HOLLYWOOD HILLS — The “Only Murders in the Building” star, Martin Short, is facing an unimaginable second act of grief.
Katherine Hartley Short, the actor’s eldest child and a respected Los Angeles social worker, was found dead on Monday, February 23, in her Hollywood Hills home. She was 42. A family representative confirmed the tragedy on Tuesday, describing the Short family as “devastated” by the loss of a woman they remembered as “the light and joy” of their lives.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers and emergency responders arrived at the residence shortly after 6:40 p.m. following a welfare check request. Authorities have confirmed that Katherine died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
A Life Built on Empathy
While the world knew the Short name through the lens of comedy and red carpets, Katherine chose a path defined by service. A licensed clinical social worker, she dedicated her life to the very mental health battles that ultimately claimed her own.
- Academic Excellence: Katherine earned her bachelor’s degree from New York University before completing a Master’s in Social Work at the University of Southern California in 2010.
- Frontline Advocacy: She worked at the UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital and in private practice, specializing in supporting vulnerable populations and those struggling with dual diagnoses.
- Breaking the Stigma: Katherine was a tireless supporter of Bring Change to Mind, the nonprofit co-founded by Glenn Close, where she worked to dismantle the shame surrounding mental illness.
The Resilience of a Father
For the 75-year-old Martin Short, the loss is a staggering addition to a life already punctuated by profound personal tragedy.
- Short lost his older brother, mother, and father all before he turned 20.
- His 36-year marriage to actress Nancy Dolman—which he famously called “a triumph”—ended in 2010 when she died of ovarian cancer.
- The death of Katherine comes just weeks after the passing of Short’s longtime friend and collaborator, Catherine O’Hara.
In a 2019 interview, Short spoke of how he navigated the loss of his wife: “With Nancy, I still communicate with her… I still find myself saying, ‘What would Nan think?'” Today, that silent dialogue must find a place for a daughter who followed her mother into the great unknown.
A Community in Mourning
As news of her passing spread, tributes poured in from the Los Angeles social work community, where Katherine was known as a “quiet force” of compassion.
“Katherine didn’t just talk about mental health; she lived in the trenches with her clients,” said one former colleague. “She was the person who stayed late, who listened longer, and who carried the weight of others with a grace that was beautiful and, perhaps, too heavy.”
The Professional Legacy:
- Public Counsel: Interned at the nation’s largest pro bono law firm.
- Veterans Affairs: Trained with the West L.A. VA to support those with PTSD.
- Community Outreach: Worked part-time at clinics providing peer support and psychotherapy for at-risk youth.
Postponed Curtains
The tragedy has reached into the heart of the “Best of Steve Martin and Martin Short” comedy tour. Performances scheduled for this week in Milwaukee and Minneapolis have been postponed, with theater staff confirming that tickets will be honored for future dates. Short’s longtime partner, Steve Martin, is reportedly by his side as the family navigates the early days of their bereavement.
As the Hollywood Hills remain under a pall of shock, the Short family has made a singular, urgent request: Privacy. In their statement, they hope Katherine will be remembered not for how she died, but for the “light and joy” she offered a world she worked so hard to heal.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org in the U.S. and Canada, or call 111 in the UK.