Martin Short has opened up about the death of his daughter, Katherine Short, who died by suicide in February 2026. Recalling her final words, the actor described the loss as a “nightmare” for the family while reflecting on Katherine’s long struggle with mental health issues.
The beloved comedian and actor, known for his work on SCTV, Saturday Night Live, and Only Murders in the Building, shared the emotional details while promoting his upcoming documentary, Marty: Life Is Short, which is set to premiere on Netflix from May 12, 2026.
‘It’s Been a Nightmare for the Family’
During an appearance on CBS Sunday Morning to promote his documentary, Martin opened up about the devastating loss of his 43-year-old daughter, Katherine, who died by suicide in February 2026.
“It’s been a nightmare for the family,” Short said while speaking about Katherine’s death.
He then drew a parallel between Katherine’s mental health struggles and the illness that claimed the life of his wife, Nancy Dolman, in 2010.
“But the understanding [is] that mental health and cancer, like my wife’s, are both diseases, and sometimes with diseases they are terminal,” he continued. “And my daughter fought for a long time with extreme mental health, borderline personality disorder, other things, and did the best she could until she couldn’t.”
The Final Words: ‘Dad, Let Me Go’
In a moment of profound sorrow, Short recalled the last words spoken by both his wife and his daughter — words that were hauntingly similar.
“So (Nancy’s) last words to me were ‘Martin, let me go,’ and what (Katherine) was just saying, ‘Dad, let me go,'” he added.
The parallel between his wife’s death from pancreatic cancer in 2010 and his daughter’s death from mental illness in 2026 was not lost on Short. Both, he said, were terminal diseases — one of the body, one of the mind. And both, in their final moments, asked for the same thing: permission to let go.
Who Was Katherine Short?
Katherine was the eldest of the three children Martin shared with his late wife, Nancy Dolman. The couple, who were married for more than three decades before Nancy’s death from pancreatic cancer in 2010, also have two sons — Oliver, 40, and Henry, 36.
Katherine, 43 at the time of her death, had reportedly been fighting mental health issues for a long time, including borderline personality disorder and other conditions. Short described her struggle as a long battle that she fought “until she couldn’t.”
Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a complex mental health condition characterized by intense emotional instability, impulsive behavior, distorted self-image, and difficulty in relationships. It is often stigmatized and misunderstood, and those who suffer from it are at significantly higher risk of suicide.
By sharing that Katherine suffered from BPD and other conditions, Short is helping to raise awareness about the seriousness of mental illness — and the fact that it can be as debilitating and terminal as any physical disease.
Martin Short’s Upcoming Documentary: ‘Marty: Life Is Short’
Martin’s upcoming documentary, Marty: Life Is Short, is expected to explore the actor’s personal journey, career milestones, and the tragedies he has faced over the years.
The documentary will reportedly include moments from his marriage to Nancy Dolman and insights into his family life. It is set to premiere on Netflix from May 12, 2026.
By speaking about Katherine’s death now — just days before the documentary’s release — Short is using his platform to share a deeply personal message about grief, mental health, and the nature of loss.
The Parallel Between Cancer and Mental Illness
One of the most powerful aspects of Short’s interview was his framing of mental illness as a disease — no different from cancer.
When his wife Nancy died of pancreatic cancer in 2010, the world mourned with him. There was an understanding that she had fought a brave battle against a terminal illness.
But when his daughter Katherine died of suicide, there was perhaps more stigma, more silence, more shame.
By drawing a direct parallel — “mental health and cancer, like my wife’s, are both diseases” — Short is challenging that stigma. He is saying that his daughter did not “choose” to die; she fought an illness for as long as she could, and eventually, the disease won.
His wife’s last words were “Martin, let me go.” His daughter’s last words were “Dad, let me go.” In both cases, the message was the same — and so was the underlying cause: terminal disease.
The Silence Before Now
Katherine died in February 2026 — approximately three months before Short’s interview aired. For those three months, the actor remained publicly silent about the cause of her death.
By breaking his silence now, Short is not only promoting his documentary but also honoring his daughter’s memory in a deeply personal and public way.
He is also, perhaps, helping himself heal. Grief experts often say that speaking about loss — especially suicide loss — can be an important part of the grieving process.
The Importance of Speaking Openly About Suicide
Suicide remains a sensitive and often stigmatized topic. Many families who lose a loved one to suicide choose not to speak about it publicly, for fear of judgment or shame.
By speaking openly — and by drawing a direct line between Katherine’s death and Nancy’s death — Short is helping to normalize the conversation around suicide. He is saying, in effect, that mental illness kills just as surely as cancer does, and that families who lose loved ones to suicide deserve the same compassion as those who lose loved ones to any other disease.
The Public Response
Since Short’s interview aired, there has been an outpouring of support from fans, fellow comedians, and mental health advocates. Many have praised Short for his courage in speaking about such a painful subject.
On social media, the hashtag #DadLetMeGo began trending as people shared their own stories of losing loved ones to suicide and mental illness.
Mental health organizations have also applauded Short’s remarks, noting that high-profile figures speaking openly about suicide can help reduce stigma and encourage others to seek help.
What Comes Next
Martin Short’s documentary, Marty: Life Is Short, will premiere on Netflix on May 12, 2026. It is expected to include footage and reflections from throughout his career, as well as intimate moments from his family life.
It remains to be seen whether the documentary will include explicit references to Katherine’s death — or whether Short will continue to discuss it in future interviews.
But for now, by breaking his silence, Short has already accomplished something important: he has reminded the world that mental illness is a disease, that suicide is not a choice but an outcome, and that the words “let me go” can come from a cancer ward or from a daughter struggling with borderline personality disorder.
In both cases, the pain for those left behind is the same. And in both cases, the answer — eventually — is the same too.
