Martin Short has long been one of Hollywood’s most beloved comedians and actors. He charms the audience with his sharp wit and unforgettable characters. The actor is currently back in the spotlight with the team of Only Murders in the Building Season 5, where he will once again team up with Steve Martin and Selena Gomez. While Martin’s professional life has been filled with memorable roles and achievements, his personal life has been marked by one of the most heartbreaking love stories in Hollywood.
Martin Short’s love story with Nancy Dolman began on the stage
Martin Short’s romance with Nancy Dolman began in 1972 when they met during a Toronto production of Godspell. For Martin, it was love at first sight. Recalling the moment in his memoir, I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend, the actor mentioned that he found Nancy to be beautiful the moment he saw her. At the time, he was living with Gilda Radner, a future Saturday Night Live star. However, after their breakup, destiny brought him and Nancy together.
Nancy Dolman was already an established star thanks to her stage shows in 70s and her work in the popular TV show, Soap, where she played the role of ‘Annie Selig Tate’ from 1980 to 1981. She went on to be a part of It’s a Living and Family in Blue. But Martin asked her out for a tennis date, which marked the beginning of their whirlwind romance. The duo tied the knot in 1980, which Martin later called a ‘triumph,’ and Nancy stepped back from work to focus on her family.
Martin Short and Nancy built an adorable family together
Martin Short and Nancy went on to adopt three children, Katherine Elizabeth in 1983, Oliver Patrick in 1986, and Henry Hayter in 1989. Unlike their famous father, none of them pursued a career in showbiz. Instead, Katherine became a social worker, Oliver works behind the scenes in the film industry, and Henry is a veterinary assistant. They were living a good and peaceful family life together until a major tragedy struck them in the form of Nancy Dolman’s death after 30 years of her marriage. She died in 2010 after suffering from Ovarian cancer that left Martin and their children devastated.
Why did Martin Short never remarry?
Despite his grief, Martin made sure her legacy continued within their family. He explained in an interview with AARP that he still ‘talks’ to Nancy, especially when it comes to making decisions about their kids, like “It’s, ‘Hey, Nan, how would you react to this?'”. To honor Nancy’s wish, Martin didn’t hold a traditional funeral or memorial. Instead, he celebrated her life with a gathering of close family and friends.
He and the children then spread her ashes in the water before jumping in together for a symbolic private goodbye. Although it has been 15 years since her demise, Martin has not remarried. According to him, his marriage was extraordinary, and he still feels her presence and influence in his daily life that can’t be diminished.
Martin Short was later linked to Meryl Streep, but his representative confirmed to People that there was just good friends.’
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