Catherine O'Hara posthumously appears in new Martin Short documentary

Melina Khan, USA TODAYMon, May 18, 2026 at 6:05 PM UTC

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"When someone makes you laugh, that's the sexiest thing in the world."

That's what the late Catherine O'Hara said of her friend Martin Short in a new posthumously-released appearance from the Netflix documentary, "Marty, Life is Short."

O'Hara, the legendary actress known for film and television roles that spanned five decades, was interviewed for the film before her death from a pulmonary embolism in January at the age of 71.

The film, released on May 12, profiles Short's life and career, including his time alongside O'Hara on the sketch comedy show "Second City Television" in the 1980s.

O'Hara and Short enjoyed a long off-screen friendship, which included joint family vacations at Short's cottage in Snug Harbor, Canada. The new documentary is dedicated to both O'Hara and Short's daughter, Katherine Short, who died at age 42.

Here's a look at O'Hara's newly released interview.

Martin Short documentary: Inside the actor's private family tragedies – and the joy he chose anyway

Martin Short says he was 'madly in love' with Catherine O'Hara

Martin Short sits with his friend, Catherine O'Hara, for a documentary about his life.

O'Hara appeared multiple times in the film, both by herself and in one scene alongside Martin Short.

The two recalled their days on "Second City Television," where, they said, "everybody (loved) each other."

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"Am I madly in love with Catherine? Yes," Short said. "And always have been. But every guy was."

O'Hara replied: "When someone makes you laugh, that's the sexiest thing in the world. You're all making each other laugh. You think, 'We're laughing. We are so connected. We gotta try dating.'"

Catherine O'Hara says she wanted to emulate Martin Short's marriage

O'Hara also talked about Martin Short's late wife, Nancy Dolman, and the pair's 30-year relationship. Dolman died of ovarian cancer in 2010 at the age of 58.

"I always did whatever Nancy told me. That's part of Nancy's character," O'Hara said, adding, "She had such loving authority."

Of Short and his wife, O'Hara said he was "very outer child," and she was "very outer adult."

At one point in O'Hara's own marriage – when she and her husband, Bo Welch, were in therapy – she said she idolized Short and Dolman's relationship.

"One of the questions she asked is, 'Do you know a couple whose relationship you would love to have, or you'd love to emulate?' And we said, 'Oh, we have these friends, Marty and Nancy,'" O'Hara recounted. "And she said, 'I can't tell you how many people have named them when I've asked this question.'"

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Catherine O'Hara talks early career in new Martin Short documentary

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