Martin Short not only holds icon status, but also has a way to connect with every generation. And that’s evident with his role as Oliver Putnam, a lovable, whimsical and high-energy Broadway director, in Only Murders in the Building (currently filming its fifth season). While playing Oliver is second nature to him, he still finds ways to add new, quirky elements to his character’s personality. “Sometimes I’ll do a weird laugh and that becomes the new thing that you put in, or I had a cousin who always would finish sentences saying, ‘That’s true, yup,’ so I think, maybe I’ll have him do that,” he tells The Hollywood Reporter.
Short stars alongside Selena Gomez (Mabel Mora) and his longtime pal Steve Martin (Charles-Haden Savage) in the Hulu show, which follows the trio as they investigate murders in their New York City apartment building while documenting the investigations on their podcast. Season four centers on Jane Lynch’s character Sazz’s death but also features a stacked guest star roster, including Meryl Streep, Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, Zach Galifianakis and Melissa McCarthy. As for who Short would love to see make a cameo in the future, he says, “Wouldn’t it be nice to see Ryan Reynolds on Only Murders? I’m a fan of a lot of people. How cool to have Bill Murray on? Kristen Wiig? Now we’re talking.”
Most details surrounding season five are being kept under wraps, and Short proved to be a tough nut to crack, not letting a single secret slip. “You even give a hint, you get in trouble,” he quips. “Someone screams at you.” Some fans may be wondering whether Oliver could be headed to New Zealand, as that’s where his new wife, Loretta (Streep), was going to film her TV series at the end of season four. But Short happily confirmed he’ll be staying in NYC to solve murders with the rest of the gang in the forthcoming season. Either way, he hopes fans are happy with the fifth installment. “I would hate to see them pleasantly depressed, you know, pleasantly angry,” he jokes. “No, I’ve seen four rough cuts [of season five] and they’re very strong.”
Viewers may also ponder, understandably, how many murders can happen in one building before all the residents move out, but because the seasons are “so drastically different from the other,” Short says he’s “never worried about so-called traps,” noting the show’s writers will “create a way around them.” That’s also why he can’t pick his favorite season. “They’ve all been golden to me,” he explains.
While each season may bring something new, Short says there’s one thing that’s stayed consistent since day one. “Whether it’s film or television or anything you do, you can’t control the outcome, you don’t know if the movie’s going to be great or good or bad. But what you can protect is the experience,” he notes. “The set of Only Murders, I’m very proud to say that it’s one of the happiest sets in show business and everyone who gets on it says the same thing.”
It’s also safe to assume guest stars aren’t the only ones happy with the show, as it’s one of Hulu’s most popular comedy series. Plus, Short has been nominated for the best actor in a comedy series Emmy for every past season — but hasn’t won — and each nod is just as exciting as the first for him. “I don’t think you ever become blasé with getting nominated for an Emmy,” says Short, who has two Emmys, albeit not for acting. “It’s always exciting and you’re always delighted. It’s a good day when you get the nomination. You have a nice dinner that night.”
Steve Martin (left) and Martin Short are longtime real-life friends but also star alongside each other in Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building.
Patrick Harbron/Disney
But if Short (who enjoys the friendly competition with Martin, who also keeps getting nominated in the same category for his Only Murders role) were to finally take home an Emmy statuette for the show after missing out for the past three years, let’s hope he doesn’t catch COVID before the ceremony. This is what happened with the 2025 SAG Awards, when he won his first SAG Award for best actor in a comedy series. “I was the only one not there out of the nominees … dreadful,” he says. Despite not being able to accept the honor in person, he says the win was still a “delightful experience,” especially “if you’re recognized by the people you work with, your peers and fellow actors. That’s probably the highest compliment you can get.”
Award or no award, Short has definitely won the hearts of many with memorable characters (who can forget Clifford Daniels, Ed Grimley, Jack Frost and Jiminy Glick?) and iconic comedic moments throughout his career. And ideally Oliver Putnam continues to grace screens for many seasons to come, but once Only Murders does come to a close, he promises to keep “the exit as hip as the entrance.”
As for Short himself, there’s no need to fret because he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. “I’m not a believer in retirement just based on a number,” he says. “It’s designed for people who don’t really like their job and then they want to relax or they’re tired or they just want to do something else. But I like my job.”
This story appeared in the June 4 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.
