“I realized that comedians of the day were operating on jokes and punch lines. The moment you say the punch line, the audience either laughs sincerely or they laugh automatically or they don't laugh. The thing that bothered me was that automatic laugh. I said, that's not real laughter.”

American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and musician

Steve Martin is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and musician. He is known for his work in comedy films, television, and recording, and he has been a major figure in American comedy across several decades. His honors include five Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He was also nominated for eight Golden Globe Awards and two Tony Awards, and received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2005, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2007, an Honorary Academy Award in 2013, and an AFI Life Achievement Award in 2015. In 2004, Comedy Central ranked him sixth on its list of the 100 greatest stand-up comics.