In the latest episode of “Only Murders in the Building” (Season 5, Episode 6), viewers learned a surprising truth about Martin Short’s character, Oliver Putnam. The long-running Hulu/Disney+ series peeled back the layers of the charismatic Broadway director, revealing a childhood spent in foster care that shaped the man he would become.
Oliver’s Childhood in Foster Care
In the episode, Oliver opened up to Loretta (played by Meryl Streep) after her apartment burned down. The two reminisced about their Brooklyn roots, and Oliver revealed that he grew up in the foster care system, spending ages 9 to 12 with a family in Flatbush.
Despite living in a foster home, Oliver admitted he never truly felt “at home” until he discovered the Mycyn Theatre, where he was cast in a play. Even though his foster parents forbade him from performing, Oliver confessed that he once snuck out in costume just to watch another child perform the role he had lost.
“In my whole life, I’ve only really felt like myself in two places,” Oliver said in the episode. “Being back here today, I finally understand why I’m so afraid to leave the Arconia.”
Behind the Scenes: Why the Writers Chose This Story
Series co-creator John Hoffman explained in an interview with TVLine that Oliver’s backstory had been in the works for a while.
“We always imagined Oliver as this larger-than-life, showbiz character,” Hoffman said. “But adding a foster care history subverts expectations. His personality wasn’t just born out of joy — it came from surviving a very different kind of childhood.”
Hoffman added that the inspiration came partly from his own upbringing in Brooklyn. The connection to Flatbush also ties into Season 5’s central mystery: the murder of Lester Coluca, the beloved Arconia doorman.
The Bigger Picture in Season 5
By giving Oliver such a personal storyline, the show explores deeper emotional stakes beyond the murder mystery. It highlights why he clings so tightly to the Arconia building — it represents stability in a life that once lacked it.
The writers wanted fans to see Oliver not just as the “bon vivant” with quick wit and theatrical flair, but as someone who built that persona as armor against a lonely past.
Can the Show Keep Going?
With Season 5 unfolding, fans continue to wonder how long “Only Murders in the Building” can sustain its formula of a new murder mystery each year. Hoffman addressed this concern in a separate interview with TV Insider:
“Of course, there’s always the question of how long this can go on. But every season, some new idea or fresh angle comes up that feels relevant. As long as the stories remain meaningful and surprising, there are more chapters to tell.”
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