When you see Martin Short today—whether he's trading insults with Steve Martin or solving murders in the Arconia—it’s easy to assume he’s just naturally that "on." He’s the guy who radiates energy. But if you really look at him, especially when the conversation turns to his personal history, there’s a profound depth that most of the Hollywood "sparkle" lacks. That depth comes from a 36-year relationship that technically "ended" in 2010, but in reality, never stopped.
Martin Short and wife Nancy Dolman had the kind of marriage people in the industry usually think is a myth.
It wasn't a PR-managed "power couple" situation. It was a messy, hilarious, and ultimately tragic partnership that shaped everything Short is today. People still search for details about them because, frankly, the way they lived (and the way he continues to talk about her) is a masterclass in how to actually love someone for the long haul.
The Godspell Meeting: It Wasn't Exactly a Fairytale
Most people think they met at some glitzy party. Nope. It was 1972, Toronto. A legendary production of Godspell. The cast was a "who’s who" of future comedy titans: Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Victor Garber, and Dave Thomas.
Martin was actually dating Gilda Radner at the time. Nancy was Gilda's understudy.
Short has been pretty candid about this lately, especially on podcasts like Where Everybody Knows Your Name. He thought Nancy was stunning immediately. He also thought she was way out of his league. There was this "on-again, off-again" thing happening with Gilda, but once that finally fizzled out for good, Martin made his move. His weapon of choice? A tennis date.
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It worked. They were 24 and 22, and by the time they checked into a hotel for their first night together, the clerk laughed at them because they looked like two kids in cutoff jeans and halter tops. They stayed together from that moment until she passed away thirty years later.
Why Nancy Left Show Business
Nancy Dolman wasn't just "the wife." She was a performer in her own right. She had a recurring role on the sitcom Soap and worked in various Canadian productions. But in 1985, she just... stopped.
She retired.
There was no big scandal or dramatic "I'm giving up my dreams" speech. She just wanted to be a mother. They had adopted three children—Katherine, Oliver, and Henry—and Nancy decided that the Hollywood hamster wheel wasn't for her. She became the "rock" of the family while Martin’s career exploded with Saturday Night Live, Three Amigos!, and Father of the Bride.
Short has often said their marriage was a "triumph." In a world where three-year marriages are considered "long-term" for celebrities, they made it three decades. They kept a cottage on Lake Rosseau in Ontario, far away from the paparazzi, which is where they truly lived their lives.
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The 2010 Tragedy and the "Natural Causes" Confusion
In 2010, the news broke that Nancy had died at age 58.
There was a lot of confusion at the time because the L.A. County Coroner listed the cause of death as "natural causes." For a 58-year-old woman, that sounds vague. In reality, Nancy had been battling ovarian cancer since 2007. She fought it privately for three years.
When she died, it wasn't just a loss for Martin; it was a loss for a whole comedy community. Steve Martin actually dedicated a song to her called "The Great Remember."
The aftermath of her death led to one of the most awkward moments in live TV history. In 2012, Kathie Lee Gifford interviewed Martin on the Today show and asked him how his wife was doing, clearly having no idea she had passed two years prior.
Martin’s reaction? Total grace. He didn't correct her on air. He just said they were "madly in love" and kept the interview moving. He didn't want to make her feel bad. That tells you everything you need to know about the guy.
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"Hey Nan": How Martin Short Still Communicates With His Wife
If you think Martin Short is "over it," you don't know the man. He’s been very open about the fact that he still talks to her. Not in a "haunting" way, but in a "she’s still my partner" way.
"I still communicate with her all the time," he told AARP. "It’s 'Hey Nan.' How would she react to this decision?"
He believes that when people die, they "zoom into" the people who love them. He hasn't remarried. He hasn't looked for a "replacement." While there have been rumors about him and Meryl Streep (which they’ve both laughed off as just being "dear friends"), his heart seems very much anchored to the life he built with Nancy.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Supporters
If you're looking to understand the legacy of Martin Short and wife Nancy Dolman, or if you're navigating your own loss, here are a few things to take away from their story:
- Privacy is a Choice: They proved you can be a massive star and still have a private, stable family life by prioritizing "real life" over the "industry life."
- The "Teflon" Quality: Short credits his ability to handle tragedy to losing his parents and brother young. He uses humor not to hide from pain, but to process it.
- Support the Cause: Since Nancy’s passing from ovarian cancer, many fans have turned toward supporting organizations like the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA). Early detection is notoriously difficult for this specific cancer, making research funding critical.
- Read "I Must Say": If you want the unvarnished, human version of this story, Martin’s memoir I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend is where he really opens up about the "shiva" they held and how his friends, like Nora Ephron, helped him through the darkest days.
The reality is that Martin Short isn't just a "funny man." He's a man who had a great love, lost it, and decided that the best way to honor her was to keep being the person she loved—energy, jokes, and all.