Martin Short Details Similarity Between Daughter Katherine Short, Late Wife Nancy Dolman’s Deaths
Content warning: This story discusses suicide.
Martin Short is reflecting on two great losses in his life.
Months after the Innerspace actor’s eldest child Katherine Short died by suicide at the age of 42, he shared the loss’ heartbreaking connection to the death of his wife Nancy Dolman, who died of ovarian cancer in 2010.
Recalling Nancy’s final words to him as, “Martin, let me go,” in an interview with The New York Times published May 15, the Emmy winner shared how Katherine may have fought a different health battle than his wife of 30 years, but it was fatal all the same.
“Katherine was saying, ‘Dad, let me go,’” he told the outlet. “I don’t see any difference between mental illness as a disease and cancer as a disease. In some cases, both are terminal. And in some cases, both are survivable.”
However, Martin noted that losing his daughter has been different in terms of processing his grief.
“This is your child,” he said. “I am trying to head toward the light.”
Days earlier, Martin—who also lost his brother and parents before he turned 20—spoke out about Katherine’s death for the first time.
“It’s been a nightmare for the family,” he told CBS Sunday Morning’s Tracy Smith of Katherine’s passing in an interview shared May 10. “But the understanding that mental health and cancer, like my wife, are both diseases and sometimes with diseases, they are terminal.”
Photo by Peter Kramer/Getty Images
“My daughter fought for a long time with extreme mental health,” the 76-year-old added. “Borderline personality disorder, other things, and did the best she could until she couldn’t.”
But as much as he understood the challenges Katherine lived with, it hasn’t made the heartbreak any easier to navigate for him and his sons Oliver, 40, and Henry, 36.
“I was getting in the car that day,” he recalled of the day his daughter died. “And I was thinking, ‘Okay, I’m 75. Why am I continuing? Like, really? What is the point of this?’”
But when the Only Murders in the Building star arrived at Oliver’s home in Newport Beach, California, where he lives with his wife Haylen Short, Martin remembered.
“I got to Newport, and these two grandsons, five and four just jumped, ‘Papa, Let’s play giant,’” he recalled. “And suddenly you go, ‘Oh, that’s why. That’s why.’”
For a look back at Martin’s happiest family memories, keep reading…
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Family Man
Martin Short and his late with Nancy Dolman shared three kids: daughter Katherine Short (born Dec. 3, 1983) as well as sons Oliver Short (born April 29, 1986) and Henry Short (born Aug. 4, 1989).
The family had a night out at the Broadway opening night of the comedian’s Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me in 2006.
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Dad & Me
Martin and Katherine joked around during a 1989 photo shoot.
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Red Carpet Ready
Martin and Nancy, who married in 1980, took their daughter to the 1997 premiere of Jungle 2 Jungle.
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Eventful Day
The couple brought their youngest son Henry to the Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events premiere in 2004.
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Hello, Halloween
While Martin kept it business casual, Katherine dressed up for Bette Midler‘s 60th birthday celebration on Halloween 2005.
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Father & Son
Martin shared a hug with his youngest son Henry at The Second City’s Take Off, EH! benefit in July 2017.
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Golden Moment
The family hung out with Goldie Hawn during the Los Angeles premiere of The Producers in May 2003.
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Night Out
Martin was joined by Katherine and Oliver at Comedy Central’s Night of Too Many Stars benefit in October 2006.
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Walk This Way
Martin unveiled his star on Canada’s Walk of Fame as his son Henry and niece Lena Dolman looked on.
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Late Night
Katherine was on hand to support her dad’s appearance on The Late Show With David Letterman in March 2006.
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Film Fanatics
Martin and Henry attended the Santa Barbara International Film Festival premiere of You Had to Be There on Feb. 6, 2026.
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Vanity Fair
Martin brought Katherine as his plus-one to Vanity Fair‘s Oscars after-party in 2011.
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