Martin Short’s daughter Katherine Short dies at 42; cause of death revealed and tour dates postponed
martin short’s daughter, Katherine Short, has died at age 42. The family released a statement expressing profound grief, and the comedian has postponed several dates on his joint tour with Steve Martin as authorities and the medical examiner have documented details of her death.
Martin Short: family statement, timeline and medical examiner findings
The family said: "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. " A law enforcement source described the death as an apparent suicide. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed the death was by suicide and listed the cause as a "gunshot wound of [the] head, " with the place of death recorded as her residence. Katherine died on Monday.
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to Katherine Short’s Hollywood Hills home on Monday at about 6 p. m., and paramedics pronounced her dead shortly after.
Katherine Short’s education, work and community involvement
Katherine Short held a bachelor’s degree in psychology and gender studies from New York University, earned in 2006, and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California, earned in 2010. She operated a private practice and worked part-time at the psychiatry-led outpatient clinic Amae Health. She was also involved with the charity Bring Change 2 Mind, an organization focused on ending stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness, and she provided community outreach, peer support and psychotherapy through clinic work.
Katherine largely kept out of the spotlight but sometimes attended events and walked red carpets with her father.
Tour postponements and ticket notices after Katherine Short’s death
martin short postponed a trio of shows on his joint comedy tour with Steve Martin following news of his daughter’s death. Venues in Milwaukee and Minneapolis announced postponements: Milwaukee’s Miller High Life Theatre noted the change was due to "unforeseen circumstances" and indicated tickets will be honored for a future date, and shows scheduled at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis for Feb. 28 were also delayed. One Milwaukee venue, the Riverside Theater, issued an announcement saying the originally scheduled show had been postponed and that ticket holders will be contacted with further information. The next scheduled tour date without a postponement notice is March 13 in Washington, D. C.
Family history and related losses
Katherine was the eldest of three children Martin Short adopted with his wife Nancy Dolman. The couple first met in the early 1970s while working on the Toronto production of the rock musical Godspell and married in 1980. Nancy Dolman died of ovarian cancer in 2010 at age 58. Katherine and her younger brothers, Henry and Oliver (also referenced as Oliver Patrick in earlier coverage), were adopted by the couple.
In 2014, Martin Short published a memoir titled "I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend, " which he dedicated to his children. In past comments about life after his wife’s death he reflected on the persistence of daily life and the need to keep going after personal loss.
Context around other recent industry losses and unrelated notices in coverage
Katherine Short’s death came less than a month after actor Catherine O’Hara died of a pulmonary embolism after privately battling rectal cancer. Martin Short and Martin paid tribute to O’Hara during a recent stop on their joint comedy tour; Martin Short described O’Hara as "the greatest, most brilliant, kindest, sweetest angel. " From stage and screen roles including SCTV, Best in Show and Schitt’s Creek, O’Hara was noted for the mark she left on her projects.
Separate items mentioned in contemporaneous coverage included a statement from a group of Rob Reiner’s closest friends remembering him as a "passionate, brave citizen" who worked to make the world a better place, and a note that The Stray Cats frontman Brian Setzer said he was "gutted" after a "serious illness" forced the rockabilly band to cancel their fall tour dates.
Support resources and final items from the record
This coverage includes public helplines that were provided alongside reporting of the death: in the United States, callers and texters can reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 800-273-TALK. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123 or by email at jo@samaritans. org or jo@samaritans. ie. In Australia, Lifeline can be reached at 13 11 14. Other international helplines are listed through international helpline directories and advocacy organizations.
One fragment in the contemporary record states that "Martin Short is up for an Actor Award this Sunday for acto" — this item is unclear in the provided context and cannot be confirmed from the material available.
Details remain sensitive and family members have asked for privacy. Recent updates indicate some specifics have been confirmed by the medical examiner, while other elements of the timeline and public responses may continue to evolve.
