Daughter of Comedian Martin Short Changed Name to Protect Privacy Before Tragic Death
Katherine Short, the adopted daughter of renowned comedian Martin Short, legally changed her surname over a decade ago to separate her professional life from her father's public persona, according to documents recently obtained by TMZ. The name change occurred years before her untimely death at age 42 this week.
Legal Name Change Filed in 2012
Court documents reveal that Katherine filed to change her name from "Katherine Elizabeth Short" to "Katherine Elizabeth Hartley" in 2012, with the change officially granted by a judge in early 2013. In her filing, she expressed concern about potential harassment from future patients due to her association with her famous father.
"My father is a public figure. I am a psychiatric social worker," Katherine stated in the legal document. "I am worried about potential harassment from future patients resulting from my association with my father."
Tragic Passing at Age 42
Katherine died on Monday at just 42 years old. TMZ reported that her death resulted from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. She was one of three adopted children of Martin Short and his late wife, actress Nancy Dolman, who passed away in 2010 from ovarian cancer.
Despite her family's celebrity status, Katherine maintained a remarkably low profile throughout her adult life, focusing instead on her career in mental health services.
Dedicated Mental Health Professional
Katherine worked as a psychiatric social worker and therapist, specializing in treating anxiety, depression, and suicidality. She spent four years at UCLA's prestigious Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital before transitioning to the Camden Center's outpatient program.
She was also an active mental health advocate, collaborating with the charity Bring Change 2 Mind to reduce stigma surrounding mental illness. Ironically, according to a Page Six report, Katherine struggled with mental health challenges herself in the years leading up to her death.
Personal Struggles and Service Dog
On her now-deleted professional website, Katherine reportedly shared information about her service dog, Joni, named after folk music icon Joni Mitchell. She described how the dog assisted her with her own mental health struggles over five years.
"Joni is my incredible service dog, who has been assisting me with my own struggles with mental illness for the past 5 years," she wrote on the website, highlighting the personal challenges she faced while helping others with similar issues.
The tragic circumstances of her death underscore the complex relationship between public visibility, professional identity, and personal wellbeing in families touched by celebrity.
