Fans know Martin Short as the quicksilver comedian who can lift a room. Now the spotlight has swung to a quiet Hollywood Hills street, where neighbors are piecing together memories of his eldest child, Katherine, after her death at 42.
TLDR
Neighbors describe Katherine Short as kind, low-key, and deeply private after her apparent suicide at 42. As Martin Short grieves another family loss, attention turns to Katherine’s life, work in mental health, and the support available for those who are struggling.
A Quiet Life in the Hills
Katherine Hartley Short lived in a modest but sunlit home in the Hollywood Hills, away from the noise that usually trails a last name like hers. According to Page Six, she died by apparent suicide at the house, and a representative for Martin Short confirmed her passing in a statement.
Neighbors told Us Weekly that Katherine was friendly, if reserved. One described her as a “great neighbor and gardener” and called the news of her death “incredibly sad.” Another said she was “very nice” and noted that she did not throw loud parties and mostly kept to herself.
A third neighbor remembered small, almost cinematic gestures. Katherine would sit on her porch and lift a hand in greeting as people passed, offering a quiet “hi” rather than a full conversation. The glimpses were brief, but they painted a picture of a woman who valued calm over chaos.
Professionally, Katherine worked as a social worker, a role that put her on the front lines of other people’s pain. Her private life, however, stayed largely off social media and out of public view, aside from a few red carpet moments with her famous father.
A Family Marked by Loss
Katherine was the eldest of three children Martin Short adopted with his wife, actress Nancy Dolman. The couple built their family away from Hollywood flash, even as Short’s career moved from “SCTV” and “Saturday Night Live” to films, Broadway, and the streaming-era success of “Only Murders in the Building.”
Dolman died of ovarian cancer in 2010. Her death was a defining fracture for the family. Short has spoken in past interviews about their tight-knit home and how he continued to feel married long after she was gone. The children, Katherine, Oliver, and Henry, became the core of that life he guarded so fiercely.
In the statement shared with Page Six, Short’s representative said, “It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short.” The statement continued, “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.”
Photos over the years show that the private family is stepping delicately into the public eye. Katherine appeared beside her father at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Spiderwick Chronicles” and joined her brothers for the opening night of his Broadway show “Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me.” Their smiles hinted at an ordinary closeness, even in extraordinary surroundings.
Her Work for Mental Health
According to Page Six, Katherine graduated from New York University in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and gender sexuality studies, then earned a master’s in social work from the University of Southern California in 2010. Her academic path mirrored a life oriented toward care and advocacy.
She was involved with Bring Change 2 Mind, the nonprofit co-founded by Glenn Close that focuses on ending stigma around mental health. For a child of Hollywood who preferred the background to the spotlight, it was a way to lend her name to something bigger than celebrity.
The details of her final days remain private, as her family has requested. What is public is the difficult truth that even those who dedicate their lives to helping others can struggle themselves. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that suicide is a complex, multifaceted issue and that treatment and support can make a critical difference.
In the United States, help is available through the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, reachable by calling or texting 988. Friends, neighbors, and fans who see Katherine’s story may find themselves thinking about their own loved ones, and about how fragile and interconnected quiet lives can be around a single famous name.
Join the Discussion
How do you think stories like Katherine Short’s should shape the way we talk about mental health and loss around the celebrities and families we follow?
