Martin Short’s Daughter Katherine Dies Aged 42, Family Devastated

Published: 26 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Katherine Hartley Short, the 42-year-old daughter of Canadian actor and comedian Martin Short, has died in her Los Angeles home in an apparent suicide that has devastated her family and friends. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed that Katherine was found deceased on 23 February and that her death was ruled a suicide, with the manner of death listed as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Katherine, the eldest of three children adopted by Short and his late wife Nancy Dolman — who died of ovarian cancer in 2010 — was a licensed clinical social worker with a long history of helping others. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and gender studies from New York University in 2006 and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California in 2010. In her professional career she ran a private practice, provided community outreach, peer support and psychotherapy, and worked at clinical settings including Amae Health and a UCLA-affiliated hospital. She was also involved with the mental health charity Bring Change 2 Mind, an organisation dedicated to ending stigma around mental illness.

The family released a statement acknowledging her death and asking for privacy during their time of grief, saying Katherine was “beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world.” Short, who stars in the acclaimed series Only Murders in the Building, has postponed upcoming tour dates with longtime friend and collaborator Steve Martin so he can be with family. Shows originally scheduled for later this week in Milwaukee and Minneapolis have been rescheduled, with the tour set to resume in mid-March.

Katherine largely kept a private life despite her famous parent, sometimes accompanying her father to events but focusing her career on mental health and community services rather than the spotlight. Her passing has brought attention not only to her personal work and dedication but also to ongoing concerns about mental health support and the pressures faced by those struggling in silence.

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