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Martin Short talks tiffs with late wife: She'd always ask to speak to Ed Grimley

He's an actor, comedian, producer, and now Martin Short is also an author. In his new book, "I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend," Short recounts his rise to fame, but doesn't just share the laughs.Though a famously private person, he also opens up about his personal life, which has included a lot of love and loss.During a Monday visit to TODAY, Short spoke about both his public and priv

He's an actor, comedian, producer, and now Martin Short is also an author. In his new book, "I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend," Short recounts his rise to fame, but doesn't just share the laughs.

Though a famously private person, he also opens up about his personal life, which has included a lot of love and loss.

Image: Nancy Dolman and Martin Short
Today

During a Monday visit to TODAY, Short spoke about both his public and private sides, including how is late wife, Nancy Dolman, helped him find humor in the not-so-funny moments.

  • On how she handled arguments between them: "She liked [my 'SCTV' and 'Saturday Night Live' character] Ed Grimley better than me, because Ed always sided with her. She'd say, 'OK, I don't want to talk to you. You're being obnoxious. I want to talk to Ed."

  • On what Ed had to say about Short during those tiffs: "Oh Miss Nancy, how boring is he? He's so obsessed with himself, I must say."

  • On losing his mother, father and brother in his youth, and then Nancy just four years ago: "At 20, I'd lost three members of my family, and yet I had to figure it out — how to be happy — because my natural orientation was to be happy. And then at 60? The same thing."

Watch the clip to see what else he had to say about his book, and about his brief-but-memorable stint on "SNL."

Image: Martin Short
Today

"I Must Say," hits bookstores Tuesday.