Inside Martin Short's Personal Life — 30+ Photos

Behind the punchlines lies a story filled with passion, devotion, resilience, and unimaginable heartbreak...

He's the man who can turn one look into a laugh — but Martin Short's real-life story has chapters that are far more intense than any punchline… and one recent update made the public's heart drop. Now, we're pulling back the curtain and reflecting on his earliest romance, his lifelong love, the A-list relationship rumors, and the family he always called his greatest joy.

Scroll through 30+ striking photos and discover the personal moments that shaped one of comedy's most beloved and iconic stars.

The Girl He Fell for 'Madly'

Long before the tuxedos and red carpets with his late beloved Nancy Dolman, Martin was a 22-year-old performer trying to make it in the 70s, and then he met Gilda Radner.

In a March 2025 episode of "Good Hang with Amy Poehler," Martin looked back on the early days when he was surrounded by future legends Paul Shaffer, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Victor Garber, and, of course, Gilda.

He even recalled a nerve-wracking audition process and how the casting pool felt: "really like 500 people," with friends cheering each other on, as Gilda auditioned in bib overalls and pigtails, singing "Zippity Do."

He admitted he initially thought it was "the saddest thing," until she got hired, and he realized she was exactly what they were looking for.

Meanwhile, his own callback came down to him and another guy, and he remembers Stephen Schwartz telling the other guy he was "so so good," but they went with Martin; a moment he called "a dream."

Then Amy asked about Gilda, and Martin didn't hesitate. He described her as someone every girl wanted as a best friend and every guy wanted to date, recalling her quirky confidence and the details that made her unforgettable: "the size of her purse; the fullness of her hair."

And then came the line that said it all:

"I fell for her madly."

Their romance, as Entertainment Weekly summarized, began after they met in a Toronto production of "Godspell" in 1972, when he was 22, and she was 26, and they dated on and off for a couple of years before it ultimately didn't work out.

During his discussion with Amy, Martin also got brutally honest about why things could be hard. He explained that Gilda had "emotional ups and downs" while he was dealing with grief after his parents died, and he admitted he simply didn't have the life experience to understand everything back then.

He remembered thinking, what could she possibly be unhappy about? She was talented, loved, hilarious, and got the biggest laughs, but Martin was still only 22.

The Love of His Life: Nancy Dolman

If Gilda was Martin's early whirlwind, Nancy was his life partner for over 30 years. Sadly, according to an August 2010 report by ABC News, Martin's manager, Marc Gurvitz, confirmed Nancy had died, without providing a cause or additional details at the time.

The report stated Martin married Nancy in 1980 after they met working together on "Godspell" and that they shared three children: Katherine, Oliver, and Henry Short.

What followed was not just grief, but the kind of devotion that feels almost unreal.

In a 2014 interview with Meredith Vieira, Martin shared how Nancy made her wishes clear: she didn't want a funeral or a memorial — maybe a party, maybe not — and part of it, he said, was because she was irritated she was losing the battle and didn't want to think about it. So Martin honored her exactly as she asked.

He described their beloved cottage in Canada — a place Nancy adored — and how they went back in July and again in August. Martin said they held a party with about 30 close friends and family.

Nancy was cremated, and then he and the kids took a boat out, sprinkled her ashes into the water, and, in a moment that's almost impossible to forget once you hear it, they jumped into the ashes.

Then, he said, the night became a celebration. Paul Shaffer came up and played piano; Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell were there. Friends and family performed, turning it into the kind of Christmas party tradition they used to have, and near dawn, Martin went to the bonfire around 4 a.m. and stayed there until sunrise.

In a Hollywood Reporter interview, the interviewer admitted it was "impossible not to fall in love" with Nancy after reading Martin's memoir, and set the scene: they met in 1974 when she joined the Toronto "Godspell" production he was in, raised three kids, and she died of ovarian cancer in 2010 at 58.

When asked what that kind of loss felt like, Martin didn't soften it:

"It was absolutely horrible."

Then came Martin being Martin — even in grief — searching for a quote, joking that he keeps a list of names he forgets. He finally found the George Eliot quote he wanted: "Our dead are never dead to us until we have forgotten them." Martin added, "We were together for 36 years. I didn't want to forget Nancy."

And in a 2019 AARP interview, Martin summed up their life together in one line that practically glows, "Our marriage was a triumph." He said it's been tough since her death in 2010, but he still communicates with her constantly: "Hey, Nan," asking how she'd react to decisions, especially regarding their kids.

He also shared his belief that when people die, they "zoom into" those who love them and criticized the idea of never speaking of the dead as denial. The actor also revealed that her death emboldened him to take risks, stating, "With real tragedy, you become a little more daring. It's the yin to the yang: the positive part of life's dark side."

A 'Completely Unexpected' Romance?

Then came the romance buzz that sent fans into a frenzy: Martin and Meryl Streep…

In March 2025, Page Six reported that the "Only Murders in the Building" co-stars had been dating for "well over a year," citing a source who claimed the romance was "completely unexpected" and "took them by surprise."

The insider also delivered the line that instantly became headline fuel: "Meryl couldn't help but fall for Martin."

The source described him as a gentleman who keeps her laughing and said neither Meryl nor Martin were looking for a relationship, but that friends and family (including their kids) approve and find them adorable.

The report also noted Page Six had revealed in October 2023 that Meryl had quietly split from husband Don Gummer in 2017.

Martin's Greatest Role: Dad

All throughout his illustrious professional life, Martin has always been clear about what has grounded him: his children. A Daily Mail report stated that Martin and Nancy adopted Katherine and her brothers, Oliver and Henry, and in 2022, Martin spoke to People about fatherhood in a way that felt quietly definitive:

"My life, my children, my friends — I have great joy in that."

Additionally, in a past podcast interview with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson, Martin revealed the sweetest grandpa update, saying, "I now have three grandsons [...] Theo will be four in January. And then Grayson is two and four months, and Campbell just turned two."

Katherine Short: Her Work, Her Life, and a Heartbreaking Loss

Martin's daughter, Katherine, largely stayed out of the spotlight, but reporting in recent years outlined the life she built.

USA Today divulged that Katherine — born December 3, 1983 — became a licensed clinical social worker in Los Angeles, running a private practice where she specialized in adoption, anxiety, depression, personality disorders, grief and loss, suicidality, and relationship difficulties.

The report also said she graduated from NYU in 2006 and earned a master's in social work from USC in 2010, led therapy sessions for veterans during her time at USC's Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, and later worked at UCLA's Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital.

People also noted that Katherine, who was Martin's oldest child, was involved with the charity Bring Change 2 Mind.

On February 24, 2026, TMZ reported Katherine's death as a result of apparent suicide and included the family's statement:

"It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short. 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."

The Boys: Oliver & Henry

Martin's sons have also carved out their own paths, and photos of them show how much pride Martin has taken in them over the years.

Per Henry's LinkedIn, he has worked as an Analyst, Advisor, and has provided support and training at RBC (2013–2019) and as a Veterinary Assistant at Malibu Coast Animal Hospital (2021–present), and attended the University of Notre Dame.

Meanwhile, according to Oliver's LinkedIn, he's worked as an Event Producer at Cosm (Nov. 2024–present), previously served as a Segment Producer at NFL TV Network (Dec. 2022–Nov. 2024), and worked as a Senior Associate Producer at FOX Sports (Oct. 2022–Dec. 2022), with an education connection to the University of Notre Dame.

Through It All…

From the woman he said he fell for "madly," to the wife whose love he called a "triumph," to a rumored romance that sources claim was "completely unexpected," the photos tell one clear story: Martin Short loves deeply, and he shows up. And when he once said, "My life, my children, my friends — I have great joy in that," it didn't sound like a generic quote; it sounded like the core of who he is.

At this time, we wish to extend our most heartfelt condolences to Martin, Oliver, Henry, their entire family, all their loved ones, friends, community, and all who knew and loved Katherine as they mourn such a significant loss. We hope for their healing amid their time of grief. RIP, dear Katherine.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.