Martin Short mourns daughter Katherine Hartley Short after tragic suicide at Hollywood Hills home in Los Angeles

The heartbreaking death of Katherine Hartley Short has left friends, colleagues, and family reeling.

The 42-year-old licensed clinical social worker — and daughter of beloved actor Martin Short — had quietly struggled with mental health challenges for years, according to those who knew her well.

Her family confirmed her passing on Tuesday, describing their grief as “profound” and asking for privacy.

Those close to Katherine say the loss feels especially cruel because so much of her life was devoted to helping others find stability, hope, and healing.

Behind the calm voice and reassuring presence she offered patients, there was a private battle that few fully understood.

A Therapist Who Understood the Fight Firsthand

Katherine wasn’t just a clinician by training — she was someone who deeply understood the terrain of depression and emotional hardship.

A close friend revealed that throughout the 2010s, she had checked herself into inpatient treatment facilities during particularly difficult periods.

“She would step away when she needed to,” said Rande Levine, founder of Karma Rescue, the animal rescue charity where Katherine served on the board.

“She knew when she was at a low point.

She’d say, ‘I’m going away for a bit,’ and she’d focus on getting stronger.”

To colleagues, she remained composed, soft-spoken, and quick to laugh.

Patients saw warmth. Friends saw compassion.

Very few saw the depth of her internal struggle.

Found at Her Hollywood Hills Home

Authorities confirmed that Katherine was found Monday evening at her home in the Hollywood Hills.

The Los Angeles Police Department stated she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Neighbors described her as private. One shared that she had been dealing with physical health challenges in addition to emotional ones.

“She must have been in so much anguish,” the neighbor said quietly.

She had lived in the neighborhood for roughly six years — tucked away in the hills, yet still deeply connected to the causes and people she cared about.

Devoted to Mental Health Advocacy

Professionally, Katherine built a life around service.

She previously worked at UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital, where she spent four years supporting patients.

She later worked with the Camden Center, a dual-diagnosis outpatient program known for treating co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, and also contributed part-time to Amae Health.

She volunteered with Bring Change 2 Mind, the nonprofit launched by actress Glenn Close to fight stigma surrounding mental illness.

On her counseling website — now offline — Katherine wrote directly to prospective clients about reclaiming control over their lives.

She quoted the ancient philosopher Lao Tsu and reminded visitors that they had the power to change direction if their story wasn’t unfolding the way they hoped.

Reading those words now feels almost unbearably poignant.

The Dogs That Helped Her Heal

Outside the therapy room, Katherine poured her heart into animal rescue.

Through her work with Karma Rescue, she became a passionate advocate for pit bulls — often misunderstood dogs she believed deserved second chances.

One of her dogs, Charlie, even won over her famously funny father.

Katherine once joked that when she told Martin she had adopted a pit bull, he teased that he might have preferred she announce something shocking instead.

But once he met Charlie, he was smitten.

There’s a family video of father and dog curled up together in bed — a memory friends now cherish.

After Charlie passed, Katherine adopted another pit bull, Joni — named after legendary singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell.

On her website, Katherine described Joni as a service dog who supported her through her own mental health challenges.

Joni would sometimes sit in on therapy sessions, greeting clients with a wagging tail.

Now, friends say they are hoping someone will step forward to care for the dog Katherine loved so deeply.

A Close Bond With Her Father

Katherine was one of three adopted children of Martin Short and his late wife, Nancy Dolman.

Dolman died of ovarian cancer in 2010 after nearly 30 years of marriage.

In interviews following his wife’s death, Martin openly discussed how deeply it affected their children.

He once told The Guardian that grief changes you — that when tragedy strikes, “you gain a little and you suffer a little.”

Friends say Katherine remained close to her father.

He was supportive and involved in her life. Their bond was steady and loving, even through life’s hardest chapters.

The Private Weight Carried by Public Helpers

There is something particularly sobering about losing someone whose profession was helping others survive the very darkness that claimed her.

Mental health professionals are not immune to the struggles they treat.

In fact, many enter the field because they understand the pain personally.

The emotional labor of caring for others — while managing one’s own mental health — can be immense.

Katherine seemed to embody that paradox: outwardly joyful, inwardly fighting.

What’s Next?

The Short family has asked for privacy as they grieve.

There are no announced memorial details yet.

Beyond the family’s loss, Katherine’s passing may reignite conversations about mental health among caregivers and clinicians — a topic that remains under-discussed.

Advocates say greater support systems for therapists, including peer counseling and reduced stigma around seeking help, are critical.

Her death also highlights the ongoing importance of accessible mental health resources for everyone — even those who appear strong on the surface.

A Lasting Memory

In their statement, the Short family said Katherine would be remembered “for the light and joy she brought into the world.”

Friends echo that sentiment. They remember her laugh.

Her softness. The way she showed up for others without hesitation.

Sometimes the brightest lights are the ones quietly battling the heaviest storms.

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Summary

Katherine Hartley Short, daughter of Martin Short, died at age 42 in what authorities confirmed was a self-inflicted gunshot wound at her Hollywood Hills home.

A licensed clinical social worker and mental health advocate, she had long struggled privately with mental illness, seeking treatment at various points over the years.

She devoted her life to helping others through therapy work and nonprofit involvement, including animal rescue and mental health advocacy.

Her family has asked for privacy as they mourn her loss.