In a triptych, photos of Disney Legend Steve Martin from several of his films from around the worlds of Disney: an image of him from the 1995 film Father of the Bride Part II, an image from 2005’s Cheaper by the Dozen 2, and an image from the 2011 film The Big Year.

10 Times Disney Legend Steve Martin Joined the Worlds of Disney

By Courtney Potter

Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building is returning Tuesday, August 8, for its third season—and it’s sure to be a doozy! Charles (Disney Legend Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez) find themselves investigating a murder behind the scenes of a Broadway show—that just so happens to be directed by Oliver himself! Hollywood action star Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd) is the show’s big star, making his Broadway debut… which is cut short by his rather untimely death. Aided by co-star Loretta Durkin (Meryl Streep), the trio embarks on their toughest case yet—all while Oliver desperately attempts to put his show back together.

With so many shenanigans on the horizon, we figured this was the perfect time to look at some of the other memorable—and often totally hilarious—times that Martin has joined the worlds of Disney… and there’s been quite a few! Fire up that favorite streaming device and enjoy a marathon of fun before reuniting with those prized podcasters on their next mystery. (With the exception of Only Murders…, all these titles are available on Disney+.)

In an image from The Muppet Show, a stage drop with the logo of the show is seen, with a hole in the “O” of “Show,” in which Kermit the Frog can be seen. The logo itself is white lettering with a red shadow, on a yellow background, surrounded by golden leaves and decorative swirls.

The Muppet Show (Season 2 Episode 8) (1977)
In this episode of the beloved series, Kermit (voiced by Disney Legend Jim Henson) cancels the show in order to audition new acts. Guest star Martin, then known primarily as a stand-up comic, is initially angry—but he still goes on to perform for the cast. Meanwhile, Fozzie (voiced by Frank Oz) worries that Kermit plans to hire replacements, especially after the audition of a new canine comedian, Baskerville the Hound.

In an image from The Muppet Movie, Kermit the Frog is sitting on a log in a swamp, strumming a banjo and singing.

The Muppet Movie (1979)
Keeping in the Muppets vein, Martin makes a cameo appearance in their big-screen debut—which follows the troupe as they wind their way to Hollywood in hopes of landing a talent contract, all while evading the dastardly Doc Hopper (Charles Durning). Martin portrays a very annoyed waiter at a restaurant visited by Kermit and Miss Piggy (voiced by Frank Oz).

Father of the Bride (1991)
Martin stars in this film as George Banks (no relation to the overworked father in Disney’s 1964 classic Mary Poppins), a befuddled dad who has a hard time letting go of his young daughter Annie (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) when she unexpectedly announces her plans to wed fiancé Bryan (George Newbern). Based on the 1950 film starring Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor, this version also features Diane Keaton and Martin’s future Only Murders in the Building co-star Martin Short.

In an image from Father of the Bride Part II, George (Steve Martin) and Annie (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) are standing in front of the family home; it’s daytime, and it’s sunny outside. George is holding a box, out of which he has taken out a small basketball; in front of him is a baby carriage. They both are wearing blazers, and have wistful smiles on their faces.

Father of the Bride Part II (1995)
In the sequel to the ’91 film, George and wife Nina (Keaton) are ready to be empty nesters—with Annie (Williams-Paisley) now married for several years and their younger son Matty (Kieran Culkin) also out of the house. But shenanigans ensue when the family discovers not only is Annie pregnant… but surprisingly, Nina is too! Is George ready to be a grandparent and the dad to a newborn at the same time?

In a promotional image for The Simpsons, the entire Simpsons family is seen on a couch in their living room, watching a television; the light coming out of said TV set is very bright. Seen from left to right are the family dog Santa’s Little Helper, Marge, Homer, Maggie, Bart (who’s somewhat hiding behind the couch), and Lisa.

The Simpsons (Season 9 Episode 22 “Trash of the Titans”) (1998)
Homer’s (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) misbehavior gets the family’s garbage collection cut off—so Marge (voiced by Julie Kavner) writes an apology to the garbagemen on Homer’s behalf. Angered at Marge’s decision, Homer decides to take on sanitation commissioner Ray Patterson (voiced by guest star Martin) in an upcoming election—and wins his seat with a campaign that, naturally, promises a lot more than it can deliver…

In an image from Fantasia 2000—from the “Rhapsody in Blue” segment—a drummer is seen behind a drum set, with drumsticks in his hands. He is drawn in hues of purple; the background is orange.

Fantasia 2000 (2000)
Seven new musical selections, and one returning favorite, are featured in this contemporary update of Disney’s animated classic. A new generation of Walt Disney Animation Studios animators blended traditional animation with modern techniques—creating a whole new take on the glorious 1940 masterpiece. Martin helps (hilariously) introduce the film, as well as acclaimed violinist Itzhak Perlman. We especially enjoy the film’s George Gershwin/“Rhapsody in Blue” segment.

In an image from Cheaper by the Dozen, Tom Baker (Steve Martin) is lying on a wooden floor. He has fallen, and around him are various toys, as well as a long length of rope. He’s wearing dark pants, a white shirt, and a dark sweater. He looks like he’s in pain.

Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
Inspired by the semi-autobiographical book by Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and his sister Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, which also inspired the original 1950 film starring Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy, Cheaper by the Dozen stars Martin and Bonnie Hunt as Tom and Kate Baker, middle-aged parents to a family of 12 children. When both parents decide to pursue more demanding jobs—he as a football coach at his alma mater; she as an author—they discover that big families and big careers don’t easily mix.

In an image from Cheaper by the Dozen 2, Tom Baker (Steve Martin) is surrounded by his large family, including wife Kate (Bonnie Hunt) and children such as Lorraine (Hilary Duff), Charlie (Tom Welling), Sarah (Alyson Stoner), and more. They’re standing on the sand, on the shore of a lake; other people are milling around behind them. They all have papers pinned to their shirts, with their names in large letters and numbers from 1 to 12. Tom has thrown his hands up as if he’s good-naturedly confronting someone offscreen.

Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005)
Two years after the events of the first film, Tom feels like his large family is starting to go their separate ways—so he persuades them to take one last big summer vacation at Lake Winnetka together… only it turns into a huge competition with the overachieving clan of Tom’s biggest rival, Jimmy Murtaugh (Eugene Levy).

In an image from the film The Big Year, from left to right, Kenny (Owen Wilson), Stu (Steve Martin), and Brad (Jack Black) are standing in a large field surrounded by even larger mountains. They’re all holding binoculars and are looking at something offscreen to the left. They’re dressed in jackets and hats as though it’s cold.

The Big Year (2011)
In birding, a “Big Year” is seeing or hearing as many different species of birds as possible in a calendar year. In this 2011 film, based on the nonfiction book The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession by Mark Obmascik, three men pursue the Birder of the Year title: Kenny Bostick (Owen Wilson), who’s seen a record 732 in a past “Big Year”; Stu Preissler (Martin), a successful CEO who’s ready to retire; and computer programmer Brad Harris (Jack Black), who narrates the story. They travel the continent, following migration patterns—and adventures, no doubt, ensue.

In an image from Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, from left to right, Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez) have stuck their heads around the doorway to see what’s going on inside a room. They have quizzical looks on their faces.

Only Murders in the Building (2021-)
The first two seasons of the critically acclaimed Hulu series (created by Martin and John Hoffman) are available for streaming… and highly recommended. Three strangers (Martin, Short, and Gomez) find that they share an obsession with true crime—and also suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one! When a grisly death occurs inside their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building, the trio suspects murder and employs their precise knowledge of true crime to investigate the truth. As they record a podcast of their own to document the case, the three unravel the complex secrets of the building which stretch back years. But perhaps even more explosive are the lies they tell one another. Soon, the endangered trio comes to realize a killer might be living amongst them as they race to decipher the mounting clues before it’s too late.