Martin Short is mourning the loss of his daughter, Katherine Hartley Short, who died aged 42, prompting an outpouring of grief from family and friends and a request for privacy from the Short family.
The news is a devastating blow for the veteran actor, who had to deal with the loss of his wife after 30 years of marriage.
According to law enforcement sources, emergency services responded to a call to Katherine’s Hollywood Hills home on the evening of Monday, February 23, where she was found dead from what authorities described as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Both the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene.
In a statement shared with media, the Short family said they were “devastated by this loss” and asked for privacy at this very difficult time.
“Katherine was loved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought to the world,” they added.
Learn more about Katherine Short:
Katherine was the eldest of three adopted children of Short and his late wife, Nancy Dolman, who died in 2010 after battling ovarian cancer.
Alongside her younger brothers Oliver and Henry, Katherine has largely kept a private life despite her father’s long career in entertainment.
A licensed clinical social worker, Katherine has been deeply involved in mental health work in Los Angeles, including private practice and working part-time at clinics such as Amae Health, where she provided counseling, support groups, and psychotherapy.
She has also worked with the charity Bring Change 2 Mind, which aims to reduce the stigma around mental illness.
She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and gender sexuality studies from New York University in 2006 and later earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California in 2010, later working in various clinical and community roles before establishing her own practice.
Katherine has occasionally appeared alongside her father at events over the years, but has preferred to keep much of her life out of the spotlight.
Friends and followers have expressed shock and sadness at the news, as the family begins to deal with another profound loss.
