Martin Short’s Daughter Katherine Passes Away at 42 by Suicide, A Wave of Shock Shakes the Film Industry

On Monday, February 23, 2026, Comedian and actor Martin Short’s daughter, Katherine Elizabeth, passed away at the age of 42. She breathed her last at her Los Angeles home. The US authorities confirmed that the incident is suspected to be a suicide case. The Short family released an official statement regarding the sad demise of their one and only daughter. “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 statement read. 

Katherine was one of three children adopted by Short and his then-wife, Nancy Dolman. She was largely kept out of the spotlight. However, she walked red carpets with her father. Nancy Dolman died of ovarian cancer in 2010. The couple shared two other children via adoption, Oliver Patrick, 39, and Henry Hayter, 36.

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Katherine Elizabeth Short Breathes Last at 42, Dies by Suicide

Martin Short’s only daughter, Katherine, has died by suicide at the age of 42, PEOPLE reports. pic.twitter.com/5cXLWPzFYW — Pop Crave (@PopCrave) February 24, 2026

On Monday, February 23, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a call from a Hollywood Hills home at 6:41 p.m. regarding a female. TMZ cited law enforcement sources to report that she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Katherine Short worked in private practice as a licensed clinical social worker and also part-time at the clinic, Amae Health, to provide community outreach, family support groups, peer support, and psychotherapy. The sad demise of Katherine Elizabeth Short is another tragic blow for the Only Murders in the Building star, who lost his wife of 30 years. Tributes are flooding in for the social worker with a grievance passed to the entire family.