Conan O'Brien ended the 2025 Oscars telecast with a heartfelt shout-out to his friend Martin Short, declaring 'We Love You Martin Short!' from the Dolby Theatre stage. The gesture came after Short postponed his comedy tour with Steve Martin following the death of his daughter Katherine Short last month at age 42.
Katherine Short died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a statement from Martin Short's representative. 'It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short. The Short family is devastated by this loss, and asks for privacy at this time,' the statement read.
Short and Martin postponed upcoming dates for their joint tour 'The Best of Steve Martin & Martin Short.' It remains unclear when the tour will resume, though dates starting in April are listed on Martin's website.
O'Brien, hosting the Oscars for the second consecutive year, also addressed global turmoil during the ceremony. 'These are very chaotic, frightening times,' he said. 'It's at moments like these that I believe the Oscars are particularly resonant.' He highlighted the international nature of the event, with films from 31 countries across six continents.
The show featured pre-taped segments, including one where O'Brien was offered the hosting gig 'for life' before being poisoned and cremated, a nod to Sean Penn's character in 'One Battle After Another.'
