Martin Short Makes First Public Appearance After Daughter Katherine Short's Death

Martin Short has navigated a lot of heartbreak in his life.

After losing his brother and parents before he turned 20, followed by his wife of thirty years Nancy Dolman in 2010 from ovarian cancer, in February his and Nancy’s eldest child Katherine Short died by suicide at the age of 42.

“It's been a nightmare for the family,” he told CBS Sunday Morning’s Tracy Smith of Katherine’s passing in an interview shared May 10. “But the understanding that mental health and cancer, like my wife, are both diseases and sometimes with diseases, they are terminal.”

Beyond a statement shared by his rep at the time of Katherine’s passing, this is the first time Martin has spoken about daughter’s death, and during the conversation he shared additional insight into her unseen battle.

“My daughter fought for a long time with extreme mental health,” the 76-year-old said. “Borderline personality disorder, other things, and did the best she could until she couldn't.”

He reflected, “Nan's last words to me were, ‘Martin, let me go,’” adding of his daughter, “And she was just saying, ‘Dad, let me go.’”