Martin Short sits out 2026 Actor Awards after daughter Katherine’s death despite two nominations

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Martin Short received two nominations at tonight’s Actor Awards, but he didn’t attend the event.

The 75-year-old actor is missing the ceremony, previously called the SAG Awards, held at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles. He’s still mourning the sudden loss of his daughter, Katherine, who passed away on February 23rd at the age of 42.

It was confirmed that Short wouldn’t be at the ceremony when Jenna Ortega started announcing the nominees for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series.

Short was up for the award with Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This), Ted Danson (Inside Man), and Seth Rogen and Ike Barinholtz, who both appear in The Studio.

When the other four nominees’ names were announced, cameras immediately focused on them in the audience. However, when Martin Short’s name was read, only a pre-recorded photo of him appeared on the screen.

Seth Rogen took home the award, but Martin Short was also recognized with a nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, shared with his ‘Only Murders In The Building’ colleagues Steve Martin and Selena Gomez.

None of the show’s three main stars attended the awards ceremony. Martin and Gomez joined Short in boycotting the event, as reported by People.

James Short previously received an award for his acting in a comedy series, and he and his fellow cast members also won the award for best ensemble performance in a comedy series.

When news broke that Steve Martin’s daughter had tragically taken her own life, his friends, including fellow actor and ‘Only Murders In The Building’ co-star Meryl Streep, quickly offered him support.

After the death of his daughter, a spokesperson for Short released a statement saying the family is deeply saddened by Katherine Hartley Short’s passing. They ask for privacy during this difficult time, remembering her as a source of happiness and light in the lives of those who knew her.

Police confirmed that Katherine hadn’t been in contact for a full day before her friend reported her missing last week.

The annual Actor Awards, previously called the SAG Awards, were held on Sunday at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles. This year marked the 32nd celebration.

This year’s ceremony is now officially called The Actor Awards. The change is meant to emphasize the show’s famous statuette, ‘The Actor,’ strengthen its international brand, and ensure the focus remains on celebrating actors and their achievements.

And there’s a familiar face steering the ship. 

Kristen Bell returns as host for the third time, having previously emceed in 2018 and 2025. 

Bringing Kristen back as host feels like welcoming a beloved friend back into the fold,” said show-runner and executive producer Jon Brockett. “She’s someone everyone genuinely enjoys being around.

The awards ceremony will be streamed live on Netflix, recognizing achievements in movies, TV shows, and limited series. There are six nominees in each of the 28 categories, except for the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement awards, which have eight.

The movie ‘One Battle After Another’ received the most nominations with seven, while ‘Sinners’ is a close second with five.

This year’s competition for Best Actor is incredibly strong, with notable performances from Leonardo DiCaprio in ‘One Battle After Another,’ Timothée Chalamet in ‘Marty Supreme,’ Michael B. Jordan in ‘Sinners,’ Ethan Hawke in ‘Blue Moon,’ and Jesse Plemons in ‘Bugonia’.

The competition is fierce for the award for Best Actress, with strong performances from Jessie Buckley in Hamnet, Rose Byrne in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Kate Hudson in Song Sung Blue, and Emma Stone in Bugonia.

Several actors received nominations in supporting categories: Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn for their work in One Battle After Another, Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein, Paul Mescal for Hamnet, and Miles Caton for Sinners. They are all contenders for the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role award.

As a huge fan of incredible acting, I’m so excited about this year’s nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actress! We’ve got a fantastic group: Odessa A’Zion really impressed me in Marty Supreme, and Ariana Grande’s performance in Wicked is getting all the buzz. Then there’s Amy Madigan, a true veteran who always delivers, alongside the powerful Wunmi Mosaku from Sinners. And I’m thrilled to see Teyana Taylor recognized for her work in One Battle After Another – she’s a phenomenal talent! It’s such a diverse and strong lineup, making it really hard to pick a favorite.

The award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture highlights the strong teamwork of the casts from five films: Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, and Sinners. This shows how much this awards organization values the performances of actors.

Television, meanwhile, has its own battleground.

When it comes to comedy, The Studio led the pack with five nominations, proving it’s a popular choice among actors.

The show will be competing for the award for Best Comedy Ensemble, facing off against Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks, and Only Murders in the Building.

The nominations for best individual comedy acting include stars like Kathryn Hahn, Catherine O’Hara, and Seth Rogen from The Studio, along with Jean Smart (Hacks), Jenna Ortega (Wednesday), Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This), Ted Danson (A Man on the Inside), and Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building).

The drama category is highly competitive this year. Shows like The White Lotus, Severance, The Diplomat, The Pitt, and Landman are all vying for the award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

The drama acting awards were given to a talented group of performers, including Britt Lower, Parker Posey, Keri Russell, Rhea Seehorn, Aimee Lou Wood, Sterling K. Brown, Billy Crudup, Walton Goggins, Gary Oldman, and Noah Wyle.

Limited series and television movies continue to prove their awards muscle.

Claire Danes (The Beast in Me), Erin Doherty and Christine Tremarco (Adolescence), Sarah Snook (All Her Fault), and Michelle Williams (Dying for Sex) are all nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series.

The actors being considered for best male performance include Jason Bateman in Black Rabbit, Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham for Adolescence, Charlie Hunnam in Monster: The Ed Gein Story, and Matthew Rhys for The Beast in Me.

Yet no awards season is complete without a little controversy. 

A major surprise for many was the omission of Cynthia Erivo from the nominations for Wicked: For Good, as she was widely predicted to be a contender.

People noticed that Gwyneth Paltrow and Dwayne Johnson weren’t nominated, and some also wondered why there weren’t more actors from outside the United States among the nominees.

More cuts, like removing scenes with emotional meaning from the film and an episode titled ‘Death by Lightning’ from the TV series, sparked even more discussion and complaints.

Despite some disappointments, fans were happy to see nominations for Odessa A’Zion for Marty Supreme and Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners. This shows the wide range of talent featured this year.

Hollywood icon Harrison Ford will be honored with the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award, adding a special touch of prestige to the event.

Throughout his more than 50-year career, Harrison Ford has become a central figure in some of cinema’s most successful franchises – including Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Blade Runner, and The Fugitive. This has established him as one of Hollywood’s most reliable and long-lasting leading actors.

Harrison Ford said he was incredibly honored to receive this year’s SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award.

It means the world to me to be recognized by my peers. I’ve dedicated my life to filmmaking, and I’m incredibly thankful to have worked with so many talented people on sets over the years. I truly value being part of this creative community.

This year’s Ambassador for The Actor Awards is Yerin Ha, the rising star known for her role in Bridgerton.

Ha expressed how honored she was to be named The Actor Awards Ambassador, explaining that the event is a special occasion where actors recognize each other’s work.

It’s incredibly rewarding to be acknowledged by the community you care about. As someone passionate about acting and working with others, I’m honored to represent up-and-coming actors and participate in an event that celebrates the art of storytelling.

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2026-03-02 06:20