May 11, 2026, 11:07 amMay 11, 2026, 11:07 am
Actor and comedian Martin Short has spoken publicly for the first time about his daughter’s death. “It was a nightmare for the family,” said the 76-year-old in an interview with “CBS News.” 42-year-old Katherine Short died in February.
Martin Short spoke for the first time about his daughter’s death.Image: www.imago-images.de
Speaking to the broadcaster, Martin Short drew a parallel between the death of his daughter and that of his wife Nancy Dolman, who died of cancer in 2010. “Mental illness and cancer like my wife’s are both illnesses and sometimes illnesses are incurable,” he said. Katherine Short committed suicide.
“My daughter struggled with extreme mental health issues for a long time, borderline personality disorder, other things. “She did her best until she couldn’t do it anymore,” said Short.
Losses develop “survival muscle” in shorts
He has a “deep desire” to bring the issue of mental illness “out of the shadows, not to be ashamed of it” and not to hide from the word suicide.
The actor (“Only Murders in the Building,” “Father of the Bride”) experienced loss in his family early on. His brother was reportedly killed in a car accident when Martin Short was 12 years old. Both of his parents died before he was 20 years old. “What that developed in me was this muscle to survive and deal with grief – and a perspective on the whole thing,” said the Canadian.
Where does Martin Short’s courage come from?
His experiences gave him the courage to go on stage. “I think once you’ve gone through that, it doesn’t matter so much if an audience doesn’t like you.”
Martin Short and Nancy Dolman married in 1980 and adopted their three children, Katherine, Oliver and Henry. (sda/dpa)