The 2026 Academy Awards ended on an emotional note when host Conan O’Brien closed the ceremony with a heartfelt tribute to longtime friend Martin Short, following the recent death of Short’s daughter.
O’Brien, who hosted the Oscars for the second consecutive year, concluded the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles with a brief but personal message.
“It’s been an honour and a joy,” O’Brien said to the audience. “We love you, Marty Short. Good night.”
Short’s daughter, Katherine Hartley Short, died on February 23 at the age of 42. A representative for the actor confirmed her death in a statement released to media outlets.
“It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short,” the statement read. “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.”
Short and his longtime friend and comedy partner Steve Martin have since postponed their comedy tour following the tragedy. The duo, along with their Only Murders in the Building co-star Selena Gomez, also did not attend the Screen Actors Guild Awards earlier this month.
Katherine Hartley Short, a psychiatric social worker, largely stayed out of the public spotlight despite her father’s fame. In 2012, she legally changed her last name from Short to Hartley, explaining in court documents that she wanted to maintain professional separation from her father’s public life.
“My father is a public figure, and I am a psychiatric social worker,” she wrote at the time, noting concerns about potential harassment from future patients.
She had also spoken publicly about living with mental illness and owned a service dog named Joni, named after singer Joni Mitchell, which helped support her mental health.
Katherine was adopted by Short and his late wife, Nancy Dolman, along with her brothers Oliver and Henry. Friends and neighbors described her as a private but warm person who enjoyed spending time with friends.
O’Brien’s closing tribute offered a quiet moment of reflection at the end of the ceremony, acknowledging Short and his family during a difficult time while bringing the night’s celebration to a close.
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