Martin Short Says Sharing His Pain Has Helped Him Deal with Grief After Death of His Daughter Katherine

Becca LongmireWed, May 13, 2026 at 9:25 AM UTC

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Katherine Short and Martin Short are pictured in 2021
Credit: Tiffany Rose/Getty -

Martin Short is sharing why he's decided to speak out about grief following the recent death of his 42-year-old daughter, Katherine

Katherine died by suicide in February, and Martin said during an appearance on CBS Sunday Morning that a lot of people have lost loved ones to mental health struggles

"Why pretend that this is your own pain? Maybe by sharing your pain, it will help other people's pain," the actor and comedian shared

Martin Short is opening up about why he's chosen not to hide his grief after the recent death of his daughter, Katherine.

During an appearance on CBS Sunday Morning on Sunday, May 10, Martin, 76, spoke about losing Katherine, 42, who died by suicide in February. He shared that a lot of people have lost somebody to mental health struggles, so it was important for him to speak out.

The actor and comedian shared, “If I said to the audience, any audience I was in, ‘How many have lost anyone from suicide?' You'd be stunned by the hands that would go [up]. ‘How many have mental health in their family?' You'd be stunned by the hands that would go up.”

“So, why pretend that this is your own pain? Maybe by sharing your pain, it will help other people's pain,” the Only Murders in the Building star continued.

When questioned if speaking out about his pain has helped him, Short said, “Yes, I think so. I think whenever you realize you're not the only person on the planet that's going through something, I think, you go, ‘Oh, really?' ”

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Elsewhere in the interview, Martin said Katherine's death had been "a nightmare for the family."

"But the understanding [is] that mental health and cancer, like my wife's, are both diseases, and sometimes with diseases they are terminal," he continued. "And my daughter fought for a long time with extreme mental health, borderline personality disorder, other things, and did the best she could until she couldn't."

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Katherine Short and Martin Short are pictured in 2011
Credit: Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

Martin welcomed his three children, including Oliver, 40, and Henry, 36, via adoption with his late wife of 30 years, Nancy Dolman. Dolman died from ovarian cancer at age 58 in 2010.

The Short family previously confirmed Katherine's death in a statement to PEOPLE.

"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," the family said at the time.

The Los Angeles Fire Department had responded to a call from a Hollywood Hills home at 6:41 p.m. local time on Feb. 23 regarding a female. The Los Angeles coroner confirmed to PEOPLE that Katherine died by suicide.

Katherine worked in private practice as a licensed clinical social worker and also part-time at the clinic, Amae Health, to provide community outreach, family support groups, peer support and psychotherapy.

She received a bachelor's degree in psychology and gender sexuality studies from New York University in 2006 and went on to earn her master's in social work from the University of Southern California in 2010.

Katherine mostly remained out of the public eye, but attended a few events with her father over the years, including the afterparty for The Producers in 2003 and the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in February 2011.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”