MERYL'S TERROR FOR SHATTERED SHORT

HEARTBROKEN Martin Short, 75, is consumed by guilt and grief following the suicide of his beloved daughter — and concerned galpal Meryl Streep, 76, fears the funnyman may never recover from the gutting loss, which threatens to derail the couple's romance, sources say.

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Katherine Hartley Short, who reportedly had a history of depression and mental health struggles, was found dead at her Hollywood Hills home, and law enforcement sources say the 42-year-old was killed by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The clinical social worker was one of three children adopted by Martin and his late wife, Nancy Dolman, who lost her life at age 58 to ovarian cancer in 2010 after 30 years of marriage to the Saturday Night Live alum.