Martin Short has spoken candidly about coping with the death of his daughter Katherine, who died by suicide in February at 42.
The 76-year-old actor, who shared Katherine with his late wife, Nancy Dolman, reflected on the difficult nature of grief while attending Selena Gomez’s Rare Impact Fund Benefit on Wednesday, October 14.
At the event, Gomez introduced a new award named The Katherine Short Legacy Award, honoring the memory of her.
“There is one part of tonight that means a lot to me. Katherine was a social worker who devoted her own career to helping people through some of their hardest points,” she said.
“This award will carry her name forward by honoring people who have made that same kind of commitment to their communities.
“Marty has been my friend for many years, and I know how deeply he loves his family. I’m very grateful that he’s here tonight to help us present it for the first time.”
“It has been the heartbreak of our family”
Seven months after losing Katherine, Short then spoke emotionally about his family’s grief, comparing his daughter’s mental health struggles to his late wife’s battle with cancer. Both, he said, are diseases that can be fatal.
“It has been a very difficult year for me, needless to say. It has been the heartbreak of our family, as you can imagine. But we have also understood in the last eight months – I think my whole family has understood -that mental health and cancer, which took my wife, for example, are both diseases. They are diseases, and sometimes diseases are terminal,” he said.
He continued: “Katherine fought for so long with extreme mental health issues – borderline personality [disorder], other things – and she did the best she could until she couldn’t.
“And that’s why it’s so important what Selena’s doing tonight, raising these kinds of funds and awareness to help people understand that mental health is simply an illness, not to be hidden in the shadows or perceived as a family embarrassment.”
Martin Short’s daughter
He then said: “The great Dolly Parton once said, ‘Grief is love with no place to go.’ My pain about losing my daughter will always be present in my heart, and I think that’s simply because what we deeply love we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes part of us.
“Katherine devoted herself to her profession as a clinical social worker, promoting open, compassionate conversations about mental health, and her commitment extended beyond her profession and well into the community.
“So what an honor it is for me to be [here] helping present this award, which honors those creating lasting impact through their commitment to mental health and well-being.”
Where to get help
On the topic of mental health, don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you, or someone you know, is struggling, you can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741, or contact the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990.
If your distress feels unbearable, or if you have suicidal thoughts or plans, contact a psychiatric emergency unit immediately or call 911.
For more information about available resources, visit Mental Health America at mhanational.org.
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