What happened to Martin Short's daughter? Katherine Short's cause of death revealed

The Short family dealt with tragic news as actor Martin Short’s daughter Katherine Short died on Monday, February 23, 2026, at her home in Hollywood Hills in LA, California.

The Short family in a statement, said, “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. Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world.”

The cause of death is described by the LAPD officials as suicide.

According to the LAPD, Katherine Short died of a self-inflicted gunshot,” as reported by TMZ.

The LAPD along with the fire department, responded to the emergency call and reached her residence on Monday, February 23, after 6:40 pm ET.

It’s the second tragedy that the Short family has dealt with over the several weeks, following his heartfelt tribute to longtime friend Catherine O’Hara, who died last month.

Katherine’s father has comedy shows lined up this Friday in Milwaukee and Minneapolis that have been postponed due to the tragic loss of her daughter.

Katherine mostly remains behind the curtain, away from the showbiz gold and glitter, though her father is a well-recognized figure in the industry, only attending a few events along with her father during her life.

She was mostly involved with the NGO called Bring Change To Mind, working on challenging stigmas associated with mental health struggles.

Katherine was the eldest child among Short’s three children.