Families, tourgoers and mental-health advocates shaken as Martin Short’s daughter Katherine Short dies at 42

Why this matters now: martin short’s family has been hit by another public loss amid an active comedy tour, immediate show postponements and a renewed spotlight on mental-health work his daughter performed. The practical fallout is already visible—ticket changes and media attention—but the human consequences land first on family, colleagues and the clients she served.

Martin Short and live audiences feel the immediate impact

Martin Short postponed multiple upcoming dates on his joint comedy tour with longtime collaborator Steve Martin after news of his daughter’s death. Venues in Milwaukee and Minneapolis announced postponements for shows scheduled that weekend; one venue said the change was due to "unforeseen circumstances" and that tickets will be honored at a future date. The next tour date listed without a postponement notice is March 13 in Washington, D. C.

What is known about the death and emergency response

Katherine Short, 42, was found at her Hollywood Hills residence on Monday. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the home at about 6 p. m.; paramedics pronounced her dead shortly after. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner listed her place of death as her residence and determined the cause as a gunshot wound of the head, concluding that she died by suicide. A law enforcement source described the death as an apparent suicide.

Katherine Short’s professional work and education

Katherine held a bachelor’s degree in psychology and gender studies from New York University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California. She operated a private practice, worked part-time at a psychiatry-led outpatient clinic named Amae Health, and was involved with the charity Bring Change 2 Mind, whose mission is to end stigma and discrimination around mental illness. She also did community outreach, peer support and psychotherapy work in clinical settings.

Family background, recent losses and other personal details

She was the eldest of three children adopted by Martin Short and his late wife Nancy Dolman. The couple met while working on a Toronto production of Godspell (early 1970s), married in 1980, and Nancy Dolman died of ovarian cancer in 2010 at age 58. The family has used the name Katherine Hartley Short in a public statement mourning the loss; other referenced material identified her as Katherine Elizabeth Short. Siblings referenced in available material include Henry and Oliver (also named Oliver Patrick in some references).

Her father published a memoir in 2014 titled I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend and dedicated it to his children. Katherine’s death arrives less than a month after the death of actor Catherine O’Hara, who died of a pulmonary embolism after privately battling rectal cancer; Martin Short and his tour partner paid tribute to O’Hara during a recent stop on their tour.

Logistics, venue notices and schedule details

• The Milwaukee appearance tied to the tour was listed for a Friday (one notice gave the specific date as February 27) and a Milwaukee venue page cited "unforeseen circumstances" when postponing; a Milwaukee Riverside Theater announcement referenced the postponement and ticket-honor plans.
• Minneapolis shows at the Orpheum Theatre on February 28 were also postponed, and updates were posted by local theatre organizers including the Hennepin Theatre Trust.
• A March 13 date in Washington, D. C., is the next listed outing without a postponement notice in the available schedule.

Here’s the part that matters for people trying to plan: ticket holders in Milwaukee and Minneapolis should expect rescheduling and follow their venue’s guidance; venues have said tickets will be honored for future dates.

• She was 42 and worked as a licensed clinical social worker.
• Emergency responders arrived at about 6 p. m. on Monday and pronounced her dead shortly after.
• The medical examiner listed cause of death as a gunshot wound of the head and place of death as her residence.
• Family asked for privacy and described Katherine as beloved and a bringer of light and joy.

It’s easy to overlook, but the clustering of recent high-profile losses has intensified attention on an already sensitive family period and on the tour schedule—compounding logistical headaches with emotional strain for everyone involved.

Additional, unrelated items appearing alongside these reports: a group of Rob Reiner’s close friends released a remembrance calling him a "passionate, brave citizen, " and Stray Cats frontman Brian Setzer said he was "gutted" after illness forced the band to cancel fall tour dates.

Key takeaways:

• Katherine Short, 42, a Los Angeles social worker, has died; family sought privacy and described her as beloved.
• Emergency responders reached her Hollywood Hills home around 6 p. m. on Monday; the medical examiner listed a gunshot wound of the head and ruled the death a suicide.
• Martin Short postponed multiple shows with Steve Martin; venues in Milwaukee and Minneapolis announced postponements and said tickets will be honored for rescheduled dates; a March 13 Washington, D. C. date remained on the calendar without a postponement notice.
• If you or someone you know is struggling: in the U. S. dial or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; in the U. K. and Ireland call Samaritans at 116 123 or email jo@samaritans. org; in Australia contact Lifeline at 13 11 14. Other international helplines are available.

The real question now is how the family and tour will navigate the coming weeks: some dates already delayed, others unclear. Martin Short was also noted as being up for an Actor Award this Sunday for act—unclear in the provided context.

If you’re wondering why this keeps coming up for the public eye: Katherine’s work in mental-health spaces and her family connections made her loss a matter of both private grief and public attention.