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Canadian actor Martin Short publicly addressed his grief over the death of his daughter Katherine during Selena Gomez’s fourth annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit in Los Angeles on October 14, 2026. The event, held at the Hollywood Palladium, raises money for youth mental health initiatives. Short spoke openly about his family’s heartbreak and the importance of treating mental illness as a serious disease.
A New Award in Katherine’s Name
Before Short took the stage, Gomez introduced a new honour called the Katherine Short Legacy Award. She created it in memory of Katherine Short, who died by suicide in February 2026 at the age of 42. Gomez described the award as deeply personal to her.
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“Katherine was a social worker who devoted her own career to helping people through some of their hardest points,” Gomez said. “This award will carry her name forward by honouring people who have made that same kind of commitment to their communities.”
Gomez also spoke warmly about her friendship with Martin Short. “Marty has been my friend for many years, and I know how deeply he loves his family,” she said. “I’m very grateful that he’s here tonight to help us present it for the first time.”
Martin Short Speaks About His Family’s Grief
Short, 76, joined Gomez on stage to help present the new award. He spoke candidly about the pain his family has experienced since Katherine’s death earlier this year.
“It has been a very difficult year for me, needless to say,” Short said. “It has been the heartbreak of our family, as you can imagine.”
He also drew a direct comparison between mental illness and physical disease. “Mental health and cancer, which took my wife, for example, are both diseases,” he said. “They are diseases, and sometimes diseases are terminal.” His late wife, Nancy Dolman, died of ovarian cancer in 2010 at age 58.
Katherine was the eldest of three children Short adopted with Dolman. He also has two sons, Oliver Short, 40, and Henry Short, 37. Short said his daughter’s death “will be devastating to my soul as long as I’ll live.”
“Katherine fought for so long with extreme mental health issues, borderline personality disorder, other things, and she did the best she could until she couldn’t,” Short said. He added that her struggle made the work Gomez does even more meaningful.
A Call to Treat Mental Health Without Stigma
“That’s why it’s so important what Selena’s doing tonight, raising these kinds of funds and awareness to help people understand that mental health is simply an illness,” Short said. “Not to be hidden in the shadows or perceived as a family embarrassment.”
Short also shared a quote from Dolly Parton to describe his ongoing grief. “Grief is love with no place to go,” he said. “My pain about losing my daughter will always be present in my heart, and I think that’s simply because what we deeply love we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes part of us.”
He described Katherine as a dedicated clinical social worker who promoted open and compassionate conversations about mental health. “Her commitment extended beyond her profession and well into the community,” he said. “So what an honour it is for me to be here helping present this award.”
Katherine Short’s Death Confirmed in February
A representative for Martin Short confirmed Katherine’s death in February 2026. She was 42 years old. “It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short,” the statement read. “The Short family is devastated by this loss and asks for privacy at this time.”
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a Hollywood Hills address connected to Katherine. Personnel identified an approximately 41-year-old female who was deceased at the scene. Subsequently, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed that her manner of death was suicide.
The Katherine Short Legacy Award honours individuals who have made a lasting impact through their commitment to mental health and community well-being. The award reflects both Katherine’s professional dedication and her father’s determination to speak openly about mental illness.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Kids Help Phone is also available at 1-800-668-6868.
