Martin Short’s tragic past: Hollywood actor blighted by the premature deaths of his parents, brother and wife – as his daughter Katherine dies by suicide

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Martin Short’s oldest daughter, Katherine Hartley Short, sadly passed away on Monday at her home in Los Angeles. She was 42 years old and died by suicide.

Spokespeople for the 75-year-old comedian have confirmed the sad news in a statement to the Daily Mail.

We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Katherine Hartley Short. Her family is heartbroken and asks for privacy as they grieve. Katherine was a bright and joyful person who will be dearly missed by everyone who knew her.

Martin is facing another devastating loss, adding to a long history of personal tragedy. Despite his cheerful public persona, he’s suffered the deaths of many loved ones, including his daughter Katherine, brother David, both parents, and his wife of 30 years, Nancy Dolan.

He was good friends with the late Catherine O’Hara, who passed away at age 71 in January. He was also close to director Rob Reiner, whose wife Michele and he were tragically killed last year.

The famous actor previously shared his experiences with losing family members, explaining that grief can either make you stronger or overwhelm you.

Two years before his daughter Katherine passed away, he shared with The Hollywood Reporter: ‘You can only truly understand your own experiences.’

By the time I was twenty, I’d already experienced a lot of hardship – things like loss and tragedy – that my peers hadn’t. I’m still surprised it didn’t have a more damaging effect on me.

Life’s challenges either make you stronger or break you. I believe going through tough times built my resilience and helped me cope with future disappointments.

‘And I do think, in a weird way, it did make me braver as a performer, braver onstage. 

I wasn’t worried about what strangers thought of my attempts at things. Their opinions didn’t matter to me, because I wasn’t trying to impress them. My goal was simply to make my brothers, sisters, and friends enjoy themselves.

I’ve always known Martin carried a deep sadness, and I learned it stemmed from a truly devastating loss. When he was just twelve years old, in 1992, his older brother, David, tragically died in a car accident. It was his first experience with heartbreak, and I can only imagine how profoundly it affected him.

Born in March 1950 in Ontario, Canada, Martin was the youngest of five children. His parents, Olive Grace and Charles Patrick Short, were immigrants from Ireland and England.

He had three brothers, David, Michael and Brian, and a sister, Nora.

Speaking when his memoir was published in 2014, he discussed writing about his brother’s death.

He explained to CBC News that when you begin something new, you don’t realize how much you’ll end up sharing – and how much you’ll keep to yourself – and what you’ll feel okay with revealing.

He explained that writing his life story wasn’t as emotionally healing as some might expect.

Martin experienced another loss six years after his brother David passed away unexpectedly. His mother, Olive, had been fighting cancer for several years and died when Martin was seventeen.

It’s just… heartbreaking to think about. Two years after he really started to make it, his dad passed away after a stroke. Can you imagine? He was completely on his own at just twenty years old – a total orphan. It just breaks my heart thinking about what he must have gone through.

In 1972, Martin met Nancy Dolman, a fellow actress, and the pair were married by 1980. 

Oh my gosh, it’s been five years since their wedding, and then Nancy just left everything! Can you believe it? She gave up her amazing career to be a mom – a full-time mom! And then, the best part, they adopted! Three beautiful children – Henry, Katherine, and little Oliver. It was the most perfect thing ever, honestly. They just seemed complete, you know?

In 2010, Martin faced another heartbreaking loss when his wife of 30 years, Nancy, died after a battle with ovarian cancer.

When Nancy passed away, Steve Martin, who often performed with Martin Short, honored her with a touching musical tribute called ‘The Great Remember (For Nancy)’ on one of his albums.

In 2019, Martin fondly remembered his marriage to Nancy, calling it a great success. He shared that he continues to feel connected to his late wife, often talking to her and sensing her presence in his life.

In a recent interview with AARP, he explained that experiencing true hardship can make you more courageous. He described it as finding a silver lining – a positive side to life’s difficulties.

He also previously told CBC his attitude to grief is: ‘We go on.’

In his 2014 memoir, he shared that Nancy’s death was the most difficult experience of his life.

While helping his children cope with the loss of their mother, Martin relied on what he had learned from his own past hardships.

The night before Nancy passed away, she spoke to her youngest son, Henry, telling him, “This experience will make you stronger and more determined.”

Martin has experienced personal loss, having been close friends with both O’Hara and Reiner, who have both passed away.

Martin was one of Reiner’s closest friends and was part of the group that issued a statement after his death in December 2025.

On December 14th, Reiner and his wife, Michele, were discovered stabbed to death at their home in Brentwood, which is valued at $13.5 million.

The statement praised his unique comedic talent, his meticulous attention to the rhythm of dialogue, and his ability to subtly enhance dramatic tension. Actors loved working with him, and he consistently helped writers improve their work.

Whether he was doing comedy, drama, fictional mockumentaries, or real documentaries, he consistently excelled. He had a remarkable ability to connect with audiences, earning their trust and drawing them to his movies.

Recently, Martin fondly remembered his friend and former co-star, O’Hara, who passed away last month.

Shortly after the news of actress Mara Wilson’s death became public, Martin Short and Steve Martin honored her during their comedy show in Austin, Texas, by raising a toast to her memory onstage.

Oh my gosh, I actually met Catherine O’Hara when she was just 18! I remember it so clearly. Martin was telling the story – he even had his champagne glass raised as he spoke – and someone thankfully caught it all on TikTok. It was amazing to hear him reminisce!

A photo of O’Hara taken in 2019 showed on the big screen behind them.

Even after all this time, everyone agreed Catherine was the most wonderful person they’d ever worked with – kind, smart, and truly a joy to be around. He finished by saying, ‘God bless her.’

Throughout his career, Martin has found success in both theater and film. He recently joined forces with Steve Martin again to star in the popular Disney Plus series, Only Murders in the Building, delighting viewers with their comedic chemistry.

After Martin’s daughter Katherine passed away, details about his family’s past hardships reappeared online, and fans offered their support on X (formerly Twitter).

People are expressing deep sympathy for him, noting the incredible losses he’s endured – his parents, brother, wife, and now his daughter. Many also mention his close relationships with Catherine O’Hara and Rob Reiner. Those offering condolences say they can’t fathom his pain and hope he has the support of loved ones during this difficult time.

This man has experienced immense loss, having lost almost everyone he cared about, yet he continues to face the world with a smile. Some wounds are so deep they defy easy solutions, especially when it comes to supporting others. Let’s return all the kindness and positivity he’s shared with the world back to him.

It’s incredibly sad news – Martin Short has recently lost his daughter, following the passing of his parents, brother, and wife. He needs all our love and support during this difficult time, and we hope he has comfort and companionship right now.

It’s heartbreaking to think about how much loss some people experience. I truly hope he’s surrounded by love and support during this difficult time – no one should go through such grief by themselves. I’m sending him all my strength and hoping he finds peace.

He’s a truly kind person. I had the pleasure of meeting him and his wife, Nancy, at Notre Dame’s Morris Inn during a football weekend. Our daughters both attended ND, as did his son. I’m deeply saddened to hear about what he and his family are going through.

It’s heartbreaking – you wouldn’t want this to happen to anyone. Martin was a beloved and famous figure, and this is a terrible tragedy.

Daily Mail obtained the 911 call made in connection with the tragic death of Katherine.

During the emergency call, a Los Angeles Fire Department dispatcher told paramedics that Katherine’s injury appeared to be self-inflicted.

I heard from the dispatcher that the person who called it in was actually with the patient, but they couldn’t get into the bedroom at the house in Hollywood. It’s just so strange to think about – they were right there, but couldn’t reach them!

According to a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson, firefighters were called to the location around 6:41 p.m. However, they are not releasing the name of the person involved to protect their privacy.

In 2023, Katherine was last seen in public with her father at a 40th birthday celebration held at Grand Master Recorders in Hollywood. Guests included Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, Catherine O’Hara, Bo Welch, and Joni Mitchell.

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2026-02-25 14:22