Martin Short has opened up for the first time about the heartbreaking loss of his daughter, Katherine Short, describing the experience as “a nightmare for the family.” The comedian shared the emotional comments during an appearance on CBS News Sunday Morning while discussing grief, mental health, and the importance of open conversations.
Katherine died in February at age 42 at her home in the Hollywood Hills. Authorities later confirmed that she died by suicide. The actor’s deeply personal interview revealed how years of family loss shaped his perspective on grief and survival.
Martin Short Reflects On His Daughter’s Mental Health Struggles
Martin Short says his daughter Katherine's death has been a "nightmare" for him and his family:
“But the understanding [is] that mental health and cancer, like my wife’s, are both diseases, and sometimes with diseases they are terminal. And my daughter fought for a long time… pic.twitter.com/ouWvjZh2aE
— Variety (@Variety) May 10, 2026
According to The Guardian, the actor compared Katherine’s mental health struggles to the ovarian cancer battle that claimed the life of his wife, Nancy Dolman, in 2010. He explained that both cancer and severe mental illness are diseases that can sometimes become terminal despite long fights and treatment efforts.
Martin Short said his daughter battled serious mental health conditions for many years, including borderline personality disorder. He shared that she fought as hard as she could before reaching a point where she no longer could continue. During the interview, he recalled emotional final conversations with both his wife and daughter, explaining that each had asked him to let them go. The actor also said he wants to help remove the shame surrounding discussions about mental illness and suicide. He encouraged people not to hide from difficult conversations, adding that society should recognize mental illness the same way it recognizes other serious diseases.
Years Of Loss Shaped His Perspective On Life
Katherine largely stayed away from the spotlight throughout her life, though she occasionally attended public events with her father. She earned degrees in psychology, gender and sexuality studies, and social work before building a career as a licensed clinical social worker in private practice.
Martin Short also reflected on the many losses he has experienced over the years, including the deaths of his wife, daughter, brother, and parents. He explained that enduring tragedy from a young age helped him develop what he described as a “muscle of survival” and gave him a different perspective on life and performing. The emotional interview comes ahead of the release of Marty, Life Is Short, a new Netflix documentary focused on the actor’s life and career.
