A Unique Emmy Season

Martin Short is having an unusually busy awards season. The actor is nominated for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series for Hulu's "Only Murders in the Building," as well as for outstanding game show host for ABC's "Match Game." In addition, he is the subject of director Lawrence Kasdan's Netflix documentary "Marty, Life Is Short," which received three nominations of its own.

Short is not part of the production team on the documentary, so he would not personally receive an Emmy if it wins in the outstanding documentary or nonfiction special category. But he gave the film and Kasdan his full support.

According to Variety, which interviewed Short, Kasdan initially pitched the project after calling Short and saying that he and Ron Howard and Imagine would love to make a documentary about him. Short was hesitant at first—"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'"—but Kasdan left an eight-minute message explaining why Short's story, which centers on celebrating life and using humor to work through grief, was important to share.

Short had plenty of material to offer. He has known Kasdan for 40 years and has always documented his family life. "Through all these years, I've always had a camcorder," he said. "With all my kids, I would just film. And I'd have them transferred to DVD. Because of my relationship and trust with him, I was able to take these shelves of movies and just say, 'here you go.'"

Steven Spielberg also contributed, sending over home movies he had made with Short in them. "So Larry had a great little treasure trove of stuff," Short said.

The documentary faces competition in its category from another tribute to a beloved comedian, "John Candy: I Like Me."

A Personal Decision

The documentary's release took on added weight following a family tragedy. Short's daughter Katherine died in February at age 42. After her death, Kasdan told Short that Netflix could delay the film's release if he preferred. But Short chose to proceed with the planned May premiere.

Recounting the conversation to Variety, Short said: "We met at his home a few weeks after, and he said, 'Netflix will do whatever you want and I will do whatever you want.' And I thought, this really could be called 'Love, Loss and Survival.' As I've said in the past, my daughter had mental health struggles. And it's a disease."

He continued: "Some diseases are terminal, whether they're cancer or mental health. And so, I said, 'I think we should proceed.' And he said, 'I think we should too.'"

Short's wife Nancy died in 2010 after a battle with ovarian cancer—a loss that is part of the personal history the documentary explores.

Since the film premiered, Short said he has heard from many viewers who told him they appreciated watching how he navigated the losses he has experienced. The film, as reported by The Canberra Times and PerthNow, was made in part to shine a spotlight on his daughter's struggles with mental health, which he describes as a terminal disease.

Short's personal history with home video dates back to 1981, when he got a VHS machine and later traded it for Betamax after realizing John Candy had one—a detail that underscores the collection of memories he handed over to Kasdan.

Looking Ahead

Short's Emmy recognition has prompted a characteristically lighthearted response. "I am Mr. Emmy this year!" he told Variety, adding that it is "a tremendous honour to be recognised by your peers."

Beyond the awards, Short offered some hints about what's next. He said there are no future seasons in the works for "Match Game," though he "never says never." The next season of "Only Murders in the Building" will move to London and feature a new batch of A-list guest stars, according to the Variety interview.

For now, though, the focus is on an Emmy season that spans acting, hosting, and being the subject of a documentary—each project offering a different facet of a career that has balanced comedy and resilience.