Steve Martin is opening up about his troubled relationship with his father, especially when it comes to his career choices.

In his new two-part documentary Steve! (Martin) Two DocumentariesThe 78-year-old actor talks about his father, Glenn Martin, and his thoughts on his career.

“I always thought my dad was a little embarrassed by me,” said Steve, who narrates the film. “He can’t be proud of unconventional acting that he doesn’t quite understand.”

Steve explained that once he was mid-career, he learned to use his father’s criticism as motivation as footage of his interview with Glenn played on the screen.

“At that time, I was already alienated from my father, and the negative comments were actually encouraging to me.”

Steve’s sister, Melinda Dobbs, recalled her brother’s childhood as one in which he “didn’t get any affection” from his father but endured much of his anger and criticism.

In this regard, Only murders in the building Star shared that he only remembers having a happy childhood “outside the house.”

Despite detailing his father’s criticism in 1979 assholeSteve told a friend “he’s no Charlie Chaplin,” but he still felt for his old man.

Steve said his father was under tremendous “stress” trying to provide for his family. “You know what he went through – it was a life full of hopes and dreams,” he said. “I feel very sorry for my father.”

“I liked him,” he said of Glenn, who died in 1997.