Martin Short opens up about grief and why he has never been to therapy

Martin Short discusses grief after losing his wife, daughter, parents and brother and why he never sought therapy

Martin Short has opened up about how he has dealt with grief following the deaths of several close family members, explaining why he has never sought therapy to process his losses.

The Only Murders in the Building actor, 76, discussed his approach to grief during a recent interview with IndieWire. Short said he has never been to therapy, including after losing his brother and both parents while he was still young.

Short recalled that his brother David died in a car accident when he was 12. His mother, Olive Hayter, died three years later, followed by his father, Charles Patrick Short, the following year.

Reflecting on that period of his life, Short said there was little access to therapy and that he largely coped by spending time alone, cycling around Hamilton, Ontario, painting and writing.

Short later experienced further losses. His wife, Nancy Dolman, died from ovarian cancer in 2010 at the age of 58. The couple had three children: Katherine, Oliver and Henry.

Their daughter Katherine died by suicide in February at the age of 42 after lifelong mental health struggles.

Short said friends and family have played an important role in helping him deal with grief. He also credited his work, including Only Murders in the Building, and his friendship with co-star Meryl Streep with helping him maintain a sense of purpose.

The actor acknowledged that therapy could be useful if he were experiencing depression or despair without understanding the cause. However, he said he has not felt the need to seek professional support and believes it is natural to feel sadness after a loss.

Short's comments come as he continues to speak publicly about family, grief and finding ways to move forward after profound personal losses.