Katherine Hartley Short's death left her father, Martin Short and her brothers heartbroken. Here's what we know about the cause of her demise.
Katherine Hartley Short, the only daughter of comedian and actor, Martin Short was confirmed dead on February 24, 2026. She passed away under tragic circumstances, leaving her family devastated. A representative for Martin Short shared the sad news in a formal statement released to multiple media outlets, such as PEOPLE and USA Today. The family's statement expressed "profound grief" and requested privacy during their period of mourning. As Katherine's reason for demise was disclosed to be s**cide, it sparked curiosity regarding what might have led her to take such an extreme step.
Katherine Hartley Short, the 42-year-old daughter of Martin Short, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on February 23, 2026. Reports by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed Katherine's cause of death as s**cide after responding to a reported shooting at her Hollywood Hills home. In a statement shared by the Short family, the deceased was addressed as "beloved by all". According to them, Katherine would continue to have a place in the hearts of the people who knew her for the "light and joy she brought into the world." The statement could be read as:
"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 exact reason for Katherine's drastic choice has not been publicly shared by her family or authorities as of February 25, 2026. However, a deterioration of her mental health was evident from her father, Martin Short's past interviews. During a 2012 conversation with The Guardian, the comedian opened up on how the 2010 death of his wife, Nancy Dolman, had greatly impacted their three adoptive children, including Katherine. Nancy succumbed to ovarian cancer, and following that, the kids underwent a "tough" period, and they did "suffer a little" as per Martin. Sharing the family's grief-stricken state after Nancy's demise, he said:
"It's been a tough two years for my children. 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. There's no big surprise."
Notably, being unable to deal with the death of her mother may or may not be the reason for Katherine Hartley Short's s**cide as no information regarding the cause has been made public yet. However, at that time, it did cause pain to Martin Short's teenage daughter. Katherine may have later opted for a career in mental health advocacy to cope with her own grief and move ahead in life.
Katherine was a licensed clinical social worker and a dedicated mental health advocate. She engaged in private practice as well as worked part-time at Amae Health, a psychiatry-led outpatient clinic, providing psychotherapy, peer support, and community outreach. Previously, Katherine worked at UCLA's Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital for four years, specialising in crisis management and supporting those with severe mental illness. Katherine treated patients with anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, grief, loss, and s**cidality. She was also an active mental health advocate for the charity Bring Change 2 Mind.
Katherine Hartley Short was the eldest adoptive child of Martin Short and Nancy Dolman, who lived with her younger brothers, Oliver Patrick and Henry. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and gender s**uality studies from New York University in 2006, followed by a master's in social work from the University of Southern California in 2010. Despite her father's high-profile Hollywood career, Katherine largely maintained a private life. However, she occasionally accompanied Martin Short to major industry events, including the Vanity Fair Oscar Party and the Kennedy Center Honours.
We offer our heartfelt condolences to Katherine Hartley Short's family as they deal with her loss.
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