Martin Short has been making fans laugh for decades, and will continue that streak when he returns in the upcoming season of “Only Murders in the Building.”
However, in his personal life Short has experienced some devastating losses. Those have included the early deaths of both his parents and his brother to the 2010 loss of wife Nancy Dolman at age 58, to the more recent passing of his daughter, Katherine.
‘It’s OK to Be Sad’
Speaking with IndieWire about the recent Netflix documentary about him, “Marty, Life is Short,” the Canadian comedian explained why he’s never felt the need to see a therapist in the face of those devastating tragedies.
“I’ve never been in therapy,” said Short.
“Never. Never,” he added. “When my brother and parents died, and I was now in this big house with the housekeeper at 19 and 20, it was Hamilton, Ontario, 1970. So it wasn’t about therapy; it was about no one. I didn’t know anyone. In Hamilton, it’s just you. I biked all over the city. I’d bike up the hills and paint and write. I was the youngest of five, so now there’s four. But the [others] took over aggressively, nurtured and worried, and that’s how I continued. You learn to do it.”
That said, Short said that if he ever found himself spiralling downward, he’d certainly consider therapy.
“Listen, ideally, if no one needed a crutch for anything, wouldn’t they be stronger?” he said. “So, believe me, if I was suddenly depressed or in despair, but didn’t know why, then I’d run to a therapist. But I’ve never been that way. I’m sad now, but you know what? I should be sad now. It’s OK to be sad.”
A Little Help From His Friends
GettyInstead of a therapist, Short said that he’s relied on his friends and family to help him through those dark times in his life.
“When loss and grief suddenly or subtly encompasses your life, it’s your friends and family that help you through and remind you of the journey,” he reflected. “So you find the light.”
Of course, Short’s group of close friends includes the likes of Steve Martin and some of Hollywood’s most famous folks.
“I’ve been asked through the years, ‘What’s it like to be friends with Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg? What are they like?’” said Short. “They’re just playful and friends. They just happen to be famous.”
Working Has Helped Him Cope
Short also pointed out that working alongside best friend Martin on “Only Murders in the Building” has also been helpful in dealing with his grief, as has his new romance with Meryl Streep.
“All those things, absolutely,” he said.
“That work is always good for grief because if you take it seriously and it still matters to you, then it’s the ultimate distraction, and distraction can be a relief from grief,” he explained.
‘Keep the Conversation Going’
Having lost such important people in his life well before their times, Short referenced the philosophy of late director Mike Nichols.
“It’s just as Mike Nichols always said: ‘Just keep the conversation going.’ And that’s what you do,” Short mused. “When your dear friend suddenly dies, you keep talking to that friend. You know what he’s going to say or she’s going to say. You’re used to the answers, you know.”
