More details into the death of Martin Short’s late daughter, Katherine Hartley Short, have been revealed.
TMZ reported in an article published on Thursday, February 26, that Katherine was found “behind a locked door and with a note nearby.” Us Weekly confirmed on Tuesday, February 24, that Katherine had died at age 42. Her death has since been ruled a suicide.
“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,” Martin’s rep confirmed in a statement to Us. “Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world.”
Law enforcement sources told TMZ on Thursday that Katherine was found by a friend after she hadn’t been heard from for one day. The unnamed friend was apparently quick to call the police.
Us Weekly has reached out to Martin’s rep for comment.
According to the 911 call obtained by TMZ on Tuesday, the friend who called the police was unable to enter the bedroom.
Martin shared daughter Katherine with his late wife, Nancy Dolman, who died in 2010 following a battle with ovarian cancer. They are also the parents of sons Oliver, 39, and Henry, 36.
Martin Short’s daughter Katherine Hartley Short’s neighbors are “sad” over the death of the “great” resident. A next door neighbor exclusively tells Us Weekly that Katherine was a “great neighbor and gardener,” ahead of her death at age 42, which her family confirmed on Tuesday, February 24. “It’s incredibly sad,” the resident, who wishes to […]
While Katherine had a good relationship with her father, she filed to change her name to “Katherine Elizabeth Hartley” in October 2012, according to court documents obtained by Us. (TMZ reported in 2013 that her motion was granted.)
“My father is a public figure. I am a psychiatric social worker,” the documents read. “I am concerned about potential harassment from future patients resulting from my association with my father.”
Katherine was a licensed clinical social worker in Los Angeles, earning a master’s degree from the University of Southern California in 2010. (She completed her undergraduate studies in 2006 with a degree from New York University.)
“Depression is often a silent” and “hidden killer,” Katherine’s neighbor — who wished to remain anonymous — told Us after her death. They had lived near Katherine for more than 10 years.
“Katherine was a private person, but that doesn’t mean she wasn’t friendly,” they added. “She was quite outgoing.”
The neighbor told Us that they would often “hear and see her laughing with friends” on her front porch.
“She was a voracious reader and could talk deeply about the books she’d read,” they added. “She had the nicest, most beautiful orange tree in her front yard. It was the envy of all the neighbors. Somehow the bugs that affected our trees did not land in hers.”
Martin has postponed his upcoming comedy shows with Steve Martin in the wake of his daughter’s death. The Pabst Theater Group and the Orpheum Theatre announced via their websites that the respective Wisconsin and Minnesota show dates would be rescheduled “due to unforeseen circumstances.”
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