Martin Short knows what true love looks and feels like, all thanks to his late wife, Nancy Dolman.
For nearly 30 years, the Only Murders in the Building star was married to the Canadian actress and singer. After Dolman died in 2010 after a three-year battle with cancer, Short shared a glimpse into how his late wife changed his life forever.
“Her death emboldened me to take risks,” he told AARP in 2019. “With real tragedy, you become a little more daring. It’s the yin to the yang: the positive part of life’s dark side.”
The couple’s love story was put back in the spotlight in February 2026 when one of their children, Katherine Hartley Short, was found dead in her Hollywood Hills, California, home.
“It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short,” Martin’s rep confirmed in a statement to Us Weekly at the time. “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.”
Keep reading to learn more about Martin and Dolman’s relationship and the family they created:
How Did Martin Short and Nancy Dolman’s Love Story Begin?
Martin Short and Nancy Dolman first met in Toronto, Canada, while working on a musical production of Godspell in 1972. (The duo were both cast members.)
After falling in love, the couple married in December 1980 and began to start a family of their own.
When Did Martin Short’s Wife Nancy Dolman Die?
In August 2010, Martin Short mourned the death of his wife, Nancy Dolman, three years after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Dolman passed away at her home in Pacific Palisades, California. She was 58.
Although he was a nominee for his work on FX’s Damages, Short chose to skip the 2010 Emmys in the wake of his wife’s death.
What Has Martin Short Said About Grief?
In an interview with AARP in 2019, Martin Short opened up about life without his wife.
“Our marriage was a triumph. So it’s tough. She died in 2010, but I still communicate with her all the time,” he shared with the publication. “It’s ‘Hey, Nan,’ you know? How would she react to this decision or that, especially regarding our three kids. I believe that when people die, they zoom into the people that love them. This idea that it just ends, and don’t speak of them — that’s wrong. That’s based on denial that we’re all going to die. So to me, she’s still here.”
How Many Children Did Martin Short and Nancy Dolman Have?
During their nearly 30-year marriage, Martin Short and Nancy Dolman adopted three children, including Katherine Hartley Short, Oliver Short and Henry Short.
“None of them wanted to go into show business, and I pushed them,” Martin joked of his children’s aversion to Hollywood during a 2021 appearance on Conan. “I wanted them to go into show business. I make them do laps in the morning and I go to the balcony with my coffee and say, ‘Quitter! Do it again!’
Katherine was a social worker and involved with the charity Bring Change to Mind prior to her February 2026 death. The charity aims to eliminate the ongoing stigma associated with mental health among young people.
According to LinkedIn, Oliver is an event producer while Henry serves as a veterinary assistant at a Southern California animal hospital.
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