1979年,史蒂夫在他的明星路上開始嶄露頭角,這就是《愚笨的人》(The Jerk)。它是根據他自己的腳本拍攝的,它的收益給人深刻的印象,5百萬投資獲益4千萬。對史蒂夫來說不幸的是,他選擇了音樂劇《來自天堂的分幣》作為他的下一個作品,這個片子是巨大的失敗,它僅僅賺到2千萬投資的五分之一。正是他簽約的第二個角色,史蒂夫向觀眾展示了他的戲劇天賦。史蒂夫在下一個戲——《死人不穿格子呢》(Dead Men don't Were Plaid)中的角色,使他像拉娜·特納、查爾斯·勞頓和哈姆夫瑞·寶嘉那樣演出。1986年,史蒂夫與契夫·查斯、馬丁·紹特一起參加了一個喜劇西部片,《三朋友》。他們對彼此的看法相當一致,都認為對方妙趣橫生。同年,史蒂夫在《恐怖小店》中扮演了個小角色,一個精神錯亂的唱歌牙醫。1987年,史蒂夫與約翰·坎迪相伴出現在一個快樂旅途電影中:《飛機、火車和汽車》。1987年也是史蒂夫在《羅克辛納》(Roxanne)中擔任主角的一年,該片是依據席里諾·德伯傑里克的古典故事改編。該片在讚揚聲中上演,獲得拉美電影批評獎的最佳演員獎,高迪·奧諾爾獲最佳編劇。不過,該片受到了奧斯卡的冷落。《羅克辛納》是真正的好電影。該片是在納爾遜河區拍攝的,如果你有幸去納爾遜區,你真可以碰到一個羅克辛納與你一起散步。在該電影中,能看見籬笆、火房等。史蒂夫的早期生涯,在卡爾·雷諾執導的四個影片中扮演角色,它們包括《愚笨的人》、《all of Me》、《死人不穿格子呢》、《雙腦人》等。1986年,史蒂夫·馬丁與女演員維多利亞·苔南特結婚。兩人是在1984年拍攝《all of Me》時相識的。
1980年代後期,史蒂夫的演藝生涯比以前更忙了,1988年他重拍了馬龍·白蘭度、戴衛·尼文的喜劇《床上故事》。史蒂夫1988年在《骯髒的騙子》中扮演一位在里維拉法語區工作的美國騙子,他與米徹爾·凱恩主演。史蒂夫在1989年的《為人父母》中扮演一個核心家庭的成員,具有諷刺意味的是,史蒂夫演的是一個過於溺愛的爸爸,在現實中,他卻沒有自己的孩子。史蒂夫·馬丁:它很適合我,我很喜歡與我一起演出的孩子們,我們度過了一段愉快的時光,被他們環繞非常快樂,我們之間在喜劇的層面能很好交流。世界上有成千上萬的人,他們為人父母,這樣,你就可以觀察和看到細節。1990年,馬丁再次與《為人父母》的投資者里奇·毛拉尼斯合作,出演《我的藍色天堂》(my Blue Heaven)中的一個暴徒,他隱藏在一個小鎮,準備背叛他的親密夥伴。之後,史蒂夫撰寫和出演了《拉美故事》(LA Story)。這個電影中,他把他的明信片改寄洛山基,他與妻子維克多利亞·苔南特聯袂出演該片。在《大峽谷》中擔任一個小角色之後,史蒂夫重返喜劇,在《新娘的父親》(father of Bride)中扮演角色,此片因斯賓塞·特雷西的製作而出名。該片使史蒂夫與他在《三朋友》中的共演者,馬丁·邵特重聚。當他1992年在《信仰的跳躍》中扮演一個偏激的傳播福音者時,史蒂夫再次變得嚴肅。儘管他的表演嚴肅,但史蒂夫仍感對他的影迷他須是一個粗獷的、狂熱的漢子。
1985 George Burns Comedy Week ...... Executive Producer(14集)
1984 Domestic Life...... Executive Producer(10集)
導演
Steve Martin Live (1986) AS …… ("Hommage to Steve" - comedians' segment)
專輯音樂
Let's Get Small (1977)
A Wild and Crazy Guy (1978)
Comedy Is Not Pretty (1979)
The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo (2009)
Rare Bird Alert (2011)
還多次為電影配樂
電視節目
主持
Just for Laughs AS ...... Himself - Host(2010)
《第82屆奧斯卡頒獎典禮》The 82nd Annual Academy Awards AS …… Himself - Host (2010)
《第75屆奧斯卡頒獎典禮》The 75th Annual Academy Awards AS …… Himself - Host (2003)
《第73屆奧斯卡頒獎典禮》The 73rd Annual Academy Awards AS …… Himself - Host (2001)
《幻想曲2000》Fantasia/2000 AS …… Host (Film Introduction) (1999)
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python AS …… Himself/Host (1989)
電視節目
The 78th Annual Academy Awards AS …… Himself (uncredited) (2006)
Live from New York: The First 5 Years of Saturday Night Live AS …… Himself (2005)
Earth to America AS …… Himself (2005)
Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years AS …… Himself (2005)
Steve Martin: An American Cinematheque Tribute AS …… Himself (2005)
《吉米尼·格里克的啦啦塢》Jiminy Glick in La La Wood AS …… Himself (2004)
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Tom Hanks AS …… Himself (archive footage) (2004)
100 Years of Hope and Humor AS …… Himself (2003)
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Tom Hanks AS …… Himself (2002)
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts AS …… Himself (2002)
Comedy Central Presents:The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase AS …… Himself (2002)
The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch AS …… Interviewee (2002)
Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour AS …… Himself (interviewee, 2000 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival footage (uncredited) (2002)
The British Comedy Awards 2001 AS …… Himself (2001)
Thin Ice AS …… Himself (2000)
AFI's 100 Years, 100 Laughs: America's Funniest Movies AS …… Himself (2000)
The Venice Project AS …… Himself (1999)
《第71屆奧斯卡頒獎典禮》The 71st Annual Academy Awards AS …… Himself - Co-presenter: Writing Awards (1999)
Saturday Night Live: Game Show Parodies AS …… Himself/Various Characters (1999)
Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary AS …… Himself (1999)
From Spam to Sperm AS …… Himself (1999)
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farley AS …… Himself (Various Characters) (1998)
《第69屆奧斯卡金像獎頒獎典禮》The 69th Annual Academy Awards AS …… Himself (1997)
Nichols and May: Take Two AS …… Himself (1996)
Classic Stand-Up Comedy of Television AS …… Himself (1996)
《第67屆奧斯卡頒獎典禮》The 67th Annual Academy Awards AS …… Himself - Presenter: Best Editing (1995)
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts AS …… Himself (1995)
Television's Greatest Performances AS …… Himself (archive footage) (1995)
The World of Jim Henson AS …… Himself (archive footage) (1994)
The Carol Burnett Show: A Reunion AS …… Himself (archive footage) (1993)
Funny Business" AS …… (archive footage) (1992)
Paul Simon: Born at the Right Time AS …… Himself (1991)
第62屆奧斯卡頒獎典禮The 62nd Annual Academy Awards AS …… Himself - Presenter: Best Original Score (1990)
Life of Python AS …… Himself (1990)
Saturday Night Live: 15th Anniversary AS …… Himself (1989)
Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women AS …… Himself and The Great Flydini (1989)
The American Film Institute Salute to Jack Lemmon AS …… Himself (1988)
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years AS …… Himself (archive footage) (1986)
Looney Tunes 50th Anniversary AS …… Himself (1986)
The 57th Annual Academy Awards AS …… Himself - Presenter: Best Art Direction (1985)
The History of White People in America AS …… Himself (1985)
The American Film Institute Salute to Gene Kelly AS …… Himself (1985)
The American Film Institute Salute to Frank Capra AS …… Himself (1982)
The 53rd Annual Academy Awards AS …… Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Cinematography (1981)
Steve Martin: All Commercials AS …… Himself/Various (1980)
《真是不賴的小伙子》The Kids Are Alright AS …… Himself (1979)
The 51st Annual Academy Awards AS …… Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Visual Effects (1979)
The 21st Annual Grammy Awards AS …… Himself (1979)
Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy AS …… Himself/Various (1978)
Bob Hope's Salute to the 75th Anniversary of the World Series AS …… Himself (1978)
The 20th Annual Grammy Awards AS …… Himself (1978)
On Location: Steve Martin AS …… Himself (1976)
Rocky Mountain Christmas AS …… Himself (1975)
Half the George Kirby Comedy Hour" AS......Himself (1972)