Martin Short Has Been Open About Loss and Grief for Years
Martin Short might be known as one of Hollywood’s enduring funny men, but the 75-year-old hasn’t always had an easy personal life. Short is currently reeling from the loss of his daughter, Katherine, who died by suicide on February 24. The death of his child is far from the first loss he’s suffered, though. Short has lost friends and several family members over the years. The loss of his wife, Nancy Dolman, hit the comedic genius especially hard. Martin Short has been very open about grief and his unique perspective on life because of it, too. Still, he considered his marriage a “triumph.” That loss has led to a pretty unique perspective on life.
Martin Short deals with the loss of another close family member
Martin Short is reeling from the loss of his eldest daughter to suicide. The 42-year-old who worked as a social worker died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on February 24. It is a massive loss for the comedian, but it’s not the first he has suffered. Short was just a child when his older brother died, and he was orphaned by the time he was 21. He lost his partner of more than 30 years in 2010 and has dealt with the back-to-back deaths of Katherine O’Hara and Diane Keaton, two of his close industry friends.
Short’s wife, Nancy Dolman, died in 2010 after a battle with ovarian cancer. She was just 58 years old. She and Short had met in 1972 and dated for eight years before tying the knot in 1980. In 1983, they adopted their first child together, Katherine. In 1986 and 1989, they expanded their family with the adoption of Oliver Short and Henry Short. Before focusing on raising her family, Dolman worked as an actor.
Martin Short discussed life, death, and grief multiple times over the years
Martin Short’s experience with grief has not prevented him from seeing the good things that he’s been given. It seems to have led him to a very unique perspective on life and death. Years ago, long before Dolman’s tragic death and the loss of his daughter, Short reflected on his seemingly bleak family history. According to People, Short opened up about his family in a profile about his rise to stardom. He said he knew his family history seemed “tragic,” but they didn’t see it that way. He called his parents remarkable people and said there isn’t a time in his life he wouldn’t want to revisit. In fact, he argued that grappling with grief led him to savor the good moments a bit more.
Back in 2019, nine years after the loss of his wife, Short opened up again about grief. He discussed his marriage and how he’s dealt with the grief of such a profound loss in an interview with AARP. He told the outlet that he sees his 30-year marriage to Nancy Dolman as a “triumph.”
Short went on to say that he talks to his late wife regularly still, because he believes that when a soul dies, they “zoom” into their loved ones. The comedian said that to him, his wife is still very much here, though in a different way. Short said that his wife’s death from cancer also gave him a different perspective on life. He said it emboldened him to take risks and to live big.
