Martin Short has publicly addressed the death of his daughter, Katherine Short, who died by suicide in February at the age of 42. During a May 10 appearance on 'CBS Sunday Morning,' the 76-year-old actor and comedian shared his grief, describing the loss as a 'nightmare' for his family. Katherine Short died on February 23 at her residence, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, with the cause of death listed as a 'gunshot wound of the head.'
Short revealed that his daughter had struggled with mental health issues, including borderline personality disorder, for years. 'She fought for a long time with extreme mental health... and did the best she could until she couldn’t,' he said. The actor emphasized that mental health and cancer—like the ovarian cancer that took his late wife, Nancy Dolman, in 2010—are both diseases that can be terminal.
In a new documentary, 'Marty: Life Is Short,' directed by Lawrence Kasdan, Short reflects on resilience amid personal tragedies. The film includes home movies and interviews with friends like Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. Short, who lost his brother in a car accident at age 12 and his parents in his teens, said these experiences taught him to handle grief and perform with bravery. 'An audience not liking you is really not that important anymore,' he remarked.
The documentary also honors Catherine O’Hara, Short’s 'SCTV' co-star who died in January. Short praised her as 'brilliant, sweet, and funny,' noting her generosity behind the camera.