11 May,2026 10:23 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Martin Short (Pic/ X)
Hollywood actor and comedian Martin Short suffered a heartbreaking personal loss earlier this year when his daughter, Katherine Short, died by suicide in February 2026 at the age of 42. Now, for the first time since the devastating tragedy, the Only Murders in the Building actor has opened up about his daughter's long struggle with mental health while promoting his upcoming documentary, Marty: Life Is Short.
During an emotional appearance on CBS News Sunday Morning, Martin spoke candidly about the devastating loss of his daughter. The actor drew parallels between Katherine's mental health struggles and the illness that claimed the life of his wife, Nancy Dolman, in 2010.
Speaking about Katherine's death, Short said, "It's been a nightmare for the family."
"But the understanding is that mental health and cancer, like my wife's, are both diseases, and sometimes, with diseases, they are terminal," he continued. "My daughter fought for a long time with extreme mental health issues, borderline personality disorder, and other challenges, and did the best she could until she couldn't."
He added, "Nancy's last words to me were, âMartin, let me go,' and what Katherine was saying was, âDad, let me go.'"
Katherine died in February at her home in the Hollywood Hills at the age of 42. Authorities later confirmed her death was caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Katherine's death marked another profound loss for Martin Short, who has endured several personal tragedies over the years.
Katherine was the eldest child of Martin Short's three children and the daughter of Nancy Dolman, who died of ovarian cancer in 2010. She built a career in social work after earning a bachelor's degree from New York University and a master's degree from University of Southern California.
Meanwhile, Martin's upcoming documentary, Marty: Life Is Short, is set to explore the actor's personal journey, career milestones, and the many tragedies he has faced over the years. Martin was more recently seen in the show Only Murders In The Building season 5 with co-stars Selena Gomez and Steve Martin. The show is expected to return for future instalments.
