Martin Short's 'Only Murders in the Building' Emmy chances, by the numbers

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Set us as preferred A standout for decades in a breathtaking array of roles, comedy lead actor nominee Martin Short is the kind of all-around entertainer they don’t make anymore.But an Emmy for his most sustained great performance — as theater director, podcaster and dip connoisseur Oliver Putnam on “Only Murders in the Building” — has eluded him thus far.Short’s Emmy nominations have spanned comedy writing and acting, dramatic performances and hosting (including a 2026 nomination for ABC’s “Match Game”).His only wins have been for writing on “SCTV Network” (1983) and hosting the AFI tribute to Mel Brooks (2014).His gap between Emmys outstretched “Only Murders” wife and real-life frequent companion Meryl Streep’s 29 years between second (“Sophie’s Choice”) and third (“The Iron Lady”) Oscars.Short’s polishing of even so-so lines into comedy gold earned him nominations for every season of “Only Murders” so far.Twice he’s lost to laugh riot Jeremy Allen White (“The Bear”).But last year, for the series’ fourth season, Short beat White for the Actor Award, his biggest prize after the 1999 Tony he won for musical “Little Me.”Short broke through in the legendary Toronto staging of “Godspell,” subject of the forthcoming documentary “You Had to Be There.”Short already was profiled in the 2026 Netflix documentary “Marty, Life Is Short,” nominated for three Emmys in its own right.He has reached an age where a competitive Emmy can double as a lifetime achievement award.

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