Nancy Dolman was a performer with a background in comedy and music, but many people knew her as Martin Short’s wife.
They first met in 1972 while working on a stage musical. Eight years later, in 1980, they got married. Their marriage lasted nearly thirty years, until Dolman died of cancer in 2010.
Even after her passing, Short has spoken openly about the bond they shared. He once described their marriage as a “triumph.” In an interview with AARP The Magazine, the actor reflected on life without her. He admitted that losing her was hard, yet the Father of the Bride star said, “I still communicate with her all the time. It’s ‘Hey Nan,’ you know?”
Together, they adopted three children: Katherine, Henry, and Oliver. The family later faced another heartbreaking loss. Katherine died on Feb. 24, 2026, at the age of 42 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Let’s know more about Martin Short’s late spouse, Nancy Dolman, and their decades-long marriage.
Who Was Nancy Dolman?
She was born in Toronto and grew up in a creative household. Her brother, Bob Dolman, later became a film director and writer. In the early 1970s, Nancy joined the Canadian Rock Theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar, which gave her early stage experience.
She later had recurring appearances on the ABC sitcom Soap. In 1985, Dolman also appeared in her husband’s cable special, Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas, sharing the screen with him.
They Began Dating in 1972 and Married in 1980
Short and Dolman first met in 1972 during the Toronto production of Godspell. At the time, Dolman was serving as the understudy for Gilda Radner, who was not only part of the show but also Short’s girlfriend then.
Years later, during a 2024 appearance on the Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson & Woody Harrelson, Short looked back at that moment. He admitted he found Dolman “so beautiful,” though he was still living with Radner at the time. He also said he believed Dolman was “out of my league” and made it clear that he “loved Gilda.”
It wasn’t until his relationship with Radner ended that things shifted. After running into Dolman at a restaurant, he asked her to play tennis. That simple plan led to something much bigger.
Almost eight years after their first meeting, the pair married on Dec. 22, 1980.
The Couple Had Three Adopted Children
Dolman and Short built their family through adoption, welcoming three children over the years.
Their eldest, Katherine Elizabeth, was born in 1983. She later became a social worker and earned her degree from New York University. Oliver Patrick followed in 1986. He studied at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business and went on to work at Warner Brothers. The youngest, Henry Hayter, was born in 1989 and also graduated from the University of Notre Dame in May 2012.
In February, the Short family confirmed that Katherine died on Feb. 24 at the age of 42.
Martin Short’s Wife Nancy Dolman Died of Ovarian Cancer
Dolman was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and died on August 21, 2010, at her home in Pacific Palisades, California. She was 58. The Los Angeles County Coroner later listed her death as a natural cause.
Short later shared that Dolman had been clear about what she wanted. During a 2014 appearance on The Meredith Vieira Show, he recalled her telling him she did not want a funeral or memorial. Instead, she preferred either a party or nothing at all. Respecting her request, the family gathered around 30 close friends and relatives for a small celebration of her life.
Afterward, Short and their children took a boat onto the lake. They released her ashes into the water and then jumped in together.
