Katherine Hartley Short’s death at 42 has left a silence that even Martin Short’s legendary humor cannot fill. Found at her Hollywood Hills home, her passing by suicide has stunned those who knew her as a fierce advocate for mental health, a devoted social worker, and a quiet force of compassion. She dedicated her career to helping others find light in their darkest moments, working in private practice, at Amae Health, and with advocacy groups like Bring Change 2 Mind, pushing back against stigma and isolation.
Adopted and raised with her brothers by Martin Short and his late wife, Nancy Dolman, Katherine had already walked through grief once when her mother died of ovarian cancer in 2010. Now the family faces another unbearable loss, this time of a daughter who chose to live outside the spotlight. As they mourn in private, her legacy endures in every life she comforted, every conversation she opened about mental health, and every person who now knows they are not alone.