For decades, Martin Short has kept audiences laughing with his sharp humor and unforgettable characters. But behind the comedy icon was a deeply personal love story with his late wife, Canadian actress Nancy Dolman.
The couple met in 1972 while performing in a Toronto production of Godspell, married in 1980 and went on to build a life and family together that lasted nearly 30 years before her death from ovarian cancer in 2010.
Here’s everything to know about Nancy and her marriage to Martin, below.
Like Martin, Nancy was Canadian. She was born on September 26, 1950, in Toronto, Ontario, and was raised in a family with strong ties to the entertainment industry. Her brother, Bob Dolman, went on to become a well-known screenwriter and director, with credits including Willow and The Banger Sisters.
Before her life in Los Angeles, Nancy built her own career in musical theater in Canada. She performed in stage productions throughout the 1970s — including Godspell, where she met Martin — laying the foundation for both her acting career and their decades-long love story.
After touring with Jesus Christ Superstar, Nancy transitioned from musical theater to television, landing a recurring role on the late-1970s ABC sitcom Soap. The series — a sharp parody of traditional soap operas — starred Billy Crystal and Richard Mulligan and became a cult favorite during its four-season run.
Nancy portrayed Annie Selig Tate, a recurring character on the show. Not long after, she stepped away from acting to focus on raising her kids.
