Katherine Short, the daughter of Canadian-American actor Martin Short, has died at the age of 42, a representative for the comedian confirmed Tuesday.
“It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short,” the representative said in a statement. “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.”
Authorities responded to a call at a home in the Hollywood Hills on Monday evening, according to reports. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to multiple outlets that the call was regarding a possible suicide.
Katherine was the eldest of three children Martin Short adopted with his late wife, Nancy Dolman. She is survived by her brothers, Oliver and Henry. Nancy Dolman died in 2010 after a battle with ovarian cancer.
Whereas largely staying out of the public eye, Katherine Short pursued a career in clinical social operate. She graduated from New York University in 2006 and earned a master’s degree from the University of Southern California School of Social Work in 2010. She operated a private practice in Los Angeles, specializing in areas including adoption, anxiety, depression, and grief. She too worked at UCLA’s Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital for four years, and with the Amae Health clinic.
Katherine was also involved with Bring Change 2 Mind, an organization dedicated to ending the stigma surrounding mental health, particularly among young people.
Martin Short has previously spoken fondly of his daughter. In his memoir, I Must Say, he recounted anecdotes about Katherine, including a humorous story about a phone call from comedy legend Gilda Radner shortly after Katherine’s adoption. He also shared a memory of a five-year-vintage Katherine offering her phone number to actor Tony Curtis after a chance encounter.
At her mother’s memorial service, Katherine read a passage alluding to the lake where Dolman’s ashes were scattered, writing, “Whenever I swim in the lake, I’ll be swimming all around your spirit. I will sense the waters rush over me and I’ll feel you.”
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet released an official cause of death.
