couldn’t be happier about it, said Tiffany Bakker
in The Daily Telegraph (Australia). At the peak
of his comedy and acting career in the 1980s
and ’90s, Martin was hounded by fans while out
and about in public—so much so, in fact, that
he began refusing to sign autographs altogether.
Martin was criticized for his attitude, but now
that his career has wound down, his stance on signing his name
is no longer a problem. “That was a little thing I did. People
were puzzled by it,” says Martin. “To hear about it, it sounds
funny. People want selfies now. I’m not sure the younger generation
knows what autographs are. I don’t think they even know
who I am, either, so it’s not really a problem.” Old age has many
benefits, as does being an old father. Martin’s wife, writer Anne
Stringfield, 44, gave birth to their daughter, Conquistador, four
years ago. Martin was 67 at the time—and is glad he waited until
he was essentially retired to have his first child. “Oh, it’s fantastic.
You’re all set and secure in life, and you’re not building your
career, so you have a lot of time. When I was younger, I was selfish
and focused on my career. Now I’m just hanging around the
house playing with [my daughter]. It’s great.”