Who was Martin Short’s ex-girlfriend, SNL legend Gilda Radner – who died aged 42 in 1989? She was the comedy show’s first cast member, and was married to Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’s Gene Wilder
From acting in a Canadian production of Godspell with Martin Short to swiping awards and leading a Broadway show, Radner enchanted audiences while personally struggling with an eating disorder
Recently, they stepped out together to catch Oh, Mary! on Broadway before attending a recording of Saturday Night Live together, according to TMZ. Days later, Page Six alleged that the two had in fact been dating for “well over a year now”.
“Meryl couldn’t help but fall for Martin,” a source told the outlet, adding that their loved ones “approve of their relationship and think they’re adorable together”.
This new romance has brought attention to Short’s dating history, particularly his relationship with actress Gilda Radner. Gushing about his ex on Amy Poehler’s podcast Good Hang, the Mulaney actor recalled, “She was just so original. The size of her purse, the fullness of her hair, and you know, I fell for her madly.”
So, who is the late Gilda Radner, the star of films such as Hanky Panky and The Woman in Red, who won a Grammy posthumously?
She’s a comedy legend
Hailing from Detroit, Gilda Radner got her start in acting when she dropped out of the University of Michigan and moved to Canada for her then-boyfriend. There, she was cast in the hit musical Godspell alongside Martin Short, Eugene Levy and Andrea Martin. Later, she entered The Second City theatre troupe’s Toronto branch and worked with Bill Murray on the National Lampoon Radio Hour, before joining Saturday Night Live.
Per NBC, Radner was the first-ever cast member Lorne Michaels picked for his now-iconic show. Radner’s Emmy-winning SNL stint propelled her to major success, eventually leading to her own one-woman Broadway show, Gilda Radner – Live From New York.