When laughter-bringing comic Martin Short walked the red carpets, his daughter Katherine Hartley Short was sometimes at his side a quiet presence, smiling gently but largely out of the spotlight. On Monday evening, that presence was gone. Katherine, 42, was found dead at her home in the Hollywood Hills, and authorities are treating her death as a likely suicide.
A family representative released a poignant statement that captures the depth of the loss: “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.”
Born in December 1983 and adopted by Short and his late wife Nancy Dolman, who died of ovarian cancer in 2010, Katherine grew up far removed from Hollywood’s glare. She built a life focused on care and compassion, becoming a licensed clinical social worker in Los Angeles. After earning her bachelor’s degree from New York University and a master’s in social work from the University of Southern California, she spent her career supporting people through trauma, grief and mental health challenges.
In addition to her private practice, Katherine contributed to community outreach at Amae Health and worked with charity Bring Change 2 Mind, an organization dedicated to ending stigma around mental illness.
Her tragic passing comes as the Short family who have always shielded their children from constant public scrutiny, now grieve a daughter cherished for her empathy, strength and kindness. Friends, collaborators and fans have begun offering condolences while the family asks for space to mourn.
