Martin Short has postponed a set of upcoming performances on his joint comedy tour with Steve Martin following the sudden death of his daughter, Katherine Short. The announcement, and the circumstances around it, have prompted an outpouring of sympathy from colleagues and fans and left several dates in flux as the family processes the loss.

What happened and what’s been postponed

Katherine Short, whom Martin adopted with his late wife, actress Nancy Dolman, died at the age of 42 on Monday. Local reports, citing law-enforcement sources, say the Los Angeles Police Department responded to her Hollywood Hills home shortly after 6 p.m.; sources told TMZ that she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later ruled the cause of death a suicide.

All scheduled February dates for The Best of Steve Martin & Martin Short have been postponed. The pair were due to open the run on Friday, Feb. 27 at the Miller High Life Theatre in Milwaukee; the venue posted that the show has been postponed and that tickets will be honored for a future rescheduled date. The following night’s performance, Saturday, Feb. 28 at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, was also postponed with a similar notice to ticket-holders.

At the time of reporting, the group’s March 13 stop at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., had not been listed as postponed. The tour’s schedule currently shows additional appearances through Dec. 4, leaving the calendar open to further changes as decisions are made.

A family statement and background on Katherine

“It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short,” a representative for Martin Short said in a statement released Tuesday. The statement asked for privacy, described the Short family as devastated, and remembered Katherine as “beloved by all” and someone who brought “light and joy” into the world.

Katherine was one of three children Martin adopted with Nancy Dolman; the couple also had sons Henry and Oliver. Katherine graduated from New York University in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and gender sexuality studies, and she earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California in 2010.

Why the postponements make sense

On the surface, postponing a comedy tour is a logistical headache: venues, ticketing, travel and rehearsals all need to be rescheduled. But there’s a human reality that trumps schedules. Comedy—especially the kind of staged, conversational performance Martin and Steve Martin do together—relies on timing, emotional presence and a shared energy with the audience. Grief complicates all of that. Pausing the run is both a practical and compassionate choice that allows the family space and gives the performers time to find the emotional footing necessary to return to public life.

How this feels for fans

For many, watching public figures cope with private pain is a strange, communal experience. Fans who bought tickets expecting an evening of wit and warmth will likely get a future opportunity to see the show once dates are rescheduled; venues have indicated tickets will be honored for later performances. Still, there’s a different kind of disappointment here—one that’s softened by the obviousness of why the pause was needed.

Martin and Steve Martin’s collaboration has been notable for its chemistry: the pair trade barbs and anecdotes with a kind of practiced ease that depends on personal rhythm. That rapport, familiar from their work together on the TV series Only Murders in the Building, is hard to manufacture on short notice if one partner is grieving. Fans who know their dynamic will almost certainly want them back onstage when they’re ready—present and whole enough to give the material the care it deserves.

What else is happening with Only Murders in the Building

Outside the tour, the three-way phenomenon of Only Murders in the Building has continued to generate attention: the series was renewed for a sixth season last October. At the time, production timetables hinted that filming for the next installment might begin in May. With this recent personal tragedy, production plans could be affected; no official production changes have been announced so far.

A note on reporting and privacy

News outlets have reported both official statements from the family and details from law-enforcement sources. In moments like these, a few points are worth keeping in mind: first, grief is an intensely private experience even when the person grieving is a public figure; second, facts reported early—particularly around cause of death—can be sensitive and are often handled by medical examiners and investigators. The family’s request for privacy, made through their representative, is consistent with that reality.

For now, fans and colleagues are left to offer condolences and wait for the tour’s new dates to be announced. Postponing shows is a disruption, but it’s also an acknowledgment that some things—family, mourning, and the need to step away—are larger than any promotional calendar.

What to watch for

  • Official rescheduling notices from venues and the tour’s promoters. Tickets for the postponed Milwaukee and Minneapolis dates will reportedly be honored for rescheduled performances.
  • Any updates from the Short family or Martin’s representatives regarding memorial plans or public statements.
  • Potential impacts on Only Murders in the Building production timelines, if and when new information is released.

This is a painful, private loss for Martin Short and his family. The sensible response from the tour’s organizers—postpone, honor tickets, and give space—respects that pain while leaving room for the work to return when the time is right.

If you plan to attend a rescheduled show, keep an eye on your ticketing source for official updates. For now, the better immediate gesture is a quiet condolence: grief doesn’t always need a spotlight, but it does need room to breathe.