20 fotos

Meryl Streep and Martin Short’s surprise love story

He was a widower, she was separated. This is the tale of how their lives ended up crossing paths

Oct 06, 2024 - 16:48CEST

Despite her stature as an actress and the weight of her stardom, Meryl Streep has managed to keep her personal life out of the media spotlight. Even though drama has been part of it from the start: when she was beginning her film career, she became romantically involved with the charismatic John Cazale, whom she met at a casting. They worked together on several legendary films (including The Deer Hunter), and she cared for him during his battle with lung cancer until he passed away. She later married sculptor Don Gummer, with whom she was with for 45 years.Tom Wargacki (WireImage)

Martin Short met Nancy Dolman, who would be his wife until 2010, backstage in Toronto when they were both part of the cast of the musical 'Godspell.' She was Canadian and had already been involved in a similar major production, 'Jesus Christ Superstar.' Short, also Canadian, was already a television star when he met the woman who would become his partner for much of his life.Kypros (Getty Images)

The beginning of Streep and Gummer’s love story couldn’t have happened in a more unexpected way: she had spent several months away from New York, grieving the loss of Cazale, and when she returned to the city, she was met with an eviction notice at her apartment. Her brother came to help her with the unexpected move, along with a friend — a young sculptor who lived in a Chelsea loft who Streep had met a couple of times before.Ron Galella (Ron Galella Collection via Getty)

Short and Dolman married in 1980, and although she continued her artistic career in 1985 — starring alongside him in a CBS special — she retired to focus on raising their children. She never returned to show business.Joan Adlen Photography (Getty Images)

This couple had the particularly curious circumstance that Nancy's brother, Bob Dolman, was a television writer and director who had worked with Short on several occasions. In fact, the actor is the godfather to his brother-in-law’s children.Ron Galella, Ltd. (Ron Galella Collection via Getty)

After moving out of her apartment, Streep found a temporary place to stay: Gummer’s loft, which he lent her while he was going to be away from New York for an extended period. When he returned, the actress was in the middle of filming 'Kramer vs. Kramer,' and they ended up living together.Barry King (WireImage)

Short and Dolman quickly became one of those well-matched couples that seemed destined to be together forever. In 1987, they appeared in a 'Vogue' editorial, proudly showcasing their beautiful home in Pacific Palisades, California. Here, the couple can be seen at a tribute to Steve Martin.Jean-Paul Aussenard (WireImage)

Streep and Gummer got married in the garden of her parents' home in Connecticut. She has stated that from very early on, she was determined to keep her married and family life out of the media’s prying eye: “Robert Redford taught me that when they were babies. 'They are not your props,'” she said, adding the message deeply affected her. In the image, Streep and Gummer are at a party hosted by Jack Nicholson in 1994.Ron Galella (Ron Galella Collection via Getty)

Martin Short is a versatile artist capable of singing, improvisational stand-up, and performing in theater at the highest level, although he definitively abandoned the latter in the mid-1990s.KMazur (WireImage)

Streep and Gummer have four children together: Mamie and Grace have followed in their mother's footsteps and become actresses, while Henry is a musician, and the youngest, Louisa, works as a model. Here Streep and Gummer are seen at the 2012 Oscars.Kevin Mazur (WireImage)

Although Dolman never returned to the entertainment world actively, she never stopped attending major public events with Short. Among their friends were the same people who made up Short's inner circle, including his co-star in 'Only Murders in the Building,' Steve Martin.Steve Granitz (WireImage)

Streep and Gummer also managed to be seen as a model couple, as he always admitted to taking on household chores and child-rearing while she was busy filming, being one of the most admired actresses in the world. For many years, they lived in Connecticut, away from the big city, until their four children left the nest, at which point the couple returned to New York. In 2012, during one of her many Oscar acceptance speeches, Streep dedicated the award to her husband. Here they are seen together in that same year, 2012.Taylor Hill (FilmMagic)

Dolman was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2009 (the image above was taken at the Oscar party hosted by 'Vanity Fair' that same year). She passed away in 2010. Her death was a devastating blow for Martin Short, who found it extremely difficult to envision a new life with someone else after 36 years with the same woman.Kristian Dowling (WireImage)

The news of Meryl Streep and Don Gummer's separation (their last public appearance together was at the 2018 Oscars) came as a surprise last year. It was the first time she openly and casually acknowledged that she had been living apart from her husband of 45 years for at least six years. At that time, no one could have imagined there would be rumors of a romance with one of her co-stars in 'Only Murders in the Building.' In this image, the stars of the series are seen attending a Broadway premiere in 2023.Bruce Glikas (Bruce Glikas/WireImage)

Meryl Streep has been seen at public events with Martin Short this year, although Steve Martin has also accompanied them on many occasions. In addition to being co-stars in the series alongside Selena Gomez, Martin is a personal friend of Short. Here they are at the tribute Hollywood paid to Diane Keaton in January.Christopher Polk (Getty Images for Turner)

It was only when they appeared together at the Golden Globe Awards that the world began to wonder what was going on. And as often happens in such cases, it was “sources close to the couple” who confirmed that Streep and Short were together.CBS Photo Archive (CBS via Getty Images)

Thus, in their subsequent public appearances, they unofficially (but quite officially) presented themselves as a couple.Michael Buckner (Variety via Getty Images)

Here they are seen in January of this year at the AFI Awards at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. It was January, and nothing had yet been leaked about their relationship.Michael Kovac (Getty Images for AFI)

Although it was evident they had a very friendly relationship.Jay L. Clendenin (Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag)

And here they are, radiant, in August 2024, posing as a couple at the premiere of the new season of the series where their love blossomed. Kevin Winter (Getty Images)