Martin Short is mourning the loss of his daughter, Katherine Hartley Short, who has died at the age of 42, prompting an outpouring of grief from family and friends and a request for privacy from the Short family.

The news comes as a devastating blow to the veteran actor, who has dealt with the earlier loss of his wife after 30 years of marriage.

According to law enforcement sources, emergency services responded to a call at Katherine’s Hollywood Hills home on the evening of Monday, 23 February, where she was found dead from what authorities described as a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

The Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Fire Department both attended the scene.

In a statement shared with media, the Short family said they are “devastated by this loss” and have asked for privacy at this very difficult time. 

“Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world,” they added. 

More about Katherine Short:

Katherine was the eldest of three adopted children of Short and his late wife, Nancy Dolman, who died in 2010 after battling ovarian cancer.

Alongside younger brothers Oliver and Henry, Katherine largely kept a private life despite her father’s long career in entertainment. 

A licensed clinical social worker, Katherine was deeply involved in mental health work in Los Angeles, including private practice and part-time roles at clinics such as Amae Health, where she provided counselling, support groups and psychotherapy. 

She also worked with the charity Bring Change 2 Mind, which focuses on reducing the stigma around mental illness.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and gender sexuality studies from New York University in 2006 and went on to receive a master’s in social work from the University of Southern California in 2010, later working in various clinical and community outreach roles prior to her own practice.

Katherine occasionally appeared alongside her father at events over the years, but preferred to keep much of her life out of the spotlight. 

Friends and followers have expressed shock and sorrow at the news, as the family begins to process another profound loss.

Supermarkets across London are locking chocolate bars in anti-theft boxes. The move follows a surge in shoplifting driven by organised criminal gangs.

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) reported that the prolific offenders target sweet treats, including £2.60 Cadbury Dairy Milk bars, who steal them to order.

The stolen treats are then resold on illicit markets, funding wider criminal activity.

To cope with the theft incidents, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Co-op have introduced transparent plastic boxes that can only be accessed with the assistance of staff.

The Heart of England Co-Op group reported that chocolate theft cost it around £250,000, making it the second most stolen item after alcohol in 2025.

In a recently shared footage by Wiltshire Police, a man was seen dragging an entire shelving stand of chocolate out of a shop door. In a separate incident, Cambridgeshire Police arrested an individual with a coat stuffed with Cadbury’s Creme Eggs.

Across the country, the British Retail Consortium reported 5.5 million recorded incidents of shoplifting, as well as 1,600 violent incidents against retail workers on a daily basis.

The ACS is urging the government to increase police support and toughen up sentences. The National Police Chiefs’ Council stated that their Retail Crime Strategy is helping to build intelligence and bring offenders to justice.

Princess Eugenie appeared unfazed as she made her first public appearance since her father, Prince Andrew, was arrested in a high-profile investigation. 

The 35-year-old royal was spotted strolling through London with a coffee in hand, dressed casually in leggings, a jacket, and a North Face cap, accompanied by her husband, Jack Brooksbank, whom she married in 2018.

The outing comes just days after Andrew was taken into custody on his 66th birthday, following a dramatic raid on his temporary residence on the Sandringham estate. 

Sources say he spent 11 hours being quizzed regarding his connections to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. 

During his time in custody, Andrew underwent fingerprinting, a DNA swab, and a mugshot.

Four days later, former politician Peter Mandelson found himself under investigation for allegedly leaking sensitive intelligence to Epstein.

Amid the chaos, Eugenie and her sister Beatrice are reportedly navigating the scandal with a mix of shock and determination. 

Sources tell the Daily Mail that the sisters are in constant communication, weighing their options and likely consulting their protective uncle, Charles.