Who was Nancy Dolman? Martin Short’s wife died of cancer in 2010, but he ‘still communicates with her’

Katherine Hartley Short, the eldest daughter of comedian and actor Martin Short, has died at the age of 42. Katherine, who built a professional life away from Hollywood, was a licensed clinical social worker in Los Angeles, where she helped individuals navigate grief, trauma, and mental illness.

“It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short,” a representative for the Hamilton-born entertainer said in a statement to TMZ. “The Short family is devastated by this loss, and asks for privacy at this time. Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world.”

The news was first reported by TMZ, citing officials. Multiple outlets, including the Los Angeles Times and People, later reported that Katherine Short's cause of death was suicide.


As the Katherine Short death news surfaced, public attention also turned to the personal tragedies that have shaped Martin Short’s life, including the loss of his wife, Nancy Dolman.

Also Read: Martin Short’s daughter Katherine Hartley Short dies at 42; family confirms sad news

Who was Nancy Dolman?

Nancy Dolman was a Toronto-based actress best known for her work in television and theatre. She appeared in a recurring role on the primetime TV series Soap and on the Canadian television series Custard Pie, according to Broadway World. Dolman met Short in 1972 during a Toronto production of the musical Godspell. The couple married on December 22, 1980.

Dolman later stepped away from show business to focus on raising their family. Martin Short and his wife welcomed three children, Katherine (born 1983), Olive, and Henry, through adoption. The couple remained together for more than three decades until Dolman’s death on August 21, 2010, following a battle with ovarian cancer. She was 58.

Reflecting on their relationship years later, Short told AARP magazine in 2019, “Our marriage was a triumph. So it’s tough. She died in 2010, but I still communicate with her all the time.”

“It’s ‘Hey Nan,’ you know?’ How would she react to this decision or that, especially regarding our three kids.”

He added, “I believe that when people die, they zoom into the people that love them. The idea that it just ends, and don’t speak of them — that’s wrong….to me, she’s still here.”

History of personal losses

The death of Katherine Elizabeth Short adds to a long history of family tragedy for the actor. When he was just 12, his older brother David died in a car accident in Montreal. Short then lost both of his parents within a two-year span: his mother, Olive Hayter, died of cancer in 1968 when he was 17, and his father, Charles Patrick Short, died two years later from complications following a stroke.

Katherine Hartley Short, often referred to as Martin Short’s daughter Katherine, chose a life of service rather than celebrity, despite being part of a well-known Hollywood family. As questions such as what happened to Martin Short’s daughter and how did Martin Short’s daughter pass away circulate online, the family has reiterated its request for privacy while mourning the loss.