Martin Short is opening up about the heartbreaking family losses he experienced at a young age and how those moments forever changed the course of his life.
During an appearance at Netflix Is a Joke Presents: “This Better Be Funny with David Letterman” on May 7 in Los Angeles, the beloved comedian reflected on several emotional moments explored in his upcoming Netflix documentary, “Marty, Life Is Short.”
David Letterman brought up how much tragedy Short endured growing up, noting that the actor came from a “funny Irish Catholic family” before suddenly experiencing multiple devastating losses early in life.
Short shared that his older brother, David, who he described as “the star of the family,” passed away in a car accident when Short was just 12 years old. He then revealed that his mother was diagnosed with cancer during his brother’s funeral and passed away three years later. His father passed away the following year, meaning Short lost his brother and both parents before turning 21.
“So there was definitely a period where life changed completely,” Short said.
The actor also spoke lovingly about his parents while reflecting on that chapter of his life. He described his mother as “an extraordinary musician” and noted that she became the first female concertmaster in North America. His father worked as a steel executive.
Despite the difficult losses, Short previously explained to People that he never viewed his family story entirely as tragic because of the perspective his parents instilled in him growing up.
“There isn’t a period of my life that I don’t like to think about or wouldn’t go back to,” he said. “It sounds like a tragic family, but it really isn’t.”
He added, “Our whole family took the attitude that if you have wonderful moments, don’t second-guess them, just enjoy them.”
Martin Short Recently Returned to the Red Carpet Following His Daughter Katherine’s Passing
The emotional conversation comes just days after Short made his first public and red carpet appearance since the passing of his daughter Katherine earlier this year.
According to Us Weekly, the comedian attended the Los Angeles premiere of his Netflix documentary “Marty, Life Is Short” on May 6 alongside his sons Oliver and Henry Short.
The event marked an emotional return to the spotlight for the actor, who was also supported by celebrity friends including Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, Eugene Levy, Jimmy Kimmel, Jerry Seinfeld and Billy Crystal.
Katherine passed away in February at age 42. At the time, the Short family released a statement remembering her for the “light and joy she brought into the world.”
Short has also previously experienced the passing of his wife, actress Nancy Dolman, who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2010. The couple shared three children together.
“Marty, Life Is Short” Gives Fans a More Personal Look at the Comedy Legend
Along with highlighting Short’s decades-long comedy career, “Marty, Life Is Short” also explores many of the deeply personal moments that shaped him behind the scenes.
Per Rolling Stone, the Netflix documentary features appearances from several of Short’s closest friends and collaborators including Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, Eugene Levy and the late Catherine O’Hara, all reflecting on his legendary comedic talent and resilience throughout his life.
The documentary also includes never-before-seen archival footage and a closer look at Short’s personal journey both on and off screen.
Following the premiere, Selena Gomez shared a heartfelt tribute to her “Only Murders in the Building” co-star on Instagram alongside photos from the event and behind-the-scenes moments from the series.
“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. “Martin Short is nothing short of a legend.”
She added, “I cried, laughed and empathized [with] his entire story.”
“Marty, Life Is Short” premieres on Netflix on May 12.
