CONAN O’BRIEN STUNS OSCARS CROWD WITH EMOTIONAL SHOUT-OUT TO MARTIN SHORT CQ💔👀

Conan O’Brien; Martin Short.Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty; Kayla Oaddams/Getty

Did you catch Conan O’Brien‘s sweet shout-out to Martin Short at the Academy Awards?

Towards the end of the 98th Oscars, the returning host paid tribute to the comedian’s daughter, Katherine, who died in February at 42, while closing out the evening at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday evening.

“It’s been an honor and a joy,” he told the star-studded audience, adding, “We love you, Marty Short! Good night!”

The shout-out comes weeks after Martin’s daughter died of suicide on Feb. 23. “It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short,” a representative for Short told Entertainment Weekly on Feb. 24 .”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.”

Katherine was one of three children Martin shared with wife Nancy Dolman, who died in 2010 of ovarian cancer.

Following Katherine’s death, the Only Murders in the Building star skipped attending the 2026 Actor Awards, where he was nominated for the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series.

He also postponed his comedy tour stops at the end of February in Milwaukee and Minneapolis, where he was set to appear with frequent collaborator Steve Martin.

“Due to unforeseen circumstances, Steve Martin & Martin Short’s shows on February 27th in Milwaukee and February 28th in Minneapolis have been postponed,” a representative for Martin previously told EW. “Tickets will be honored for a future rescheduled date.”

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Short spoke about the importance of fatherhood in 2022, telling PEOPLE that he was happiest when able to balance work and his personal life.

“Working 15 hours a day? That would be terrible. We should eliminate things that give us stress or make us unhappy,” he said of the comedy series Only Murders in the Building. “And I think it’s unbecoming at 72 to be 100 percent obsessed with your career. My life, my children, my friends — I have great joy in that.”

Martin previously honored his longtime friend O’Brien at the Kennedy Center’s 26th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2025 as part of a filmed segment at the ceremony.