Martin Short issues statement after daughter, 42, is found dead

Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.

Martin Short has issued a heartbreaking statement following the tragic passing of his daughter Katherine.

The 42-year-old was found dead in her home in Los Angeles on Monday 23 February, with TMZ reporting that she had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Katherine, who was a social worker, spent her days with the Charity Bring Change 2 Mind, which advocated for breaking down mental health stigmas.

Her father, the Canadian comic and actor best known for his ongoing role in Disney Plus series Only Murders in the Building, released a short statement following Katherine's death.

“It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short,” Martin Short’s rep said in a statement. “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.”

Martin with Katherine when she was young (Joan Adlen/Getty Images)

Katherine, who graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s in psychology and gender sexuality studies in 2006, had been badly affected by the passing of her mother Nancy Dolman in 2010.

After 30 years of marriage, Nancy passed away following a battle with breast cancer, something Short confirmed was an extremely tough period for his children.

He told The Guardian: “It’s been a tough two years for my children. This is the thing of life that we live in denial about, that it will ever happen to us or our loved ones, and when it does you gain a little and you suffer a little. There’s no big surprise.”

“It was absolutely horrible, obviously, and as sad as anything. I will tell you what I said to my kids at the time: ‘I believe Mom has zoomed into our souls,'” he added in another interview at the time.

The family had been left devastated by Nancy Dolman's death in 2010 (KMazur/WireImage)

Short, who was due to perform alongside his long-time friend and Only Murders in the Building co-star Steve Martin this weekend, also has two sons - Oliver and Henry.

Sadly, it's yet another tragedy to befall Martin, who also revealed to The Guardian that he lost his brother in a car crash when he was just 12, while both of his parents passed away when he was still a teenager, suffering from cancer and a stroke respectively.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123 or contact Harmless by visiting their website https://harmless.org.uk.