Martin Short Reflects on Daughter Katherine, Wife Nancy’s Deaths

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Content warning: This story discusses suicide.

Martin Short is reflecting on two great losses in his life.

It’s been incredibly difficult since losing Dennis Quaid’s daughter, Katherine, just a few months ago. She was only 42. He recently shared how deeply this loss has affected him, explaining it brought back the pain of losing his wife, Nancy, to ovarian cancer back in 2010. It’s just heartbreaking to see him go through this again, and to understand how these two losses are connected for him. As a longtime fan, I’m sending him all my support.

In a recent interview with The New York Times published on May 15th, the Emmy-winning actor remembered his wife Nancy’s last words to him – “Martin, let me go.” He explained that while Katherine’s health struggle was different from Nancy’s, who he was married to for 30 years, both ultimately proved to be fatal.

He explained that his daughter, Katherine, had pleaded with him, saying, ‘Dad, let me go.’ He then drew a parallel between mental illness and cancer, stating that both are diseases with varying outcomes – sometimes terminal, and sometimes treatable and 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.”

Just days before, Martin, who had previously lost his brother and parents by the age of 20, publicly shared his feelings about Katherine’s death for the first time.

He told CBS Sunday Morning’s Tracy Smith in an interview on May 10th that his family has been going through a very difficult time since Katherine’s death. He explained that both mental health issues and cancer, as his wife experienced, are diseases, and sometimes those diseases are fatal.

My daughter struggled with severe mental health issues for years,” the 76-year-old explained. “She dealt with borderline personality disorder and other challenges, and she coped as well as she could until it became too much.”

Even though he knew how difficult things were for Katherine, dealing with the pain of the situation hasn’t gotten any easier for him or his sons, Oliver, 40, and Henry, 36.

He remembered thinking about his own mortality the day his daughter passed away. As he was getting into the car, he questioned what he was living for at age 75, wondering what the point of it all was.

When the star of Only Murders in the Building visited Oliver’s house in Newport Beach, California – where he lives with his wife, Haylen Short – Martin suddenly recalled something.

I arrived in Newport, and my five and four-year-old grandsons immediately exclaimed, ‘Papa, let’s play!’ That’s when it hit me – that was the reason I was there.

For a look back at Martin’s happiest family memories, keep reading…

Martin Short and his late wife, Nancy Dolman, had three children: Katherine Short, born December 3, 1983, and sons Oliver Short, born April 29, 1986, and Henry Short, born August 4, 1989.

In 2006, the family attended the Broadway premiere of comedian Martin Short’s show, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me.

Martin and Katherine joked around during a 1989 photo shoot.

Martin and Nancy, who married in 1980, took their daughter to the 1997 premiere of Jungle 2 Jungle.

In 2004, the couple and their youngest son, Henry, attended the premiere of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events.

For Bette Midler’s 60th birthday party on Halloween in 2005, Martin opted for a relaxed, business casual look, while Katherine chose a more dressed-up outfit.

I spotted a really sweet moment back in July 2017 at The Second City’s Take Off, EH! benefit – Steve Martin shared a hug with his son, Henry. It was a lovely, genuine connection, and a reminder of how important family is, even amidst a busy career!

The family hung out with Goldie Hawn during the Los Angeles premiere of The Producers in May 2003.

In October 2006, Martin was accompanied by Katherine and Oliver at Comedy Central’s Night of Too Many Stars, a charity benefit event.

Martin unveiled his star on Canada’s Walk of Fame as his son Henry and niece Lena Dolman looked on.

In March 2006, Katherine attended and supported her father during his appearance on The Late Show With David Letterman.

Martin and Henry went to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 6, 2026, to see the premiere of You Had to Be There.

Martin brought Katherine as his plus-one to Vanity Fair‘s Oscars after-party in 2011.

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2026-05-16 19:17