Katherine Short, Martin Short’s Eldest Daughter, Dies at 42 from Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound

The entertainment world and fans of Martin Short are reeling from some truly heartbreaking news. His daughter, Katherine Hartley Short, has passed away at the age of 42.

It happened on Monday in Los Angeles, and the family shared a short, deeply emotional statement through his representative: “It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short. The Short family is devastated by this loss, and asks for privacy at this time. Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world.”

The Los Angeles County coroner confirmed that her death was from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police were called to her home in the Hollywood Hills around 6 p.m. that evening.

Katherine was the oldest of the three children that Martin and his late wife, Nancy Dolman, adopted together. She built a meaningful career as a social worker right there in Los Angeles, dedicating herself to helping others. She was involved with Bring Change 2 Mind, a charity focused on reducing the stigma around mental health issues. After earning her bachelor’s in psychology and gender studies from NYU back in 2006, she went on to get her master’s in social work from USC. She spent time working at UCLA’s Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital before moving into private practice.

This isn’t the first heavy loss the family has faced—Nancy passed away from ovarian cancer in 2010, leaving Martin to raise their kids through an incredibly difficult time. He once opened up about how tough it was, saying in an old interview that it felt like living in denial until reality hits, and that he told his children their mom had “zoomed into our souls.” Martin also has two sons, Oliver and Henry.

He had been set to do a show with Steve Martin in Minneapolis over the weekend, but understandably, things have been put on hold as the family grieves.

This is such a tragic reminder of how fragile life can be, even for people who seem to have it all figured out from the outside. If you or someone you care about is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please reach out—call or text 988 in the US, or check out resources like SpeakingOfSuicide.com. You’re not alone. Sending love and strength to Martin, his boys, and everyone who knew and loved Katherine. 💔