Martin Short Reflects on Losing His Brother, Mother and Father by Age 21: ‘Life Changed Completely’
Martin Short Reflects on Losing His Brother, Mother and Father by Age 21: ‘Life Changed Completely’
Kirsty Hatcher, Deirdre DurkanFri, May 8, 2026 at 9:21 AM UTC
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Martin Short
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Martin Short opened up about the loss of his brother, mother, and father during a panel discussion at the Netflix Is a Joke Presents: This Better Be Funny with David Letterman event on May 7
Short has previously shared how his family’s approach to life’s challenges shaped his perspective on tragedy and priorities
The actor and comedian's wife, Nancy Dolman, died in 2010, while his daughter Katherine died in February at the age of 42
Martin Short is reflecting on the loss he experienced early in his life.
During an appearance at the Netflix Is a Joke Presents: This Better Be Funny with David Letterman event at The Montalban Theater in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 7, Short, 76, appeared on a panel alongside fellow comedians David Letterman and Paul Shaffer and discussed topics including his early career, friendship with Steve Martin and his late wife Nancy Dolman.
Letterman, 79, also commented on Short’s upcoming Netflix documentary film, Marty, Life Is Short, and noted that after watching the doc the “one thing that struck me was your childhood.”
“You came from a funny Irish Catholic family and then suddenly your brother died in a car accident. And then your mother got cancer. And then your father died. That’s an incredible amount of loss very early,” Letterman told Short.
Martin Short and wife Nancy Dolman in 1987
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“Yeah, I was around 20,” replied Short. “My older brother David died first. He was the star of the family. Then my mother was diagnosed with cancer at his funeral and died three years later. My father died the year after that.”
“So there was definitely a period where life changed completely,” added Short, noting that his mother, who was a violinist, was the first female concertmaster in North America and was "an extraordinary musician."
Short was just 12 when his brother died, while his mother and father, who was a steel executive, died before he was 21.
In an early profile with PEOPLE, Short, who was 34 at the time, shared the touching way he coped with the tragedy his family has experienced.
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Martin Short with his sons Henry and Oliver
Credit: Chad Salvador/Variety via Getty
"There isn't a period of my life that I don't like to think about or wouldn't go back to,” he told PEOPLE at the time. "It sounds like a tragic family, but it really isn't.”
"My mother had cancer, and she had been ill and then in remission since I was 13. She was a remarkable person; both my parents were. So I never looked at it as if it was a tragedy — that I didn't have them my whole life. You learn some sense of priorities. Our whole family took the attitude that if you have wonderful moments, don't second-guess them, just enjoy them."
Short’s actress wife Dolman died in August 2010 from ovarian cancer. The pair shared three children, sons Oliver, 40, and Henry, 36, and daughter Katherine, who died in February of this year.
Katherine died by suicide on Feb. 23, 2026, at the age of 42.
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"It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short,” the Short family told PEOPLE in a statement at the time. “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.”
(L-R) Haylen Short, Henry Short, Martin Short, Oliver Short, and Elissa Short attend the 'Marty, Life is Short' special screening in L.A. on May 6, 2026
Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty
On Wednesday, May 6, Short made his first public appearance since Katherine’s death as he attended the L.A. special screening of his Netflix documentary.
The comedian and actor was joined by his sons Oliver and Henry, as well as famous friends including Shaffer, 76, Selena Gomez, Kate Hudson, Eugene Levy, Jimmy Kimmel, Jerry Seinfeld and Billy Crystal.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
