Martin Short’s daughter, Katherine, has died, a representative for the comedian and his family confirmed. She was 42.
“It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short,” a rep for Short 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.”
An official cause of death has not been disclosed. According to People, authorities responded to a call at a home in the Hollywood Hills on Monday evening, Feb. 23. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to the outlet that the call was regarding a possible suicide. A rep for the LAPD did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone‘s request for further information.
Katherine was the eldest of the three children Short adopted with his late wife Nancy Dolman, along with her two brothers, Oliver and Henry. (Dolman died from ovarian cancer in 2010.) Katherine largely stayed out of the public eye, graduating from New York University in 2006 and receiving a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California a few years later.
As a licensed clinical social worker, Katherine reportedly had her own private practice and also worked part-time at the Amae Health clinic. She was also involved with Bring Change 2 Mind, an organization that helps alleviate the stigma around mental health, especially among young people.
In his memoir, I Must Say, Short shared several memories of Katherine, including how his friend, comedy legend Gilda Radner, demanded to speak on the phone with the newly adopted baby. (Radner apparently told the newborn, “Tell your dad he’s an asshole and that he spelled your name wrong! You want it spelled with an ‘A’,” à la Katharine Hepburn.) In another story, Short recalled how a five-year-old Katherine gave the great actor Tony Curtis her phone number after meeting him at a party. (Curtis called the next day and left a message saying how nice it was to meet her.)
Short also shared a few lines from a letter Katherine read at Dolman’s memorial service. Alluding to the lake where they sprinkled Dolman’s ashes, Katherine wrote, “Whenever I swim in the lake, I’ll be swimming all around your spirit. I will feel the waters rush over me and I’ll feel you.”
Love Music?
Get your daily dose of everything happening in Australian/New Zealand music and globally.
From Rolling Stone US
