Katherine Elizabeth Hartley Short, the eldest daughter of beloved comedian and actor Martin Short, has died at the age of 42.
Her passing was confirmed in a statement to The Independent by a representative for the family.
“It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short,” the statement read. “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.”
According to TMZ, officers with the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call Monday evening at Katherine’s home in the Hollywood Hills, where she was found deceased. The outlet reported that she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities have not released further details.
Katherine was the oldest of three children adopted by Martin Short and his late wife, Nancy Dolman. The couple also share sons Oliver Patrick Short, 39, and Henry Hayter Short, 36.
Dolman died in 2010 following a battle with ovarian cancer, leaving Martin to raise their children after nearly 30 years of marriage. In the years following his wife’s death, Short spoke candidly about grief and its lasting impact.
“It’s been a tough two years for my children,” he told The Guardian at the time. “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.”
Though Katherine largely stayed out of the spotlight, she occasionally accompanied her father to public events. She attended the 2003 afterparty for The Producers, Bette Midler’s New York Restoration Project “Hulaween,” and the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in February 2011.
Professionally, Katherine carved out a path far from the entertainment industry. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and gender sexuality studies from New York University in 2006. Four years later, she completed a master’s degree in social work at the University of Southern California.
Her career centered on mental health care. Katherine worked for four years at UCLA’s Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital before joining the dual-diagnosis outpatient program at Camden Center. She later entered private practice as a licensed clinical social worker and also worked part-time at Amae Health.
According to her professional website, she was involved with Bring Change 2 Mind, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering young people to create empathetic school communities where conversations about mental health are welcomed and stigma-free.
The loss comes as Martin Short is currently touring in a two-man comedy and music show with his Only Murders in the Building co-star Steve Martin. It is unclear whether he will appear at their scheduled performance Friday at the Miller High Life Theatre in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Friends and colleagues have not yet publicly commented, but tributes are expected as news spreads throughout the entertainment community.
Katherine’s life reflected a deep commitment to helping others navigate mental health challenges — work that makes the circumstances of her death particularly heartbreaking for those who knew her.
The Short family has requested privacy as they grieve an unimaginable loss.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In the United States, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
