Quick Answer: Martin Short’s height is 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm). The Canadian-American comedian and Only Murders in the Building star reportedly weighs around 150–160 pounds (68–73 kg). At 76, he stands about two inches below the average American man and roughly five inches shorter than co-star Steve Martin.
If you’ve watched Martin Short bounce around the screen as Oliver Putnam, Ed Grimley or Franck Eggelhoffer, you may have wondered how tall he really is. His huge energy makes him seem bigger than he is, while his scenes next to tall friends like Steve Martin make him look smaller. This guide covers Martin Short height in feet and centimeters, his reported weight, how he measures up against co-stars, and why some websites list numbers that are badly off.
Martin Short Height & Weight at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full name | Martin Hayter Short |
| Height (feet/inches) | 5 ft 7 in |
| Height (centimeters) | 170 cm |
| Height (meters) | 1.70 m |
| Weight (reported) | Around 150–160 lbs (68–73 kg) |
| Date of birth | March 26, 1950 |
| Age (2026) | 76 |
| Birthplace | Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
| Profession | Actor, comedian, writer, singer |
| Best known for | SCTV, Saturday Night Live, Three Amigos!, Father of the Bride, Only Murders in the Building |
How Tall Is Martin Short in Feet and CM?
Martin Short is 5 feet 7 inches tall, which equals 170 centimeters or 1.70 meters. That’s the figure most consistently tied to him across interviews, celebrity databases and side-by-side photos with co-stars of known height.
Quick Height Conversions
| Unit | Martin Short’s Height |
|---|---|
| Feet and inches | 5’7″ |
| Total inches | 67 in |
| Centimeters | 170 cm |
| Meters | 1.70 m |
| Millimeters | 1,700 mm |
The Reported Range
A few fan-run height sites place him a hair lower, around 5’6.5″ (169 cm), based on how he looks next to co-stars. Others round up to 1.71 m. Both are within normal measurement wiggle room and support the 5’7″ figure.
Why Some Websites Get Martin Short’s Height Wrong
Search results for this keyword are messy. You’ll find pages claiming Martin Short is 5’1″ (155 cm), and others saying he’s 6’2″ (188 cm). Neither is believable:
- At 5’1″, he would be shorter than Selena Gomez, which is clearly not the case on screen.
- At 6’2″, he would be taller than Steve Martin, and every photo of the pair shows the opposite.
These errors usually come from auto-generated pages that mix up names (his last name is literally “Short,” which confuses some content tools) or copy numbers without checking.
Other Reasons Celebrity Heights Vary
- Footwear: Dress shoes and boots add 1–1.5 inches on red carpets.
- Posture and camera angles: Directors often frame actors to balance height gaps.
- Age: Most adults lose a little height after 60 due to natural spinal changes. Short’s peak height in his 30s and 40s was likely a touch higher than today.
- Publicity rounding: Agents and press kits sometimes round up.
Martin Short Weight in 2026
Martin Short’s weight has never been officially published. Most estimates place him around 150–160 pounds (68–73 kg), which fits his slim, wiry build. Some sources list slightly higher numbers, close to 165 lbs (75 kg), but treat any single figure as an approximation.
| Estimate | Pounds | Kilograms |
|---|---|---|
| Lower estimate | 150 lbs | 68 kg |
| Middle estimate | 155 lbs | 70 kg |
| Upper estimate | 160–165 lbs | 73–75 kg |
His trim frame is a big part of his physical comedy. Characters like Ed Grimley depend on fast, twitchy, full-body movement, and Short has kept that light-on-his-feet style well into his 70s, including a demanding live touring schedule with Steve Martin.
Martin Short Height Compared to Co-Stars
One of the best ways to judge an actor’s height is by looking at the people he stands next to. Here’s how Martin Short measures up against well-known co-stars and friends (co-star heights are commonly reported figures).
| Name | Height (ft/in) | Height (cm) | Difference vs Martin Short | Shared Project |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Short | 5’7″ | 170 cm | — | — |
| Steve Martin | 6’0″ | 183 cm | ~5 in taller | Three Amigos!, Father of the Bride, Only Murders in the Building |
| Selena Gomez | 5’5″ | 165 cm | ~2 in shorter | Only Murders in the Building |
| Chevy Chase | 6’4″ | 193 cm | ~9 in taller | Three Amigos! |
| Meryl Streep | 5’6″ | 168 cm | ~1 in shorter | Only Murders in the Building |
| Diane Keaton | 5’7″ | 170 cm | About equal | Father of the Bride |
| Conan O’Brien | 6’4″ | 193 cm | ~9 in taller | Frequent talk-show guest |
| Maya Rudolph | 5’7″ | 170 cm | About equal | Maya & Marty |
Martin Short vs Steve Martin Height
This is the most searched comparison. Steve Martin stands about 6 feet tall, so he has roughly five inches on Short. Their height gap has become part of the comedy itself: Steve plays the dry, upright straight man, while Short darts around beside him. You can see the difference clearly in their Only Murders promo photos and on stage during their touring comedy show.
Martin Short vs Selena Gomez Height
Selena Gomez is about 5’5″ (165 cm), making Short around two inches taller. On screen, the three Only Murders leads form a stepped lineup: Steve Martin tallest, Martin Short in the middle, Selena Gomez shortest.
The Only Murders in the Building Cast Heights
| Character | Actor | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Charles-Haden Savage | Steve Martin | 6’0″ (183 cm) |
| Oliver Putnam | Martin Short | 5’7″ (170 cm) |
| Mabel Mora | Selena Gomez | 5’5″ (165 cm) |
Martin Short Height vs the Average American Man
The average adult man in the United States is about 5’9″ (175 cm), based on national health survey data. Martin Short is roughly two inches below that.
| Comparison | Height | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Short | 5’7″ (170 cm) | — |
| Average American man | 5’9″ (175 cm) | Short is ~2 in shorter |
| Average Canadian man | About 5’9″ (175 cm) | Short is ~2 in shorter |
| Average American woman | About 5’3.5″ (161 cm) | Short is ~3.5 in taller |
So while he isn’t tall, he isn’t unusually short either. He sits comfortably within the normal adult male range, just below the middle. The playful irony of his last name has made his height a fun talking point for fans for decades.
Does Height Matter in Martin Short’s Comedy?
Not in a limiting way. If anything, Short has used physical contrast as a comic tool. Many of his best-known characters are restless, high-energy oddballs who seem to take up the whole room. That’s a skill, not a measurement.
Height as Comic Contrast
- Three Amigos! (1986): Standing beside Chevy Chase and Steve Martin, the trio’s mismatched sizes added to the slapstick.
- Father of the Bride (1991): As wedding planner Franck, he flutters around a much taller Steve Martin, which makes their scenes even funnier.
- Only Murders in the Building: Oliver Putnam’s theatrical gestures and big personality fill the frame next to his taller co-star.
Stage Presence on Broadway
On stage, height matters even less. Short won a Tony Award for the musical Little Me and later starred in his own Broadway show, Fame Becomes Me. Theater audiences notice voice, timing and energy far more than inches.
Short Bio & Career Highlights
Martin Short was born on March 26, 1950, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He studied social work at McMaster University before switching to performing. His big break came with a 1972 Toronto production of Godspell, whose cast included several future comedy stars.
Career Timeline
| Year(s) | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1972 | Toronto production of Godspell |
| 1982–1983 | SCTV — wins an Emmy for writing |
| 1984–1985 | Saturday Night Live — creates Ed Grimley |
| 1986 | Three Amigos! with Steve Martin and Chevy Chase |
| 1987 | Innerspace |
| 1991 | Father of the Bride as Franck |
| 1996 | Mars Attacks! |
| 1999 | Tony Award for Little Me |
| 2001–2003 | Primetime Glick talk-show parody |
| 2006 | Broadway show Fame Becomes Me |
| 2015–present | Touring comedy show with Steve Martin |
| 2021–present | Only Murders in the Building on Hulu |
The show’s sixth season moves the mystery-solving trio to London, with Olivia Colman joining the cast, keeping Short busy well into his late 70s.
Martin Short Body Measurements & Physical Stats
Only a few of Short’s physical details are well documented. Here’s what can be stated reliably:
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Height | 5’7″ (170 cm) |
| Weight | Reportedly 150–160 lbs (68–73 kg) |
| Build | Slim / lean |
| Hair color | Dark brown, now grey |
| Shoe size | Not publicly confirmed |
| Chest, waist, biceps | Not publicly confirmed |
Be wary of pages that list exact chest, waist or shoe sizes for him. Those numbers have never been confirmed by Short or his team, so we don’t include them here.
FAQs
How tall is Martin Short?
Martin Short is 5 feet 7 inches tall, which is 170 centimeters or 1.70 meters.
What is Martin Short’s height in cm?
His height in centimeters is about 170 cm. Some estimates put him at 169–171 cm, all of which match the 5’7″ figure.
Is Martin Short shorter than Steve Martin?
Yes. Steve Martin is about 6’0″ (183 cm), so he stands roughly five inches taller than Martin Short. Their height difference is easy to spot in Only Murders in the Building and their live shows.
How much does Martin Short weigh?
His weight isn’t officially published, but he reportedly weighs around 150–160 pounds (68–73 kg), in line with his slim build.
Is Martin Short really 5’1″ or 6’2″?
No. Both numbers are errors found on low-quality pages. Photos with co-stars of known height clearly show he’s about 5’7″.
How old is Martin Short in 2026?
Martin Short was born on March 26, 1950, so he turned 76 in 2026.
Final Thoughts
Martin Short height comes in at a reliable 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm), with a reported weight of around 150–160 pounds (68–73 kg). He’s a couple of inches below the average American man and about five inches shorter than his longtime partner Steve Martin. But as five decades of sketch comedy, films, Broadway and Only Murders in the Building show, his talent has always been the biggest thing about him.
