Even with all of the awards he has received working in Hollywood, Martin Short would likely say father is his greatest title.
Short and his late wife, Nancy Dolman, welcomed three children via adoption before her death in August 2010 from ovarian cancer.
While the actor has tried to keep his personal life away from the spotlight, the Only Murders in the Building actor has provided small glimpses into his role as a dad.
“None of them wanted to go into show business, and I pushed them,” Short joked during a 2021 appearance on Conan. “I wanted them to go into show business. I make them do laps in the morning and I go to the balcony with my coffee and say, ‘Quitter! Do it again!’”
In a more serious interview with The Guardian in 2012, Short said he was more than proud of what his children were accomplishing.
“My son Henry has just been backpacking around Europe,” he told the publication. “My son Oliver works at Warner Bros. and my daughter Katherine is a social worker.”
In February 2026, Martin experienced a tragic loss when his daughter, Katherine Hartley Short, was found dead in her Hollywood Hills home at the age of 42. An official cause of death has yet to be revealed.
“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,” Short’s rep confirmed in a statement to Us Weekly at the time. “Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world.”
Keep reading to learn more about Katherine and her other siblings:
Katherine Short
Born in December 1983, Katherine Hartley Short could impress any parent with her brains. In addition to receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology and gender sexuality studies from New York University in 2006, Katherine also earned her master’s in social work from the University of Southern California in 2010.
According to her website reviewed by People, Katherine was hired by UCLA’s Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital after earning her master’s degree. She stayed with the company for four years before pursuing another job.
People reported in December 2025 that Katherine was working in private practice as a licensed clinical social worker. She was also involved with the charity Bring Change to Mind, which aims to eliminate stigma associated with mental health among young people.
Oliver Short
Born in April 1986, Oliver Short graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in film and television production.
According to his LinkedIn, Oliver’s college experience included being the coach of the women’s ice hockey team and captain of the men’s snowboard team.
Once he graduated, Oliver earned producer gigs at Fox Sports and the NFL TV network before becoming an event producer at Cosm, an American sports and entertainment technology company.
Henry Short
Born in August 1989, Henry Short is the youngest of the Short siblings and attended the University of Notre Dame after graduating from an all-boys Catholic high school in Los Angeles.
Henry’s LinkedIn revealed the finance major worked for Royal Bank of Canada for several years before serving as a veterinary assistant at a Los Angeles animal hospital.
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