The daughter of actor and comedian
Martin Short,
Katherine Short, passed away on Monday, February 23, at the age of 42 in her Hollywood Hills residence, in what authorities are investigating as a suicide.
The media outlet TMZ reported that police sources informed that the cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
According to initial reports, officers from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and fire department personnel responded to the residence shortly after 6:40 p.m. local time, following an emergency call. Upon arrival, they found Katherine lifeless.
Katherine was the adopted daughter of Martin Short and Canadian actress Nancy Dolman, the comedian's wife for 30 years, who passed away in 2010. The couple had two more children (Oliver Patrick and Henry Hayter), with Katherine being the eldest.
Unlike her father, widely recognized for his career in film, television, and theater, Katherine chose to maintain a low profile and focus her professional life on social service.
According to her website,
Katherine Short graduated with a degree in psychology and gender and sexuality studies from New York University in 2006. She later obtained her master's degree in social work from the University of Southern California in 2010.
During her first year of graduate school, she interned at the pro bono law firm Public Counsel before training at the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration. Katherine Short worked with several charities. (Video capture)
Upon completing her master's degree, she was hired by the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA, where she worked for over four years before joining the dual diagnosis outpatient program at the Camden Center.
Also, the woman worked part-time at the Amae Health clinic, where she offers community outreach services, family support groups, peer support, and psychotherapy.
Also collaborates with the charity Bring Change 2 Mind, whose goal is to eliminate the stigma associated with mental health.
The organization, founded to promote open conversations and education about mental illnesses, has been recognized for its awareness campaigns in the United States. Katherine Short was part of the Bring Change 2 Mind foundation. (Bring Change 2 Mind)
Although she rarely appeared in public events, Katherine accompanied her father at some events over the years. The last time she was seen publicly was in January 2020, when she was photographed leaving Craig’s restaurant, a well-known meeting point in West Hollywood frequented by celebrities.
The news comes at a time when
Martin Short is maintaining a busy professional schedule.
The actor has a sold-out show scheduled with his frequent collaborator, comedian
Steve Martin, this Saturday in Minneapolis. Steve Martin and Martin Short have a show scheduled this weekend. (REUTERS/Mike Blake)
A theater spokesperson indicated that, for the time being, it is not clear whether the performance will take place as scheduled.
So far, neither the actor nor his representatives have issued a public statement regarding the death. The investigation continues while the authorities complete the corresponding reports.