Martin Short Opens Up About Love, Loss, and Finding Joy Through Life’s Hardest Moments

We know him from Three Amigos, Father of the Bride, endless comedy sketches, and, more recently, Only Murders in the Building, but the actor and comedian Martin Short has been through a lot in his 76 years and still faces it with joy. CBS Sunday Morning sat down with Martin Short to talk about his life, his losses, and his new documentary, Marty, Life is Short, which is now streaming on Netflix.

The documentary, which is now streaming on Netflix, is a look into his life, from his 50-plus-year career making us laugh to his love, friendships, and family. 

Martin Short Lost Both of His Parents By the Time He Was 20

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The youngest of five children, Martin Short grew up in Ontario, Canada, and was only 12 years old when his older brother David died in a car accident. His mother passed away from cancer when he was 17, and his father when he was 20, due to complications from a stroke. These losses shaped the actor's teen and young adult years.

Interviewer, Tracy Smith, asks Martin Short, “What did that teach you about grief and loss?”

Martin responds, “What, it developed in me, was this muscle of survival and handling grief and a perspective on it.” He then went on to say that it also gave him bravery when getting on stage. “If you’ve gone through that, an audience not liking you is really not that important anymore.”

After His Father Passed, Martin Short Knew About Loss

When his father passed, he realized he now knew something about life, something a lot of people don’t learn until they are much older. “I knew it at 20, about love, the importance of keeping these people alive,” he shares.

When he met Nancy, four years after his father’s death, she knew all about them, based on how he kept their memories alive.

Originally, Martin was going to go into social work, but before he graduated from university, he decided to give acting a try. He got his first gig in 1972 at around 22 years old, playing a credit card in a Chargex commercial.

In 1977, he joined Second City in Toronto and appeared on SCTV in the early 1980s, joining Saturday Night Live in 1984. One of his first movies was Three Amigos, with Chevy Chase and Steve Martin, in 1986. He was also in Father of the Bride in 1991, as well as the sequel in 1995.

Martin Short is in Only Murders in the Building With Steve Martin and Selena Gomez

More recently, he got back together with Steve Martin for the Hulu show, Only Murders in the Building, with Selena Gomez.

As he has progressed in his 50-year+ career, he has made friends with others who have also found great success in the entertainment industry. Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, and Tom Hanks are just a few of the many who appear frequently in his documentary. It is clear that friendship is also really important to him.

Martin married actress and singer Nancy Dolan in 1980, after they met in 1972 during the Toronto production of Godspell. The two adopted three children, Katherine, Oliver, and Henry, and had a happy family life.

Martin Lost His Wife in 2010 and His Daughter in 2026

And despite his career success over the years, he has also experienced even more heartbreaking losses. Nancy was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2007 and passed away in 2010. And his daughter Katherine passed away from suicide in February of 2026 at the age of 42.

In the documentary, Marty, Life is Short, Tom Hanks says, “Marty operates at the speed of joy.” And it is so true.

“I think I do have the happy gene, and I think my orientation is to be happy,” he says in response to the quote.

The Actor Has Been Able to Choose Joy Through It All

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Tracy then asks Martin how he managed to choose joy even after losing his wife Nancy. “Well, you don’t right away, but you have children to raise, which I did, this was 15 years ago,” he says.

He shares that he had an understanding of the end of life from his childhood. “But just to think of them,” he says of those he has lost. “They have gone into the next room for a while.”

The documentary is dedicated to two people: the actress and best friend of Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, who passed away on January 30, 2026, and his daughter, Katherine. 

His Daughter’s Death Has Been a Nightmare

“It’s been a nightmare for the family,” Martin shares about Katherine’s loss.

“But the understanding that mental health and cancer, like my wife, are both diseases, they are terminal,” he shares with a serious tone. “My daughter fought for a long time with extreme mental health, borderline personality disorder, and other things, and did the best she could until she couldn’t.”

Martin is also involved with Glenn Close’s organization, Bring Change to Mind, which encourages talking about mental health, so important for our world today. 

Joy Comes in the Morning

The actor also shared that since October of last year, he has lost many people important to him, including friends like Catherine O’Hara and his daughter.

“How do you even wrap your mind around that?” Tracy asks.

“You can’t, you just have to breathe in, breathe out,” he says.

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While there will be heartbreak in our lives, just as Martin Short has experienced, there can also be joy. As Psalm 30:5 states, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Such an important thing to remember as we walk through this life. Many prayers and blessings to Martin Short and his family.

Author’s Note: If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis and needs immediate help, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If possible, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 for urgent assistance.

WATCH: Martin Short Shares About Life, Loss, and Facing Tragedy With Joy

LISTEN: After Losing Her Sister, Teacher Found a Way to Inspire Her Students | Pastor Finds Strength in Faith Following a Sudden Stroke

h/t: CBS News

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/CBS Sunday Morning

Julie Provost is a GodUpdates staff writer and editor. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, three boys, and little dog Max. She loves to read, go to the movies, and enjoy time with family and friends.