Martin Short is a name synonymous with laughter. For decades, the legendary Canadian-American actor and comedian has brought unparalleled joy to audiences worldwide through unforgettable characters, infectious energy, and an unyielding dedication to his craft.
However, behind the iconic smile and the endless reservoir of comedic timing lies a profound story of resilience, unimaginable grief, and enduring love.
The 76-year-old comedy icon is now sharing his deeply personal journey in the highly anticipated Netflix documentary, Marty, Life Is Short, which officially premieres on May 12, 2026. Directed by longtime family friend Lawrence Kasdan, the film offers fans an unprecedented look into the life of the Only Murders in the Building star.
It serves as both a celebration of his spectacular career and a poignant exploration of the personal tragedies that have shaped his worldview.
Among the most heart-wrenching aspects of Short’s current reality is the recent loss of his beloved daughter, Katherine. In February 2026, the Short family was struck by unimaginable tragedy when Katherine died by suicide at the age of 42. It was a devastating blow for a family that had already weathered significant storms.
Katherine, the eldest of Short’s three children with his late wife Nancy Dolman, was remembered by the family for the “light and joy she brought into the world.”
The devastating news prompted the comedian to postpone several upcoming comedy shows with his longtime collaborator and best friend, Steve Martin. The family understandably requested privacy as they navigated their profound grief.
For months, Martin Short remained out of the public eye, privately mourning the loss of his daughter. However, on May 6, 2026, he made his first public appearance since Katherine’s passing. The occasion was the special Los Angeles screening of his new Netflix documentary.
Stepping onto the red carpet, Short was not alone. He was flanked by his two sons, Oliver, 40, and Henry, 36, presenting a united family front in the face of absolute heartbreak. The emotional weight of the evening was palpable, but so was the immense outpouring of love and support from his Hollywood peers.
The star-studded event saw a gathering of comedy royalty and close friends who turned up to celebrate Short’s legacy and offer their unwavering support. Attendees included Eugene Levy, Jerry Seinfeld, Billy Crystal, Jimmy Kimmel, and Kate Hudson.
Also in attendance was Selena Gomez, Short’s Only Murders in the Building co-star, accompanied by her boyfriend, music producer Benny Blanco. Gomez and Blanco intentionally kept the spotlight focused squarely on Short, choosing not to pose together on the red carpet to ensure the veteran actor remained the center of attention on his big night.
Gomez, who has developed a deeply touching bond with Short over the past few years, wore a stunning black Carolina Herrera gown. She posed solo with Short on the carpet, radiating warmth and affection for her mentor and friend.
The following morning, Gomez took to Instagram to share a heartfelt tribute to the comedy legend. She emphasized his unique spirit and the profound impact he has had on her life.
“This man who doesn’t have social media is truly outstandingly witty, smart, and has given the most wonderful attributes to our world of comedy,” Gomez wrote to her millions of followers.
“Some may not know much that follow me. But Martin Short is nothing short of a legend,” she continued. “His outlook on life is simply joyful. I cried, laughed and empathized his entire story. Check it out on @netflix now please. Worth every minute. -thank you Marty for your inspiring and tremendous heart that makes me forever happy.”
Gomez’s words perfectly encapsulate the essence of the new documentary. Marty, Life Is Short is not merely a highlight reel of his most famous sketches from SCTV or Saturday Night Live. It is an intimate love letter to his late wife, Nancy Dolman, whose presence is felt throughout the entire film.
Short and Dolman’s love story is one for the ages. They met during the 1972 Toronto production of Godspell, a legendary theatrical run that also featured future comedy giants like Gilda Radner, Eugene Levy, and Andrea Martin.
Short vividly recalls seeing the “drop dead beautiful” actress with a Joni Mitchell look. Both were going through breakups at the time, and their connection was immediate.
They married in 1980 and built a beautiful life together, raising three children. Through archival footage and vintage photos, the documentary paints a picture of a couple perfectly in sync.
Short’s close friend Steve Martin noted in the film that Nancy’s laughter at Martin’s jokes was never forced; it was always sincere. She genuinely thought everything he said was hilarious.
Their bond was so strong that it became the gold standard for their friends. The late Catherine O’Hara, who passed away recently and is posthumously featured in the documentary, shared a touching anecdote.
During a rough patch in her own marriage, a couples counselor asked if she and her husband knew a couple they wanted to emulate. Without hesitation, they named Marty and Nancy. The counselor replied that countless people had given the exact same answer.
Tragically, Nancy Dolman passed away from ovarian cancer in August 2010. Her battle began in 2007 when what she suspected was a hernia turned out to be an ovarian cyst. Despite the grim diagnosis, she maintained a relentlessly positive attitude.
Short recalls that her approach to the illness was, “I can fight it.” Even in her final months, she was determined to live fully. Short remembered her telling everyone she felt cured every time she tried a new treatment, showcasing a fiercely optimistic spirit that clearly left a lasting mark on her husband.
The loss of Nancy, and now Katherine, adds to a heartbreaking history of familial loss that Short experienced very early in his life. During a recent panel discussion at the Netflix Is a Joke festival with David Letterman and Paul Shaffer, Short reflected on the intense grief of his youth.
Letterman pointed out the staggering amount of tragedy Short endured before his career even took off. Short grew up in a funny Irish Catholic family, but that idyllic childhood was shattered when he was just 12 years old. His eldest brother, David, who Short described as the “star of the family,” was killed in a devastating car accident.
The nightmare did not end there. At David’s funeral, Short’s mother—an extraordinary musician and the first female concertmaster in North America—was diagnosed with cancer. She passed away three years later.
The very next year, Short’s father, a steel executive, also passed away. By the time Martin Short was 21 years old, he had lost his brother, his mother, and his father. “So there was definitely a period where life changed completely,” he solemnly told Letterman.
However, rather than letting this unimaginable string of tragedies break him, Short used his family’s philosophy to forge an unbreakable resilience. He realized early on that life is fragile and fleeting.
“Our whole family took the attitude that if you have wonderful moments, don’t second-guess them, just enjoy them,” he once shared in an interview. This profound understanding of prioritizing joy over sorrow became the foundation of his entire outlook on life, and ultimately, his approach to comedy.
Yet, even with this positive mindset, his path to success was not without its moments of intense doubt and insecurity. The documentary reveals a fascinating turning point in Short’s career when he almost walked away from comedy altogether due to a crippling bout of imposter syndrome.
Early in his career, while living in Los Angeles and struggling to find work, Short and his wife Nancy were scheduled to have dinner with Bill Murray and Paul Shaffer. At the time, Murray was visiting from New York and was already a massive, breakout star on Saturday Night Live.
As Short and Dolman were walking to the dinner, the overwhelming weight of his own stagnant career hit him. He suffered what he now calls a “breakdown corner” moment. He stopped in his tracks and told Nancy he simply couldn’t do it. He couldn’t go and pretend to be happy for Bill Murray’s monumental success while he had no prospects and felt entirely lost.
They sat on the street for ten minutes in silence before returning home. Short woke up the next day in a deep funk. But that evening, the couple went to see a local improvisational comedy group called the War Babies. The performance was a revelation.
Watching the fresh, hilarious, and inspiring improv acted like a lightbulb going off in his head. Short instantly knew that this unscripted, character-driven comedy was exactly what he was meant to do.
The very next morning, revitalized and focused, he called the leader of the Second City improv group and asked to join. He was accepted, and the rest is comedy history. There, he honed his skills alongside legends like John Candy, Catherine O’Hara, and Eugene Levy. Eventually, he would join the cast of Saturday Night Live himself in 1984, long after Murray had departed for movie stardom.
Today, Martin Short views his career with a healthy dose of humility and realism. He admits that show business requires talent, luck, and endurance. “You can have talent, you can have tenacity. You can take the hits, but if you don’t have the confidence to get up there and fail, then you can’t do it,” he says in the film.
Marty, Life Is Short is not just a documentary for comedy nerds; it is a profound human story. It shows a man who has faced the darkest depths of human suffering—from losing his immediate family as a young man, to burying his soulmate, to the unbearable recent tragedy of losing his daughter Katherine—and still chooses to bring light into the world.
For fans of Martin Short, the documentary promises to be an emotional rollercoaster. It is an invitation to laugh at the creation of iconic characters like Ed Grimley and Jiminy Glick, and to cry at the profound losses that shaped the man behind the makeup.
Above all, the film stands as a testament to the power of joy as an act of defiance against grief. By choosing to smile, to perform, and to love deeply despite the risks, Martin Short continues to inspire us all.
As the world tunes into Netflix on May 12, they will see more than just a comedian. They will see a survivor, a devoted father, a loving husband, and a true legend who has mastered the art of facing tragedy with an unyielding, beautiful joy.