Martin Short Learned of Daughter Katherine’s Death After Welfare Check, Report Reveals

Martin Short’s daughter, Katherine Short, died by suicide in February at age 42, according to a newly released autopsy report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

The report says Short became concerned after not hearing from his daughter for 24 hours and asked a friend to check on her at her Hollywood Hills home on Feb. 23. The friend found a note on Katherine’s locked bedroom door and called 911. Police forced entry into the room and found her dead in bed with a firearm nearby.

Authorities ruled her death a suicide caused by a gunshot wound to the head. A suicide note was found, but its contents were not released. The report also noted Katherine had a history of depression, mental illness, and a previous suicide attempt in 2017.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, Short spoke about his daughter’s struggles and compared mental illness to physical disease. “I don't see any difference between mental illness as a disease and cancer as a disease,” he said, reflecting on both Katherine’s death and the loss of his wife, Nancy Dolman, who died of ovarian cancer in 2010.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In the U.S. and Canada, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.