Being connected to a famous comedian was a massive concern for Katherine Short. The social worker and daughter of Martin Short died on February 23rd of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
She had dedicated her life to helping people struggling with mental health, among other things. Having the name Short, however, worried her. Her belief was that she would face plenty of harassment from patients because of her father’s celebrity status. Martin is a beloved Canadian comedian, known for many film roles, while also creating numerous iconic characters. Among the biggest are Jiminy Glick and Ed Grimley.
Katherine Short changed her last name to Hartley
Being tied in with celebrities can have its drawbacks. Katherine took her concerns to court, pleading with a judge to legally change her name. TMZ reports that a judge granted her request in 2013 when she officially became known as Katherin Elizabeth Hartley.
While she didn’t have the fame of her father, Katherin, by all accounts, was very loved. Among the things people respected about her was that she never flaunted her famous last name or bragged about it. She was praised for her dedication to social work.
It’s another devastating blow to Martin, who’s gone through his share of personal tragedy. Earlier this year, he said goodbye to iconic Canadian actress and his dear friend Catherine O’Hara. Martin’s wife and Katherine’s mother, Nancy Dolman, died of ovarian cancer in August 2020. Martin’s upcoming comedy show has been postponed. He was due to perform alongside Steve Martin in Minneapolis.
Her father has often in the spotlight while attending extravagant celebrity events, though Katherine seemed to shy away from that. Over her lifetime, she rarely went to those public socials. In 2011, she notably attended a Vanity Fair Oscar Party.
During her life, Katherine earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from NYU before earning a master’s from USC. She was 42.
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