Martin Short’s daughter “bonded” with Rob Reiner’s son when they played together as children, a new report has revealed.
New details have emerged about the close relationship Katherine had with Nick, who’s been accused of killing his Hollywood filmmaker father and his mother Michele. He has pleaded not guilty.
On Monday, Short’s daughter took her own life and since her death more information has come out about how the 42-year-old struggled with depression and mental health, something Nick also battled.
Martin Short with his daughter Katherine Short on the red carpet in 2011. FilmMagic
Short and his late wife Nancy Dolman, raised Katherine, Oliver, now 39, and Henry, 36, just minutes away from the Reiners who lived in Brentwood with their kids Jake, 34, Nick, 32, and Romy, 28.
“Martin and Rob were very close,” a source told the Daily Mail. “There were holidays together, birthday parties, dinner parties and the kids were always around, always in each other’s company, they pretty much grew up together.”
The source added, “Katherine and Nick bonded over being the children of famous people, it was a connection they had because they both tried to overcome it, they both tried to find their own way in life and it was very challenging. Hollywood kids are often miserable, it’s common.”
“They wanted their own identity, they didn’t want to be called so-and-so’s kid.” In 2012, Katherine even filed court documents to have her last name changed to Hartley.
When asked why she explained that she was a psychiatric social worker with a father for a public figure and she was “concerned about potential harassment from future patients resulting from my association with my father.”
Martin Short’s daughter Katherine Short in 2006. PHOTOlink: 800-674-8706
Both children of famed members of tinseltown also spent time in institutions over the years dealing with mental health issues.
Rande Levine – founder of Karma Rescue, a dog charity on a board Katherine served – said there were several times during the 2010s when Katherine checked into an inpatient mental health facility.
“She’d say, “I won’t be around, I’m going away.” She’d go check into some place to boost her up again,” Levine said.
Meanwhile, Nick has struggled with addiction, and has been in and out of drug rehab since age 15.
“Martin and Rob really looked out for their kids, they were great parents, so the kids could never say they were screwed up because of their parents.,” the source said.
”That is not easy. There is no one to blame if you are broken. And Katherine and Nick were broken in their own ways.’ In recent years though, “Katherine and Nick were not as close,” the source told the outlet.
Nick Reiner during his arraignment in Los Angeles County Superior Court. via REUTERS
Following news about the Reiner’s murder, Katherine was “very upset” about their death.
“It was depressing, it really got to the whole [friend] group, so dark, so evil and twisted,” the source said. “She felt repulsed by Nick over the murders. I am sure it weighed on her mental health, it was tough.”
The Dec. 14 murders of the Reiner’s shocked Hollywood. Nick was arrested the day after the bloody bodies were discovered.
The California Post has reached out to Short’s representative for comment.