Steve Martin

A newly released two-part documentary, “Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces,” on Apple TV+ details aspects of American comedian and actor Steve Martin’s past for the first time. In the first part, the 78-year old recalled the time he met Elvis Presley, which left a lasting impression on him. The “Cheaper by the Dozen” actor said that in the 1970s, actress and singer Ann-Margret had a lavish dressing room that was a hub for other artists to meet and hang out during breaks and when the shows were over. One day, Presley paid her a visit while Martin was there. “I see Elvis coming back to visit Ann-Margret. And he was all in white, and he had the big belt,” narrates Martin in the documentary. “Goes past my dressing room, and he says, ‘Son, you have an oblique sense of humor.’”

In the second part of the documentary, Martin opens up about his relationship with his father, Glenn Martin, and how he would heavily criticize him throughout his career. “I always thought my father was a little embarrassed by me,” he said. “He couldn’t quite be proud of an unconventional showbiz act that he didn’t quite understand.” However, he learned to use his father’s criticism to motivate himself rather than take it to heart and slump. “By that time, I had been so sort of alienated by my father that negative comments were actually my encouragement,” he said.

Later in life, a friend of Martin’s advised him to tell his parents everything he wanted to say to them before they died.

Following the advice, Martin learned that his father was tremendously stressed to provide for his family. “You realize what he went through — it’s a life of hopes and dreams,” he said. “I have great sympathy for my father.”

The “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” actor shared that he has since changed his opinion about his father.

“I like him. He had a really good sense of humor. Yeah. I kind of wish I could talk to him again,” Martin said of his father, who died in 1997.

Martin had performed much of his life, beginning at age 10, when he had a job selling newspapers at Disneyland, and later working in the park’s magic shop. From there, he began to form his own act and slowly gained attention, but he remained uncertain of his future.

“My whole life is backwards. How did I go from riddled with anxiety in my 30s, to 75 and really happy? How did this happen?”