Martin Short recently reflected on his former relationship with Gilda Radner, describing her as every bit as kind and funny as people imagined. Speaking during a conversation with David Letterman and Paul Shaffer at Netflix Is a Joke Presents: This Better Be Funny with David Letterman on May 7, Short looked back on joining a 1972 Toronto production of Godspell while still attending university.
He explained that the show had already become a major off-Broadway success, leading to the Toronto staging that brought together a future lineup of stars including Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, and Victor Garber. Short recalled the audition process being chaotic, comparing it to a massive talent competition, with hundreds auditioning before the cast unexpectedly came together.
According to Short, none of them knew one another beforehand, and they were simply young performers excited to leave school behind and pursue creative work.
When Letterman asked about Radner, who passed away from ovarian cancer in 1989 at age 42, Short spoke warmly about her personality. He said she had an effortless charm that drew people in immediately, adding that women wanted to be close friends with her while men were naturally attracted to her humor and warmth. He remembered her greeting him enthusiastically at their first rehearsal and instantly making him laugh.
That same production also introduced Short to his future wife, Nancy Dolman, who served as Radner’s understudy. Short praised Dolman’s exceptional singing talent and described her as highly gifted.
In a 2024 conversation with Ted Danson, Short reflected further on the complicated timing of his relationships with Radner and Dolman. He admitted he had feelings for Radner and said their relationship involved frequent breakups. After believing their romance had finally ended, he arranged to play tennis with Dolman. Soon after, Radner called him assuming they would reconcile, which made the transition feel sudden and unexpected.
Short and Dolman married in 1980 and later adopted three children — Katherine, Oliver, and Henry. Their marriage lasted 36 years until Dolman’s death from ovarian cancer in 2010. In February 2026, the Short family also shared the news that their daughter Katherine had passed away at age 42.
