Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Martin Short Reflects on ‘Nightmare’ Loss of Daughter Katherine

Martin Short recently discussed the death of his daughter, Katherine Short, calling it "a nightmare for the family." Katherine, who was 42, passed away in February at her home in the Hollywood Hills. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed her death was a result of suicide.

In an interview with CBS News Sunday Morning, the 76-year-old actor and comedian likened Katherine’s death to the loss of his wife, Nancy Dolman, who died from ovarian cancer in 2010. Short remarked that mental health issues, like cancer, are serious diseases that can sometimes lead to tragic outcomes. He explained that Katherine battled severe mental health challenges, including borderline personality disorder, and fought bravely until her struggles became overwhelming.

Short expressed a strong desire to destigmatise mental health issues, stating the importance of discussing topics such as suicide openly, rather than hiding from them. He reflected on the profound impact of recent losses, including his daughter, sister-in-law, and several close friends.

Katherine was the eldest of Short and Dolman’s three adopted children. While she generally stayed out of the public eye, she occasionally supported her father at events. She held degrees in psychology and gender sexuality studies from New York University and a master’s in social work from the University of Southern California.

Short’s documentary, Marty, Life Is Short, which premieres on 12 May, explores his experiences with loss throughout his life. He shared that these challenges have shaped his resilience and ability to cope with grief, allowing him to approach his work with a unique perspective.

Test Your Understanding

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Vocabulary List:
6 words · tap to reveal
ON

Accent

suicide/ˈsuːəˌsaɪd/noun
when a person ends their own life

destigmatise/diˈstɪɡməˌtaɪz/verb
help people not feel ashamed about something

resilience/rɪˈzɪliəns/noun
ability to recover from problems or difficulty

disorder/dɪsˈɔrdər/noun
a condition that affects mind or body's function

overwhelming/ˌoʊvərˈwɛlmɪŋ/adjective
very strong and difficult to deal with

grief/ɡriːf/noun
deep sadness people feel after someone dies

How much do you know?

What was the cause of Katherine Short's death?
Accident
Suicide
Ovarian cancer
Natural causes
Which university did Katherine Short receive her degrees from?
Harvard University
New York University
Stanford University
University of Southern California
In what year did Martin Short's wife, Nancy Dolman, pass away?
2010
2005
2012
2015
What type of mental health disorder did Katherine Short struggle with?
Depression
Bipolar disorder
Borderline personality disorder
Anxiety disorder
When is Martin Short's documentary set to premiere?
1 May
12 May
24 May
30 May
How many adopted children do Martin Short and Nancy Dolman have?
One
Two
Three
Four
Katherine Short passed away at the age of 42.
Martin Short believes mental health issues should be hidden from discussion.
Katherine was the youngest of Short and Dolman’s adopted children.
Martin Short's documentary explores his experiences with loss.
Katherine Short held a degree in business administration.
Martin Short is 76 years old.
Katherine Short's death was confirmed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office as a result of .
Martin Short expressed a desire to destigmatise health issues.
Katherine Short held a master's in social work from the University of California.
Martin Short compared the loss of his daughter to the loss of his wife who died from cancer.
Katherine was the of Short and Dolman’s three adopted children.
Katherine Short fought bravely until her struggles became .
This question is required

Test Your Understanding

Start Quiz
Vocabulary List:
6 words · tap to reveal
ON
Accent
suicide/ˈsuːəˌsaɪd/noun
when a person ends their own life
destigmatise/diˈstɪɡməˌtaɪz/verb
help people not feel ashamed about something
resilience/rɪˈzɪliəns/noun
ability to recover from problems or difficulty
disorder/dɪsˈɔrdər/noun
a condition that affects mind or body's function
overwhelming/ˌoʊvərˈwɛlmɪŋ/adjective
very strong and difficult to deal with
grief/ɡriːf/noun
deep sadness people feel after someone dies

How much do you know?

What was the cause of Katherine Short's death?
Accident
Suicide
Ovarian cancer
Natural causes
Which university did Katherine Short receive her degrees from?
Harvard University
New York University
Stanford University
University of Southern California
In what year did Martin Short's wife, Nancy Dolman, pass away?
2010
2005
2012
2015
What type of mental health disorder did Katherine Short struggle with?
Depression
Bipolar disorder
Borderline personality disorder
Anxiety disorder
When is Martin Short's documentary set to premiere?
1 May
12 May
24 May
30 May
How many adopted children do Martin Short and Nancy Dolman have?
One
Two
Three
Four
Katherine Short passed away at the age of 42.
Martin Short believes mental health issues should be hidden from discussion.
Katherine was the youngest of Short and Dolman’s adopted children.
Martin Short's documentary explores his experiences with loss.
Katherine Short held a degree in business administration.
Martin Short is 76 years old.
Katherine Short's death was confirmed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office as a result of .
Martin Short expressed a desire to destigmatise health issues.
Katherine Short held a master's in social work from the University of California.
Martin Short compared the loss of his daughter to the loss of his wife who died from cancer.
Katherine was the of Short and Dolman’s three adopted children.
Katherine Short fought bravely until her struggles became .
This question is required

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