Here we take a look at his 10 best films and discuss what’s great about each.

1. The Jerk (1979) – Steve Martin stars in Carl Reiner’s 1979 Comedy The Jerk – Martin plays a simpleton from the American Deep South who stumbles through life only to become rich and lose it again. Watch out for the great dead-pan perfomance by Jackie Mason playing a Garage owner. If you like slightly zany and off the wall then you’ll love this movie.
2. The Man with Two Brains – Steve Martin wrote the screenplay and acts as a brain surgeon with a revolutionary “Screw top” method of operating on people, who falls in love, and marries, Kathleen Turner. Extremely zany fun and wildly over the top, this is Martin at his most brilliant and his most bizarre. If you love The Jerk then you’d likely to love this film too, if you hated the Jerk then avoid this movie! Watch out for the cats and the little girl who calls for an ambulance.
3. All of Me – Carl Reiner directs Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin in a comedy all about magic and minds being transported between bodies. Funny yet touching and with characters that you can care about, All of Me is a favourite of Steve Martin fans worldwide. Watch out for the dog re-appearing from other films and the blind Jazz musician.
4. LA Story – Steve Martin plays a “wacky” weatherman from an LA TV station caught up in a magical occurrance within Los Angeles. Funny and loveable, this became the prototype for his later more family orientated movies. Watch out for Sarah Jessica Parker in a film role years before she was a hit in Sex and the City.
5. Roxanne – Steve Martin wrote and starred in his adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac. Martin plays a fire chief in a small town with a large nose, who becomes entranced and falls in love with a beauty who moves into the town (Darryl Hannah).
6. Little Shop of Horrors – although Steve Martin only has a side part he steals the show as the cruel tyrant Dentist in the Movie version of the hit Broadway Musical.
7. Trains, Planes and Automobiles – John Candy and Steve Martin star as two travellers desperately trying to get home for Thanksgiving by any route possible. Watch out for the scene where Candy and Martin share a bed – comedy genius!
8. Three Amigos – Chevy Chase, Martin Short and Steve Martin play the “Three Amigos” – stars of Hollywood silent films who are forced by circumstances to become real heroes. Watch out for Martin Short’s performance and compare it with his role in a later Steve Martin film Father of the Bride as the Wedding Arranger.
9. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – Michael Caine and Steve Martin act as two conmen who cross each other’s path and fall in love with the same woman. Simple idea but brilliantly executed as Caine – the man with class and distinction, Martin – the low brow conman with no style or class. Watch out for Steve Martin’s portrayal of a half-witted brother as part of an elaborate con.
10. Bowfinger. Steve Martin returned to his comedy roots to pen and star in this tale of a B-movie producer/director trying to muscle in on Hollywood mainstream. Bowfinger pitches Eddie Murphy as a Hollywood star (and scientologist-esque religion member) coerced into the film through a series of incidents he’s not aware of. Well written and acted this parodies the inside of Hollywood A and B movie acting and producing. Watch out for Eddie Murphy’s (relatively restrained) performance as two brothers, and the re-appearance of a dog much like some of his early films…

• The Clancy Brothers
• The Chieftains
• Christy Moore
• The Pogues
• Sharon Shannon