Martin Short to Tommy Lee Jones, celebrities who mourned loss of their child in 2026 as Chad Lowe’s daughter passes away

Chad Lowe and his wife Kim Painter are mourning the loss of their daughter, Fiona Hepler Lowe, who passed away at thirteen. The Lowe family shared a statement with People on Tuesday, Sept. 29, confirming the tragic news.

"We are deeply heartbroken by the loss of our beloved Fiona," the family said.

They remembered Fiona as

"a loving young girl who was smart, creative, and loved to dance."

"She was adored by her sisters and she was deeply loved by her parents. In fact, she was the light of our lives," they added.

Fiona, who was born on Nov. 16, 2012, was the second of Chad Lowe and Kim's three daughters. Their eldest, Mabel Painter, is seventeen, and their youngest, Nixie Barbara, is ten. Chad Lowe, who is fifty-eight years old, and Kim, fifty-two, concluded their statement by asking for space to grieve, sharing that

"Her passing is devastating for our entire family and we ask for prayers and privacy at this time."

Chad Lowe celebrated Fiona entering her teenage years before the family faced devastating loss:

Chad Lowe had taken to Instagram last year to celebrate Fiona entering her teenage years. He shared a photo of Fiona, captioning it

"Celebrating Fiona officially becoming a teen today!! Keep dancing through life FiBear! Love you soooo much!!"

The post came months after the family had already faced a devastating blow. In early 2025, Chad Lowe and his family lost their home in the Pacific Palisades Fire. Chad Lowe later shared that the family had gone back to see the remains of their home in February. He opened up about the experience on Instagram, sharing that

"Almost a month after we evacuated our girls finally got to go back to see what's left of their home. The way they've handled this whole devastating experience is nothing short of remarkable. I am in awe of their spirit and resilience. Helping them navigate these tough times is my sole purpose. Being their dad is my life's greatest joy and privilege."

Martin Short opened up about daughter Katherine's death and his desire to take mental health out of the shadows:

Chad Lowe is not the only celebrity parent to have faced the devastating loss of a child in 2026. Martin Short, the Only Murders in the Building actor, broke his silence in May about losing his daughter Katherine, who was forty-two years old when she passed away earlier in the year. As per a report shared by The Guardian, the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner's office confirmed that Katherine died by suicide at her Hollywood Hills home in February.

Short opened up on CBS News Sunday Morning, drawing a comparison between Katherine's passing and the death of his wife, Nancy Dolman, who lost her battle with ovarian cancer in 2010 at fifty-eight. He shared that

"The understanding [is] that mental health and cancer, like my wife's, are both diseases, and sometimes with diseases they are terminal. And my daughter fought for a long time with extreme mental health, borderline personality disorder, other things, and did the best she could, until she couldn't."

Short described the loss as "a nightmare for the family," and recalled the final words shared between himself and both Nancy and Katherine, adding that

"Nan's last words to me were, 'Martin, let me go.' And what [Katherine] was just saying [was], 'Dad, let me go.'"

He also spoke candidly about wanting mental health conversations to move into the open, saying he had a "deep desire" to take "mental health out of the shadows."

"Not hiding from the word suicide, but accepting that this can be the last stage of an illness," he added.

As per a report shared by The Guardian, Katherine was the eldest among three children Short and Dolman had adopted together. She trained as a licensed clinical social worker, completing her studies at New York University and later the University of Southern California, and built a career working in private practice. Katherine largely stayed away from public life, though she did occasionally join her father at events and on red carpets.

Tommy Lee Jones faced an unimaginable loss as daughter Victoria Jones was found dead:

2026 began on a devastating note for Tommy Lee Jones. The acting legend's daughter, Victoria Jones, was found unresponsive at a hotel in San Francisco on the first day of the year. First responders reached the scene in the early hours of January 1 following a dispatch flagging a medical emergency. Victoria was thirty-four years old.

In the wake of the tragedy, the Jones family released a statement, saying

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"We appreciate all of the kind words, thoughts, and prayers. Please respect our privacy during this difficult time."

Victoria's sudden passing devastated Tommy, who shared his daughter with his ex-wife, Kimberlea Cloughley.

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