The Hidden Pain Behind Martin Short’s Daughter’s Final Days

Martin Short has built a career on laughter, charm, and quick wit. However, behind the spotlight, his family has quietly endured devastating loss. 

This week, the beloved actor confirmed the passing of his daughter, Katherine Hartley Short, at just 42 years old. 

As heartbreaking details emerge, friends are opening up about the private battles she faced for years, struggles she managed while dedicating her life to helping others. 

Martin Short’s daughter, Katherine, had reportedly struggled with mental health challenges for years before her tragic death. 

Though she was known professionally as a therapist and licensed clinical social worker, she faced her own difficult lows behind closed doors.

Close friend Rande Levine revealed that there were periods during the 2010s when Katherine stepped away from responsibilities to seek inpatient treatment. 

“She’d say, I won’t be around, I’m going away. She’d go check into some place to boost her up again,” Levine recalled. 

Katherine was open about her struggles with those closest to her, but to the outside world, she appeared upbeat and steady.

“I knew she was battling with this. She would talk about it. But you would never know based on how she presented herself, and how funny she was,” Levine explained.

On Monday evening, the 42-year-old was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound at her Hollywood Hills home, according to the LAPD. 

Speaking to the Daily Mail, a neighbor described her as private and said she had also been dealing with physical illness. “She must have been in so much anguish to have done this. It’s just so sad,” they added.

Despite her personal challenges, Martin Short’s daughter built a life centered on service. 

Katherine worked for four years at UCLA’s Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital before moving to the dual-diagnosis outpatient program Camden Center. 

She later worked part-time at Amae Health while also volunteering for Bring Change 2 Mind, the mental health nonprofit founded by Glenn Close and her family.

Levine said her friend never stopped showing up for others, even during her own battles. 

“She was such a wonderful, giving, loving human being. I’m picturing her face right now, laughing,” Levine recalled. 

The news of Katherine’s death left Levine stunned. “It’s just so devastating to find out she took her own life,” she said.

Levine also emphasized how deeply her colleague related to the people she counseled, noting that she put her soul into helping others that were experiencing the same things she was.

Those who knew her described her as gentle, kind, calm, soft spoken, and someone who laughed a lot.

Friends say Martin was deeply involved in his daughter’s life. Levine described their connection as strong and loving. 

“I feel so sad for her dad. They were so close. He was so supportive of her and a big part of her life,” she said.

Katherine once shared a lighthearted story that reflected their bond. After adopting her first pit bull, Charlie, she told her father about the breed. 

His response, she recalled, was, “I think I would rather you told me you are dating somebody in ISIS.” The joke captured his protective instinct, but things changed once he met the dog. 

The social worker later showed Levine a video of her father cuddling Charlie in bed after falling in love with him.

Katherine was one of three adopted children Martin shared with his late wife, Nancy Dolman, who died of ovarian cancer in 2010. 

Years earlier, he reflected on that loss, telling The Guardian that it was tough for his kids. 

Martin added, “This is the thing of life that we live in denial about, that it will ever happen to us or our loved ones, and when it does you gain a little and you suffer a little. There’s no big surprise.”

Animals played a major role in Katherine’s life. She served on the board of Karma Rescue and was passionate about pit bulls. 

After Charlie died, she adopted another dog, Joni, named after singer Joni Mitchell.

On her counseling website, Katherine wrote about how Joni supported her through her own mental health journey. 

“Joni (named after the legendary singer Joni Mitchell) is my incredible service dog, who has been assisting me with my own struggles with mental illness for the past 5 years,” she shared in a 2024 archived version of the site.

She described how the dog would sometimes be present during sessions. 

Katherine wrote, “Joni will often be in the office with me, cuddled up on her bed. She is an absolute sweetheart and just LOVES people, so don’t be surprised if she greets you with a smile, a wagging tail and maybe even a kiss.”

Now, Levine says she is praying somebody will step in to care for Joni.

Following Katherine’s death, the Short family released a statement. “It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short,” the statement began.

The Short family revealed they were devastated by the loss and asked for privacy. “Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world,” they added.

Her since-deleted counseling website, now viewed in archived form, contains words that feel especially heavy in hindsight. 

Quoting Lao Tsu, the homepage reads, “If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.”

She also encouraged prospective patients with deeply personal reassurance, noting, “At any given moment you have the power to say, ‘This is not working for me. This is not how my story needs to unfold.’”

She reminded visitors that they are unique individuals with their own stories, personalities, and strengths. Those words, written to guide others toward hope, now stand as part of the legacy Katherine leaves behind, a life devoted to lifting others, even while quietly carrying her own pain.