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Martin Short: Comedy Star's Deepest Heartbreak Revealed
25 Feb
Summary
- Comedian Martin Short faced multiple family deaths from childhood.
- His wife of 30 years succumbed to ovarian cancer in 2010.
- His daughter Katherine passed away at 42 years old.
Comedic actor Martin Short has endured a series of devastating personal losses throughout his life. His first major heartbreak occurred in 1992 when his eldest brother, David, died in a car accident at the young age of 12. This was followed by the deaths of both his parents within two years of each other.
His mother, Olive Grace, passed away from ovarian cancer in 1998, and his father, Charles Patrick Short, died from stroke complications in 2000. This left Martin orphaned at just 20 years old.
In 1980, Martin married his wife, Nancy Dolman, whom he met in 1972. After 30 years of marriage, Nancy also died from ovarian cancer in 2010. Martin described her passing as the most awful experience he had faced.
Most recently, his daughter, Katherine, passed away on February 23, 2026, at the age of 42. A representative for Martin confirmed Katherine's death, stating the family is devastated and asking for privacy.
