Katherine Short, daughter of actor Martin Short, died by suicide, according to her official death certificate. TMZ reported that the 42-year-old’s cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
The death certificate does not indicate the exact time or date, but a report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed her death occurred on Monday. Katherine’s passing has left her family deeply heartbroken.
It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short. The Short family is devastated by this loss, and asks for privacy at this time. Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world,
the Short family said in a statement released to PEOPLE on February 24. —Short family statement
Emergency Response and Family Background
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a call from a Hollywood Hills residence on Monday evening, where Katherine was found.
Martin Short and his late wife, actress Nancy Dolman, adopted three children together: Katherine, born in 1983; Oliver, born in 1986; and Henry, born in 1989. Dolman passed away from ovarian cancer in 2010.
Following Katherine’s death, Martin Short was notably absent from the 2026 Actor Awards ceremony, where he had received a nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series.
Resources for Those in Crisis
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues or thoughts of crisis, help is available. Support can be reached by calling or texting 988 or by using the chat service at 988lifeline.org.
