Martin Short has opened up about the enduring impact of his late wife, Nancy Dolman, in the new Netflix documentary Marty, Life Is Short, reflecting on love, loss, and a life with his late wife.

The actor and comedian revisits his relationship with Dolman, who died of ovarian cancer in 2010 at the age of 58, describing her as “drop-dead beautiful” and “the whole package.” 

The documentary traces their early days back to the Toronto stage production of Godspell, where they first met in the early 1970s.

Encouraged by friend Eugene Levy, Short joined the show and encountered Dolman, who was then an understudy. 

“She had a Joni Mitchell look—long blonde hair,” Short recalls in the film. Levy adds, “She was the whole package. A beautiful voice, perfect pitch… and the nicest person.”

Their friendship quickly turned into romance, and the couple married in 1980. Close friend Catherine O’Hara also reflects in the documentary, describing the pair as “an amazing team.”

After learning they could not conceive due to Dolman’s endometriosis, the couple adopted three children: Katherine, Oliver and Henry. 

The family life, Short says, was filled with warmth, humour, and regular gatherings at their Ontario cottage, where they hosted friends and celebrated holidays together.

Dolman was diagnosed with cancer in 2007 but remained optimistic throughout her illness. 

“She tended to be positive in general,” Short says. “Her approach was: ‘I can fight it.’”

Following her death, Short focused on his children and career, while continuing to honour her memory. 

“Loss is going to happen to all of us,” he says in the documentary. “We must celebrate and continue that voice and never let it go.”

Friends in the film recall how humour became Short’s coping mechanism, with O’Hara noting, “He handled it with a sense of humor, looked for the laughs.”

Marty, Life Is Short is now streaming on Netflix.