Martin Short’s family and tour shaken after daughter Katherine dies at 42

Who feels the impact first: the family and the small circle around a touring comedian. martin short’s household and professional plans have been suddenly disrupted after his eldest adopted daughter, Katherine Hartley Short, was found dead at her Hollywood Hills home. This is a developing story; details remain limited while the family requests privacy.

Martin Short — immediate impact on family life, the tour and mental-health circles

Katherine’s death lands on multiple fronts: it is a private loss for the Short family, a public disruption for a two-man comedy tour, and a painful moment for colleagues and mental-health advocates who knew her work. The Short family has said they are devastated and have asked for privacy while they grieve. Performances scheduled later this week are now uncertain as staff and venues assess whether the shows will proceed.

What authorities found at the Hollywood Hills home

Law enforcement and fire department personnel responded to Katherine’s Hollywood Hills home on a Monday shortly after 6: 40 PM PT, where she was found deceased. The death has been described as an apparent suicide and investigators noted a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A later report dated February 24 referenced the same response and circumstances. This account of events is part of ongoing coverage and may be updated as more information becomes available.

Katherine Short — education, career, public life and family context

• Age and family: Katherine was 42 and the eldest of three children adopted by Martin Short and his late wife, Nancy Dolman. Her younger brothers are Henry and Oliver.
• Parents and history: Nancy Dolman was Martin Short’s wife for 30 years; she first met him while working on a production in 1972, they married in 1980, and she died in 2010 of ovarian cancer at the age of 58.
• Education and work: Katherine earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and gender sexuality studies from New York University in 2006 and a master’s in social work from the University of Southern California in 2010. She worked in Los Angeles as a licensed clinical social worker in private practice and also worked part-time at a clinic offering community outreach, peer support and psychotherapy.
• Advocacy and public appearances: She was involved with the nonprofit Bring Change To Mind (sometimes stylized Bring Change 2 Mind) and generally kept out of the spotlight, though she occasionally attended events and red carpets with her father. She was last publicly seen in January 2020 outside Craig’s restaurant in West Hollywood.

Tour schedule, immediate logistics and recent losses

Martin Short, who is 75, has been on a two-man comedy tour with his longtime friend and collaborator. Shows are scheduled this week: one on Friday in Milwaukee and another on Saturday in Minneapolis; the Minneapolis date has been described as sold out. Staff at theaters have said it is unclear whether the performances will take place as planned. This personal loss comes after another recent bereavement for Short, who recently paid tribute to his longtime friend Catherine O'Hara following her death last month.

Quick timeline

• 1972: Short and Nancy Dolman first met while working together on a production.
• 1980: The couple married.
• 2010: Nancy Dolman died of ovarian cancer.
• Monday, shortly after 6: 40 PM PT: LAPD and fire department responded to Katherine’s Hollywood Hills home where she was found deceased.
• February 24: A later report referenced the response and circumstances around the death.

The next confirmations about performances, investigations and family statements will shape how this story moves forward.

Here’s the part that matters: this is both a private family tragedy and a moment that intersects with public work and mental-health advocacy tied to Katherine’s career. It’s easy to overlook, but her professional focus on outreach and peer support will be an element in how her death is discussed by those who knew her.

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The real question now is how the Short family will balance privacy and public obligations while investigations and tour logistics are resolved. Recent updates indicate details may evolve.