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Selena Gomez Praises Martin Short as “Nothing Short of a Legend” at Marty, Life Is Short Premiere
At the LA premiere of Marty, Life Is Short, Selena Gomez called Martin Short "nothing short of a legend" and urged fans to watch the Netflix documentary.
Selena Gomez turned up the warmth on Wednesday night, publicly calling Martin Short “nothing short of a legend” at the Los Angeles premiere of the new Netflix documentary Marty, Life Is Short. The Lawrence Kasdan-directed film, which chronicles Short’s life and career, begins streaming on Netflix on Tuesday, May 12.
Gomez, 33, was among the A-list crowd who filled the theater on May 6, and she used an Instagram reel to spell out why Short, 76, matters to her — and to comedy. The post, a series of backstage and red-carpet snaps, also included moments with Steve Martin and other castmates from Only Murders in the Building.
“This man who doesn’t have social media is truly outstandingly witty, smart and has given the most wonderful attributes to our world of comedy,” Gomez wrote alongside a ticket stub from the premiere. “Some may not know much that follow me. But Martin Short is nothing short of a legend. His outlook on life is simply joyful. I cried, laughed and empathized his entire story Check it out on @netflix now please. Worth every minute. 🎬📽️🥲 -thank you Marty for your inspiring and tremendous heart that makes me forever happy.”
The reel, shared via Gomez's Instagram post, stitched together Tonight Show stills, on-set hugs, and a red-carpet moment where Gomez and Short locked hands and laughed. It felt less like a press circuit and more like a reminder of the cross-generational chemistry that helped Only Murders in the Building become a cultural touchstone.
Wednesday’s screening gathered friends and peers: Kate Hudson, Eugene Levy, Billy Crystal, director Lawrence Kasdan, Paul Shaffer, Netflix chief Ted Sarandos, Andrea Martin and Gomez’s husband, producer Benny Blanco, were all reported in attendance by Deadline.
The documentary features contributions from Levy, the late Catherine O’Hara, John Mulaney, Tom Hanks and, as the press notes put it, Martin’s longtime friend and stand-up touring partner, Martin. It aims to map the parts of Short that audiences think they know and the many they do not.
There was also a quieter, heavier note to the evening. Short’s sons, Oliver, 40, and Henry, 36, made their first public appearance with him since the tragic death by suicide of his daughter Katherine in February, according to People.
For fans of Gomez and Short alike, the premiere offered a rare, tender public snapshot of a friendship that began on set and grew into something plainly affectionate. It also served as a reminder that the actors’ rapport helped propel a show that was recently renewed for a sixth season; Only Murders in the Building was greenlit for Season 6 last October, with that season expected sometime this year.
Whether you come for the comedy history lesson or the smiles on the red carpet, Gomez’s endorsement makes one thing clear: for her, Martin Short is more than a co-star — he is a performed and lived joy worth celebrating.
