Comedian, Martin Short, is mourning the death of his daughter, Katherine, who tragically committed suicide, aged 41, on Monday in Los Angeles
Martin Short may have made the world laugh, but behind the scenes he’s been suffering. The much-loved comedian was close friends with late actress, Catherine O’Hara, who died in January, and director Rob Reiner – who was murdered alongside his wife Michele last year.
He has a string of comedy films on his CV. From the Three Amigos to the Father of the Bride, the Canadian-American made a living out of people of smile. However, this week, Martin is in mourning following the devastating death of his beloved daughter, Katherine, who tragically died by suicide, on Monday.
Sadly for the stand-up star, it’s the not first tragedy he’s suffered as we take a look at his life away from the bright lights of Hollywood, starting with the heartbreaking death of his brother…
READ MORE: Tragic 911 call connected to death of Martin Short’s daughter Katherine is releasedREAD MORE: Martin Short’s daughter Katherine dies by suicide aged 41
First heartbreak
Martin suffered his first heartbreak aged 12, when his eldest brother David died in a car accident in 1992. Born in March 1950 as the youngest of five children to Irish and English immigrants Olive Grace and Charles Patrick Short in Ontario, Canada, the star had three brothers, David, Michael and Brian, and a sister, Nora.
Discussing his brother’s death after writing his memoir, which was published in 2014, he told CBS News: “What you don’t know when you start is how open you’re going to be: what you’re going to tell, what you’re not going to tell, what you feel comfortable telling.”
He added that writing the memoir wasn’t necessarily the ‘cathartic’ experience people may have thought it would be.
Oprhaned at 20
Just six years after David’s devastating sudden death, Martin lost his mother Olive, who had been battling cancer for several years. Sadly, only two years later the star’s father died after suffering complications from a stroke.
Martin was only 20 at the time, but there was, tragically, more heartache to come…
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Devastating death of his wife
Martin met Nancy Dolman, a fellow actress, in 1972 and the pair tied the knot in 1980. Five years after they got married, Nancy retired from the spotlight to become a stay-at-home mother, and the couple adopted three children; Henry, Katherine and Oliver.
Sadly, tragedy struck again when Nancy, who had been married to Martin for 30 years, died after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, just like his late mother.
Speaking in 2019 about his wife, Martin described marrying his partner as a ‘triumph’ and admitted he still ‘talks’ to Nancy all the time and still feels her presence around him.
In an interview with AARP magazine, he said: “With real tragedy, you become a little more daring. It’s the yin to the yang: the positive part of life’s dark side.” He also previously told CBC his attitude to grief is: “We go on.” However, in his memoir, he described Nancy’s death as “by far the most awful thing I’ve been through”.
Loses close friend, Rob Reiner
Suffering more sorrow, Martin was among the group of Reiner’s closest friends who paid tribute to the director after his shocking death in December 2025.
The Harry Met Sally star and his wife Michele were found stabbed to death inside their home in Los Angeles on December 14. The couple’s son Nick was arrested following the murder and has since pleaded not guilty as he awaits trial.
Paying their respects to Rob, Martin and the director’s other close friends shared: “His comedic touch was beyond compare, his love of getting the music of the dialogue just right, and his sharpening of the edge of a drama was simply elegant. For the actors, he loved them. For the writers he made them better.”
Tragic death of daughter, Katherine
In the latest heartbreak for Martin, it was revealed this week that his beloved daughter, Katherine, had died by suicide.
The 42-year-old joined her proud father at several events. In May 2023, the comic brought Katherine to the afterparty for The Producers, posing with Goldie Hawn. She also accompanied Martin on the red carpet in 2011.
A spokesperson for the stand-up star told the Daily Mail: “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.” Martin’s representative added: “Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world.”
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