Katherine Short, Martin Short’s Daughter, Dies at 42

Martin Short‘s daughter Katherine died Monday in Los Angeles. She was 42.

She died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, law enforcement sources told TMZ. Police responded to her home in the Hollywood Hills after 6 p.m. Monday.

“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.”

Katherine Elizabeth Short was the eldest of three children adopted by the “Only Murders in the Building” star and his late wife Nancy Dolman. A social worker in Los Angeles, she worked with the Charity Bring Change 2 Mind which advocated for breaking down mental health stigmas.

Katherine Short graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s in psychology and gender sexuality studies in 2006, then earned her master’s in social work at USC. She worked at UCLA’s Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital before going into private practice, according to People magazine.

Katherine’s mother, actress Nancy Dolman, died of ovarian cancer in 2010, and Martin Short told the Guardian it had been difficult. “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.

Martin Short is also father to sons Oliver and Henry. He had been scheduled to perform a show with Steve Martin Saturday in Minneapolis.

If you or anyone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.