Hollywood star Martin Short has opened up on the ‘nightmare’ he has faced since his daughter Katherine’s death by suicide at the age of 42 in February
Martin Short has opened up about his daughter’s death(Image: CBS News)
Martin Short said he has ‘lived a nightmare’ as he spoke for the first time about his daughter’s suicide. Katherine Hartley Short died aged 42 in February.
The actor, 76, – who lost his wife Nancy in 2010 after a battle with ovarian cancer – was left devastated when Katherine took her own life he has now shared a poignant message about grief and mental health.
Katherine died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. She was found behind a locked door and a note – which has not been seen by members of the public – was close to her at the scene.
Martin Short and Katherine Elizabeth Short in 2011(Image: FilmMagic)
Martin shared his daughter’s last message to him(Image: Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
Addressing her death for the fist time, Hollywood star Martin spoke with CBS Sunday Mornings about the family tragedy. He comparing her battle with mental health to that of the 2010 death of his wife Nancy Dolman.
Nancy, who adopted Katherine and her siblings Oliver and Henry with Martin died after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The pair had been married for 30 years.
Martin said: “You know, it’s been a nightmare for the family, but the understanding that mental health and the cancer my wife had are both diseases.
He went on: ‘My daughter fought for a long time with extreme mental health, borderline personality disorder, other things, and did the best she could until she couldn’t.”
He also revealed Katherine’s final words echoed his wife’s final message to him. Becoming emotional, the actor choked up and said: “So Nan’s last words to me were ‘Mart let me go,’ and she was just saying ‘Dad, let me go.’”
Martin spoke to CBS News(Image: CBS)
As well as Katherine and Nancy’s deaths, Martin has faced a number of other tragedies over the years. He admitted he has been struggling with tragedy since last year too after losing his sister-in-law, as well as his friends Diane Keaton, Rob and Michelle Reiner and Catherine O’Hara.
He told CBS ahead of his new Netflix documentary Marty – Life Is Short: “Suddenly, last October, I lost Diane Keaton on the same day I lost my sister-in-law, Nancy’s sister, to cancer. Then Rob and Michelle [Reiner] have been my lifelong friends for 40 years …
“And then Catherine O’Hara and then my daughter. I mean, it’s been in four months. Staggering.”
Even in his early year’s Martin’s life has been full of sadness.. At the age of 12 his elder brother David died in a car crash. Before reaching 21, he lost both of his parents, Olive and Charles, in quick succession.
Describing how such tragic events havehelped shape him, he said: “What it developed in me was this muscle of survival and handling grief and a perspective on it. You head for the light.”
He is now supporting a mental health awareness organisation founded by fellow actor Glenn Close. The organisation, called Bringchange2mind is a non-profit that is trying to take “mental health out of the shadows”.
It’s something Katherine had also been involved with prior to her death. Martin added a message about mental health struggles and how he hopes people can learn and understand. He said: “‘Not being ashamed of it, not hiding from the word suicide, but accepting that this can be the last stage of an illness – and that’s my approach to this.”
Katherine was found dead on February 23 inside her home in Hollywood Hills sometime after 6 p.m. At the time, Martin’s representative shared a statement that read: “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.”
