance is planned for December 5 in Connecticut.
Their last tour together could be as close as the next Patrick. No official were only four years, and no real info about what Steve plans from 2025 onward has been given by him and his crew.
It appears that the silence has a greater impact than words.
What Tina Fey Revealed
Tina Fey, Comedienne, added a new dimension to the discussion. She said in a recent podcast that at least once Steve Martin told her: “On no account should you leave the stage alive.”
According to her, at that time, she was haunted—though it was the very thing which turned out to be her work ethic’s corner.
It’s a point of departure of how much Martin had his eye on the prize. Next time, he was going to spark the surprise.
But the reason for that unexpected NYC show might have been his goodbye play—with no advance announcement, only sublime timing.
At the moment, Martin is all about the fifth season of Only Murders in the Building (O.M). On top of that, he’s dedicated to the Dukes of Funnytown tour with Martin Short.
We still don’t know whether he will go on to create more works.
Nevertheless, if Steve Martin is gearing up to become a thing of the past and still has a stage exit in mind, that is undoubtedly the manner in which he will do it—softly, elegantly, and when he wants.
