Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Steve Martin absent from Actor Awards amid family loss

The cast of Only Murders in the Building, including Martin Short, Steve Martin, and Selena Gomez, was noticeably absent from the 2026 Actor Awards on Sunday, March 1, in Los Angeles.

The decision to skip the ceremony came in the wake of a devastating personal loss for Martin Short. His daughter, Katherine Short, tragically passed away on February 23 at the age of 42. 

She was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, marking a profound tragedy for the Short family.

A representative for Martin confirmed her death, stating, “It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short. 

The Short family is devastated by this loss and asks for privacy at this time. Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world.”

In a show of solidarity and support for their co-star, Steve Martin and Selena Gomez also chose not to attend the ceremony. 

Martin’s absence was acknowledged during the broadcast when Jenna Ortega read the nominees for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series. 

While other nominees like Adam Brody, Ted Danson, Seth Rogen, and Ike Barinholtz were shown in the audience, Martin was represented by a still photograph.

The trio was also nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for their work on Only Murders in the Building. Fans continue to eagerly await the show’s sixth season, set to premiere later this year.

Katherine Short, a psychiatric social worker, had previously written about living with mental illness and was accompanied by her service dog, Joni, named after singer Joni Mitchell. 

She maintained a low public profile and was last publicly seen celebrating her 40th birthday in 2023.

A neighbor told Us Weekly that Katherine had not shown visible signs of distress prior to her passing, describing her as friendly and outgoing. 

“You could hear and see her laughing with friends on her front porch at times,” the neighbor recalled.

Katherine was adopted by Martin Short and his late wife Nancy Dolman, along with her brothers Oliver, 39, and Henry, 36. In 2012, she legally changed her surname to Hartley, citing concerns about potential harassment due to her father’s public profile.