Steve Martin Forced To Cancel Shows With Martin Short After Recent Diagnosis

Comedy legend Steve Martin has tested positive for COVID-19, forcing him to cancel two highly anticipated shows with longtime collaborator Martin Short on their “Dukes of Funnytown!” tour. The 80-year-old actor and comedian confirmed the news Friday, sharing that both the Virginia Beach and Richmond performances would not go on as planned. Martin, who also stars in Hulu’s hit “Only Murders in the Building,” posted a photo of his positive test on social media along with an emotional message to fans.

Martin explained that Friday night’s show at The Dome in Virginia Beach and Saturday’s stop at Richmond’s Allianz Amphitheater at the Riverfront had to be canceled.

Posting a photo of his positive test, Martin wrote, “Dear Virginia Beach and Richmond. Sadly, I have come down with Covid. I can’t possibly do the show that you deserve. So Marty and I must cancel tonight & tomorrow. But we will return under better circumstances.”

Later, he lightened the mood by editing the caption to simply read, “Hey! No flu!”

After Martin shared his positive COVID test and canceled shows, the comments section of his Instagram quickly became a mix of heartfelt support and lighthearted banter. Fellow stars like Brad Garrett and Rita Wilson dropped in to wish him a speedy recovery, while Josh Gad cheekily advised, “Paxlovid!!”

Others, however, ran with Martin’s edit of his caption, sparking a wave of pregnancy jokes. “But you’re pregnant. Mazel Tov,” one user teased, while another quipped, “Who’s the father? I’m so happy for you!” and “Congratulations, boy or girl?” The running gag spiraled further with comments like, “PLEASE don’t tell me that Martin is the father.”

Not all remarks were jokes, though. Some followers opened up about their own recent COVID struggles, with one sharing how they lost their sense of taste and smell for months. Another praised Martin for reminding fans that “Covid is still active as well as the flu,” while sending well wishes.

This isn’t the first COVID interruption for the duo. In February, Martin also tested positive shortly after attending the “Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special,” which led to two more canceled shows.

At the time, Martin turned the setback into a punchline, “Maya had Covid. Marty has Covid. I wonder why? The ‘SNL 50th’ Covid curse is real,” he joked, referencing a kiss with Maya Rudolphat the special.

The 50th anniversary celebration itself proved to be a massive success, averaging 14.8 million viewers across NBC and Peacock, marking the network’s biggest primetime audience in five years.

Despite the setbacks, Martin and Short continue to shine as one of comedy’s most iconic duos. Alongside Selena Gomez, they co-star in Hulu’s hit series “Only Murders in the Building,” which has already been renewed for a fifth season.

The upcoming 10-episode season takes the beloved trio to Hollywood, where their true-crime podcast is being adapted into a movie. New faces include Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, Zach Galifianakis, Melissa McCarthy, Molly Shannon, Richard Kind, and Kumail Nanjiani, while Meryl Streep returns to her role from last season. And of course, as always, there’s another murder to solve.

“I’m very happy to have Eugene Levy play my part,” Martin previously said of the actor joining the show. “We worked together many times, including for the film ‘The Father of the Bride’ and ‘Thirteen by the Dozen 2.’ I’ve known him for a long time. He’s as funny on screen as he is in real life. He’s just a great guy to be around.”

After four seasons of “Only Murders in the Building,” the cast says their bond goes beyond the scripted comedy. Selena Gomez shared how being with her co-stars provides a sense of ease. “I just enjoy their company,” she said. “Even when I’m just sitting on set waiting for something to happen and they’re playing a game, there’s a comfort in that, and I feel very protected and safe around them.”

Steve Martin, never missing the chance for a punchline, said, “In any group, when there are three actors, usually there’s one who’s a little crazy, and when that person leaves the room, the other two say, ‘What was that?’ But that just doesn’t happen here. We are just people.”

To which Martin Short quickly quipped, “It’s because you’re not in the room when we say it…” prompting Martin to admit with a smile, “It’s true that I often leave the rooms… In short, the three of us are also crazy.”