Martin Short’s 3 Children: Get to Know Katherine, Oliver, and Henry
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- UPDATED AUGUST 12, 2024
by Tasha Mayberry
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Though Martin Short tends to keep his family life private, he is the proud father of three children. Martin and his late wife of 30 years, Nancy Dolman, adopted their three children before her passing in August 2010 from ovarian cancer: Katherine Elizabeth, 40, Oliver Patrick, 38, and Henry Hayter, 35. While promoting his book I Must Say: My Life As a Humble Comedy Legend, Martin appeared on The Meredith Vieira Show in November 2014 and shared a poignant moment he had with his children after Dolman’s death at the family’s cottage in Canada. “(Nancy) had once said to me, ‘I don’t want a funeral, and I don’t want a memorial. Throw a party, or not.’ She was just so irritated that she was losing this battle; she didn’t want to think about it,” Martin recalled.
So I just followed her wishes. We went up, had a party with about 30 close friends and family. She was cremated. The kids and I went into a boat, we sprinkled the ashes into the water, and we jumped into the ashes.” In the years since Dolman’s passing, Martin has spoken about how his children have coped with the loss. “It’s been a tough two years for my children,” Martin told The Guardian in October 2012. “This is the thing about 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.
Katherine Elizabeth Short, 40
Katherine Elizabeth Short was born on December 3, 1983. According to her website, she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and gender sexuality studies from New York University in 2006. Katherine then pursued her master’s in social work from the University of Southern California, graduating in 2010. As a first-year graduate student, she interned at the pro bono law firm Public Counsel and later trained at the West L.A. Veterans Administration. After completing her master’s program, Katherine worked at UCLA’s Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital for over four years before joining the dual-diagnosis outpatient program at Camden Center.
Today, Katherine runs a private practice as a licensed clinical social worker and also works part-time at Amae Health, providing community outreach, family support groups, peer support, and psychotherapy. She is also actively involved with the charity Bring Change 2 Mind, which aims to eliminate the stigma around mental health. While Martin has kept personal details about his daughter private, Katherine has made several public appearances with her father at various events.
Oliver Patrick Short, 38
Oliver Patrick Short was born on April 29, 1986. According to his LinkedIn profile, he attended the University of Notre Dame, where he was the women’s ice hockey coach and the men’s snowboard team captain. He graduated in 2008 with a degree in film and television production. Though Oliver prefers to work behind the scenes, he has carved out a successful career in the industry. He previously served as an executive assistant at Warner Bros. Pictures, a fact Martin confirmed in a 2012 interview with The Guardian. Oliver later held various producing roles at FOX Sports, the MLB Network, and NBC Sports.
Like his sister, Oliver has attended several industry events with his father over the years. The entire Short family—Martin, Nancy, and their three children—attended the afterparty following the opening night of Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me in August 2006, posing together at Tavern on the Green in New York City. In October 2006, Martin, Katherine, and Oliver also attended Night Of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Benefit in New York, where they posed for photos on the red carpet.
Henry Hayter Short, 35
Henry Hayter Short was born on August 4, 1989. Like his brother, Henry attended the University of Notre Dame, where he was involved in the men’s water polo club, the fishing club, and served as captain of the ski and snowboard club. He graduated in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in finance. In 2012, Martin told The Guardian that Henry had been backpacking around Europe. Henry later started his career at the Royal Bank of Canada, where he worked as a managed solutions group consultant before becoming an analyst. Today, Henry is a veterinary assistant at the Malibu Coast Animal Hospital. Since he was a teenager, Henry has attended numerous events with his parents, including the 2004 premiere of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events alongside Martin and Nancy. In October 2012, Henry accompanied his father to the opening night of the BFI London Film Festival for the premiere of Martin’s movie Frankenweenie. He also joined Martin for the Broadway opening night of Pippin in April 2013.
Martin Short Opens Up About Losing His Wife Nancy Dolman to Cancer: 'It's So Tough
Martin Short has had an incredible career, but he also enjoyed a remarkable journey with his wife, actress Nancy Dolman, whom he lost to ovarian cancer in 2010 after 30 years of marriage. In a candid cover story with AARP the Magazine, the Father of the Bride star, then 68, opened up about life without her. “Our marriage was a triumph,” he shared. “So it’s tough. She died in 2010, but I still communicate with her all the time. It’s ‘Hey Nan,’ you know?” he told the magazine. “How would she react to this decision or that, especially regarding our three kids?
