Martin Short’s daughter, Katherine Hartley Short, has died at age 42. Her death has been ruled a suicide.
A rep for Martin confirmed Katherine’s death in a statement to Us Weekly on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
“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,” the statement read. “Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world.”
Here is what we know about her passing, her life and the family she leaves behind:
Martin Short’s daughter Katherine Hartley Short’s cause of death has been revealed. Us Weekly can confirm via online records that Katherine’s death has been officially ruled a suicide. A rep for Martin, 75, confirmed Katherine’s death at age 42 in a statement on Tuesday, February 24. “It is with profound grief that we confirm the […]
Family Confirms Katherine Short’s Death
A rep for Martin Short confirmed Katherine Short’s death in a statement to Us on February 24, 2026.
“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,” the statement read. “Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world.”
No further details were shared by the family at the time of the initial announcement.
Katherine was the only daughter of Martin and his late wife, Nancy Dolman. Martin and Dolman, who died in 2010 after a battle with ovarian cancer, adopted all three of their children — Katherine and sons Oliver and Henry.
Katherine Short’s Death Ruled a Suicide
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to Us that officers responded to a radio call of a possible suicide attempt in the Hollywood Hills on Monday, February 23, 2026, at 6:43 p.m. local time. LAPD’s public information officer told Us that officers responded to “the 2800 block of Westshire Drive. Officers found a deceased female at the location.”
The Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed that Katherine Short’s death had been officially ruled a suicide.
Katherine Short Left a Note Before Her Death
TMZ reported on February 26, 2026, that Katherine was found “behind a locked door and with a note nearby.” Law enforcement sources told the outlet that Katherine was found by a friend after she hadn’t been heard from for 24 hours. The unnamed friend was apparently quick to call the police.
According to the 911 dispatch call, obtained by TMZ, the friend who called 911 was unable to enter the bedroom.
Katherine Short’s Life and Career
Katherine Short, who mostly stayed out of the public eye, received her bachelor’s degree from New York University in 2006 and her master’s in social work from the University of Southern California in 2010. She worked as a licensed clinical social worker in Los Angeles and did part-time work at the Amae Health clinic, where she aided community outreach, family support groups, peer support and psychotherapy.
Katherin was also involved with a nonprofit organization called Bring Change to Mind, which is dedicated to breaking stigmas surrounding mental health.
While Katherine preferred to stay out of the spotlight, she attended a handful of events with her father, Martin Short, over the years, including the afterparty for The Producers in 2003 and the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in 2011. She was the only daughter of Martin and his late wife, Nancy Dolman, who died in 2010 after a battle with ovarian cancer. The couple adopted all three of their children — Katherine and sons Oliver and Henry.
A rep for Martin confirmed Katherine’s death in a statement to Us on February 24, 2026.
“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,” the statement read. “Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world.”
Why Katherine Short Changed Her Name
Katherine Short filed to change her name to “Katherine Elizabeth Hartley” in October 2012, according to court documents obtained by Us.
“My father is a public figure. I am a psychiatric social worker,” Katherine explained of her reasoning in court documents. “I am concerned about potential harassment from future patients resulting from my association with my father.”
TMZ reported that her motion was granted in 2013, almost 13 years before her death.
What Katherine Short’s Neighbors Said After Her Death
One of Katherine Short’s neighbors exclusively told Us that Katherine gave “no indication of struggle” before she died.
“Depression is often a silent and hidden killer,” the neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous but shared they’d lived near Katherine for over 10 years, shared.
“Katherine was a private person but that doesn’t mean she wasn’t friendly. She was quite outgoing,” the neighbor noted, telling Us they’d sometimes “hear and see her laughing with friends” on her front porch.
“She was a voracious reader and could talk deeply about the books she’d read,” they added, noting that Katherine enjoyed nonfiction literature. “She had the nicest, most beautiful orange tree in her front yard. It was the envy of all the neighbors. Somehow, the bugs that affected our trees did not land in hers.”
The neighbor also recalled Katherine being “festive,” decorating the outside of her home in “fun and whimsical ways for holidays.”
“She proudly hung her Canadian flag yearlong,” they added. Photos of Katherine’s residence taken by photographers on February 24, 2026, showed a red heart wreath with pink flowers on her front door in honor of Valentine’s Day, the blossoming fruit hanging from her thriving orange tree and the Canadian flag waving above her garage.
A next-door neighbor exclusively told Us that Katherine was a “great neighbor and gardener.”
“It’s incredibly sad,” the resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said of Katherine’s sudden passing.
“She was very nice but this is a quiet neighborhood and to be fair, we don’t see too many neighbors usually out,” a second neighbor said of Katherine, noting she did not throw parties, wasn’t loud and pretty much kept to herself.
At least two other neighbors remembered seeing Katherine on her front porch, where she’d always wave and say hi as they walked by.
The Short Family
Martin Short adopted Katherine Short with his late wife, Nancy Dolman, who died at age 58 in August 2010 after a battle with ovarian cancer. The couple, who were married for 30 years, also shared sons Oliver and Henry. Martin and Dolman adopted all three of their children.
In a 2012 interview with The Guardian, the Only Murders in the Building star said it had “been a tough two years” for his children following Dolman’s passing.
“This is the thing of life that we live in denial about, that it will ever happen to us or our loved ones, and when it does you gain a little and you suffer a little,” Martin said at the time. “There’s no big surprise.”
In 2014, Martin reflected on mourning his wife’s loss with his children and loved ones.
“[Nancy] had once said to me, ‘I don’t want a funeral, and I don’t want a memorial. Throw a party, or not,’” Martin said on The Meredith Vieira Show. “She just was so irritated that she was losing this battle, she didn’t want to think about it. So I just followed her wishes. We went up, we had a party with about 30 close friends and family. She was cremated. The kids and I went into a boat, we sprinkled the ashes into the water, and we jumped into the ashes.”
Martin told AARP magazine in 2019 that he still communicates with Dolman. “It’s, ‘Hey, Nan,’ you know? How would she react to this decision or that, especially regarding our three kids. I believe that when people die, they zoom into the people that love them,” he said. “This idea that it just ends, and don’t speak of them — that’s wrong. That’s based on denial that we’re all going to die.”
“Our marriage was a triumph,” Martin told the outlet. “To me, she’s still here. At the same time, her death emboldened me to take risks. With real tragedy, you become a little more daring. It’s the yin to the yang: the positive part of life’s dark side.”
Martin Short’s Upcoming Shows Postponed
Martin Short postponed his comedy shows with Steve Martin in the wake of his daughter’s death. The Pabst Theater Group and the Orpheum Theatre announced via their websites that the respective Wisconsin and Minnesota show dates would be rescheduled “due to unforeseen circumstances.”
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.
