Martin Short Leans on Friends and Family After Daughter's Tragic Suicide
Martin Short turned to his close friends and family on Wednesday as he grappled with the devastating loss of his eldest daughter. Katherine Hartley Short was found dead by suicide at her residence in the Hollywood Hills on Monday evening, as confirmed by the Los Angeles Police Department.
Support from Hollywood Friends
In photographs captured by the Daily Mail, Martin Short was observed outside his home welcoming friends and relatives who arrived to offer solace in the wake of this profound tragedy. These visits followed earlier appearances by other notable friends of the 75-year-old star of Only Murders In the Building, including Steven Spielberg, Kurt Russell, and Eugene Levy, who had stopped by the previous evening.
Among those providing support to Short on Wednesday was his friend Paul Schaffer, the former bandleader for The Late Show with David Letterman. Short also spent time bonding with family members at his residence, including his youngest son, Henry Hayter Short, who is 36 years old.
Family Background and Personal Loss
Short and his late wife Nancy Dolman—who passed away in 2010 at age 58 after a battle with ovarian cancer—shared three children: the late Katherine, Henry, and 39-year-old Oliver Patrick Short. It is notable that Short and Dolman adopted all three of their children.
Short was dressed casually as he greeted his loved ones outside his home, wearing a pair of dark sunglasses to shield his eyes from the bright sunlight.
Comforting Gestures and Emotional Moments
Paul Schaffer was seen outside Short's home buzzing in on the intercom. The pianist and bandleader brought along what appeared to be a bottle of wine as a thoughtful offering. He shared a warm hug with Short, who managed a soft smile during the encounter.
Schaffer is best known as David Letterman's former band leader, but he first rose to prominence as a member of the Saturday Night Live band in the 1970s, years before Short's single season on the show from 1984 to 1985. Schaffer also holds the distinction of being the first—and so far only—band member who joined the iconic sketch comedy show's cast after becoming a featured player in the 1979-1980 season.
Family Presence and Personal Details
Schaffer was not the only person to bring food and drinks for the gathering. Short's son Henry arrived with a takeout bag from the celebrity-favorite eatery Joan's On Third. Henry was accompanied by his wife Haylen, who relaxed with him on the porch of the house. He was also photographed sharing a loving embrace with his father after his arrival.
Unlike his older brother Oliver—who has worked in the entertainment industry at Warner Bros. and later in production roles in sports broadcasting—Henry has largely avoided show business. After graduating from Notre Dame in 2012, where his older brother also studied, Henry began his career at the Royal Bank of Canada. However, he later shifted career paths to work as a veterinary assistant, according to reports from People magazine.
Emotional Impact and Insider Accounts
Although Short appeared composed on Wednesday, a source previously informed the Daily Mail that the actor was 'inconsolable' following his daughter Katherine's suicide. 'This is as much of a horror to Martin and his sons, her brothers, as humanly possible,' said a source close to the family. 'For someone who brings so much joy to so many, who is always trying to lift others up and make them laugh, this loss has completely shattered him. He is gutted, and as you would expect, his closest friends are surrounding him with love and support.'
The Daily Mail previously confirmed that the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office has completed Katherine's autopsy, and her body is ready to be released. Insiders also revealed that Short's friends and Only Murders In The Building co-stars Meryl Streep and Steve Martin have been providing comfort in the aftermath of this family tragedy.
Official Statement and Personal History
On Tuesday, representatives for Short confirmed his daughter Katherine's death in a statement to 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. Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world.'
Katherine was last seen publicly with her father while celebrating her 40th birthday in 2023, an event attended by Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, Catherine O'Hara, Bo Welch, and Joni Mitchell at the Grand Master Recorders in Hollywood. She was a licensed clinical social worker with a master’s degree from the University of Southern California.
Previous Tragedies and Coping Mechanisms
Short adopted Katherine and her brothers Oliver and Henry with his late wife Nancy Dolman, who died in 2010 after a battle with ovarian cancer. The couple had been married for 30 years at the time of her death. Following Dolman's passing, Short's longtime comedy partner Steve Martin paid tribute to her with a musical elegy titled The Great Remember (For Nancy), which appeared on one of his albums.
Speaking in 2019 about Nancy, Short described his marriage to the actress as a 'triumph'. He admitted he still 'talks' to his late wife frequently and feels her presence around him. In an interview with AARP magazine, he reflected: 'With real tragedy, you become a little more daring. It's the yin to the yang: the positive part of life's dark side.' Short also previously told CBC that his attitude toward grief is: 'We go on.'
In his memoir, released in 2014, he described Nancy's death as 'by far the most awful thing I've been through'. As he supported his children through the grief of losing their mother, Short drew from his own experiences. Speaking to his youngest son Henry the night before Nancy died, he told him: 'This will make you stronger. This will make you more determined.'
Philosophical Reflections and Personal Resilience
As Short and his children continue 14 years following his spouse's passing, the actor has previously revealed the George Eliot quote that he holds dear when thinking about her: 'Our dead are never dead to us until we have forgotten them.' He added in an August 2024 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, 'We were together for 36 years. I didn't want to forget Nancy.'
Short, who is originally from Hamilton, Canada, was orphaned at the young age of 20 and has endured further loss in his adult life. Despite experiencing more grief than many encounter in a lifetime by adolescence, Short has recently insisted he is not 'screwed up' by the tragedies that marked his earlier years; instead, he argued that these experiences have made him stronger.
