A new report has revealed the frantic call Martin Short made that left him worried before his daughter, Katherine Hartley Short, was found dead.

Katherine, a licensed clinical social worker, had a history of mental health struggles and was found unresponsive in her Los Angeles home in February at age 42.

Her passing has deeply affected the family and prompted Martin Short to reflect publicly on grief, loss, and the importance of mental health awareness.

Martin Short’s Frantic Call To His Daughter’s Friend Revealed In Autopsy Report

Short reportedly grew deeply concerned for his daughter, Katherine, after she went more than a day without responding to calls or messages.

According to a recently released autopsy report obtained by Daily Mail, the actor asked a friend to check on her after his worries grew.

Katherine Short, 42, was later found dead in her Los Angeles home in February from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The report states that the friend who visited her residence after Short’s call discovered a note on her bedroom door and, finding it locked, immediately contacted emergency services. Police then forced entry into the room, where Katherine was discovered in bed with a Glock 19 handgun located beneath her.

The autopsy further noted that Katherine had a history of mental health struggles, including a previous suicide attempt in 2017 and documented depression and other mental illnesses.

Martin Short Reflects On Daughter Katherine’s Mental Health Struggles

Katherine, the eldest child of Short and his late wife Nancy Dolman, was a licensed clinical social worker who earned her master’s degree from the University of Southern California.

Her passing has been described as “a nightmare” for her family, including her two brothers.

In recent reflections, Short opened up about his daughter’s long struggle with mental health, comparing it to physical illness and stressing the importance of reducing stigma around mental health conditions and conversations about suicide.

He spoke about the need to view such struggles with the same seriousness as diseases like cancer.

The “Only Murders in the Building” star, 76, also referenced his wife Nancy’s death from cancer in 2010, saying both illnesses can be equally terminal in different ways.

He shared with CBS Sunday Morning that Katherine battled severe mental health challenges for years, including borderline personality disorder, “and did the best she could until she couldn’t.”

The Actor Said This Was His Daughter’s Way Of Saying, ‘Dad, Let Me Go’

Short has since expressed support for mental health awareness initiatives, including Bring Change to Mind, a nonprofit founded by Glenn Close aimed at bringing mental health “out of the shadows.”

He emphasized the importance of openness, understanding, and compassion in addressing mental illness and suicide. Reflecting on his personal grief, the actor shared that his earlier experience with loss has shaped how he processes his daughter’s death.

In his chat with CBS Sunday Morning, he recalled that when his wife Nancy was dying of ovarian cancer in 2010, she told him, “Martin, let me go,” a moment that stayed with him deeply.

Short said he felt his daughter Katherine’s passing could be understood through that same emotional lens, describing it as her own way of saying, “Dad, let me go.”

Her death also came during a period of multiple personal losses for Short, following the passing of longtime friend and collaborator Catherine O’Hara, who died at 71 from a pulmonary embolism linked to underlying cancer, as well as the murders of close friends Rob and Michele Reiner.

Martin Short’s Netflix Documentary Explores His Life And Personal Losses

Meanwhile, Short is featured in a Netflix documentary titled “Marty, Life Is Short,” which premiered on May 12.

The film offers an intimate look at his life and long-running career, highlighting his most notable roles and signature comedic style.

Directed by Oscar nominee Lawrence Kasdan and produced by Imagine Documentaries, the documentary blends rare archival footage with new interviews, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

It also shows Short reflecting on the personal losses that have shaped his life. CBS News “Sunday Morning” reports that the film is dedicated to his daughter, Katherine, and longtime collaborator O’Hara, who died at 71 on January 30.

The Actor Said His Past Experiences With Tragedy Helped Him Develop A ‘Muscle Of Survival’

Before the release of his documentary, Short also spoke about earlier tragedies in his life, including the loss of his older brother in a car accident when he was 12 and the death of both parents during his teenage years.

He said these experiences helped him develop what he called a “muscle of survival,” shaping how he processes grief and giving him resilience in his career, where he learned not to be overly affected by rejection or criticism.

“I think if you’ve gone through that, an audience not liking you is really not that important anymore,” he noted.