22
22
0
Edited >1 y ago
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 11
Thank you my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that June 7 is the anniversary of the birth of American singer, actor, comedian and film producer Dean Martin who was
born with the name Dino Paul Crocetti.
Images
1. Dino Crocetti and his older brother Bill Crocetti
2. Dean Martin with his parents Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti and an Italian-American mother, Angela Crocetti (née Barra)
3. Dean Martin with his wife Jeanne Martin and their son Dean Paul
4. The Rat Pack, 1961 by Art Shay - Joey Bishop, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Frank Sinatra
Biographies
1. imdb.com/name/nm0001509/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm]
2. thefamouspeople.com/profiles/dean-martin-8977.php
Background from {[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001509/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm]}
"Dean Martin Biography
Overview (5)
Born June 7, 1917 in Steubenville, Ohio, USA
Died December 25, 1995 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA (lung cancer and emphysema)
Birth Name Dino Paul Crocetti
Nicknames Dino; King Leer; The King of Cool; The Boy with the Tall, Dark and Handsome Voice
Height 5' 10" (1.78 m)
Mini Bio (1)
If there had to be an image for cool, the man to fit it would be Dean Martin.
Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti in Steubenville, Ohio, to Angela (Barra) and Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti, a barber. His father was an Italian immigrant, and his mother was of Italian descent. He spoke only Italian until age five. Martin came up the hard way, with such jobs as a boxer (named Kid Crochet), a steel mill worker, a gas station worker and a casino croupier and dealer.
In 1946, he got his first ticket to stardom, as he teamed up with another hard worker who was also trying to succeed in Hollywood: Jerry Lewis. Films such as At War with the Army (1950) sent the team toward super-stardom. The duo were to become one of Hollywood's truly great teams. They lasted 11 years together, and starred in 16 movies. They were unstoppable, but personality conflicts broke up the team. Even without Lewis, Martin was a true superstar.
Few thought that Martin would go on to achieve solo success, but he did, winning critical acclaim for his role in The Young Lions (1958) with Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift, and Some Came Running (1958), with Shirley MacLaine and Frank Sinatra. Movies such as Rio Bravo (1959) brought him international fame. One of his best remembered films is in Ocean's 11 (1960), in which he played Sam Harmon alongside the other members of the legendary Rat Pack: Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford. Martin proved potent at the box office through the 1960s, with films such as Bells Are Ringing (1960) and Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964), again with Rat Pack pals Sammy Davis Jr. and Sinatra. During much of the 1960s and 1970s, Martin's movie persona of a boozing playboy prompted a series of films as secret agent Matt Helm and his own television variety show. Airport (1970) followed, featuring Martin as a pilot. He also played a phony priest in The Cannonball Run (1981).
In 1965, Martin explored a new method for entertaining his fans: Television. That year he hosted one of the most successful TV series in history: The Dean Martin Show (1965), which lasted until 1973. In 1965, it won a Golden Globe Award. In 1973, he renamed it "The Dean Martin Comedy Hour", and from 1974 to 1984 it was renamed again, this time "The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts". It became one of the most successful TV series in history, skewering such greats as Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, James Stewart, George Burns, Milton Berle, Don Rickles, Phyllis Diller and Joe Namath.
His last public role was a return to the stage, for a cross-country concert tour with Davis and Sinatra. He spoke affectionately of his fellow Rat Packers. "The satisfaction that I get out of working with these two bums is that we have more laughs than the audience has", Martin said.
After the 1980s, Martin took it easy--that is, until his son, Dean Paul Martin died in a plane crash in March 1987. Devastated by the loss, from which he never recovered, he walked out on a reunion tour with Sinatra and Davis. Martin spent his final years in solitude and out of the public light. A heavy smoker most of his life, Dean Martin died on Christmas Day, 1995 at age 78 from complications to lung cancer.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: deanmartin101
Spouse (3)
Catherine Hawn (25 April 1973 - 24 February 1976) (divorced) (1 child)
Jeanne Martin (1 September 1949 - 29 March 1973) (divorced) (3 children)
Elizabeth Anne McDonald (2 October 1941 - 23 March 1949) (divorced) (4 children)
Trade Mark (5)
Rich smooth voice; Cigarette and a glass of alcohol whenever he was doing his nightclub acts; frequently worked with Jerry Lewis and members of the Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra, Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford and Sammy Davis Jr.; Usually wore lifts in his films and on his television show; Ohio accent
Trivia (62)
1. His son, Dean Paul Martin (Dino), was killed in a plane crash on March 21, 1987.
2. Member of the "Rat Pack" with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. All appeared in Ocean's 11 (1960).
3. Father of Gail Martin, Craig Martin, Claudia Martin, Deana Martin, Gina Martin, Ricci Martin and Dean Paul Martin.
4. Grandfather of Alexander Martin.
5. Following his death, he was interred at Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California.
6. His parents were Gaetano and Angella Crocetti. Although born in Ohio, he spoke only Italian until age 5.
7. He had a fear of elevators and a love of comic books, which he read his entire life.
8. His career as a boxer was described by him as follows, "I won all but 11 fights." When asked how many he had fought, he would reply, "A dozen." In reality, he fought 36 bouts and won 25 of them under the name Dino Crocetti. He reportedly fought under the nickname Kid Crochet, although no records of fights have been found under that name.
9. Passed away exactly 29 years to the day (December 25, 1995) after his mother, Angela Crocetti (December 25, 1966).
10. Nephew of actor/comedian Leonard Barr.
11. Much of the "booze" that he drank on stage during his famous "Rat Pack" performances was really apple juice. (Son Dean Paul Martin spilled this secret, after the variety show ended production, stating that his father could not have performed if he had really drunk that much liquor.).
12. Father-in-law of Carole Costello. She was married to Craig Martin, his oldest son, and was the daughter of Lou Costello.
13. From 1973 to 1984, he was the host of the "Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts". In one of the most classic television series of all time, Dean and his panel of actors and comics would shower the guest of honor with insults. This series contained the most famous names in the history of entertainment, such as Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, George Burns, James Stewart, Orson Welles, Jack Benny, Phyllis Diller, Milton Berle, Gene Kelly, Don Rickles, Rich Little, John Wayne and Foster Brooks.
14. In 1950, Dean's television career began with The Martin & Lewis Show on The Colgate Comedy Hour, which ran through 1955. He hosted various other shows before reluctantly taking the 1965 gig which turned into a 19-year success under various names.
15. Dean is one of few actors who have received not just one, but three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one for Motion Pictures at 6519 Hollywood Blvd., one for Television at 6651 Hollywood Blvd., and a third for his recording career.
16. Underwent rhinoplasty when he was age 27. The procedure was rumored to have been paid for by Lou Costello among others.
17. Son-in-law was the late Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys (married to Dean's daughter Gina).
18. Has a street named after him in San Antonio, Texas.
19. "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime" - words written on his tombstone, after his signature hit song.
20. Starred (with Jerry Lewis) on NBC Radio's "The Martin and Lewis Show" (1949-1953).
21. He and Frank Sinatra were best friends, a fact he held very dear to his heart. The two didn't speak much, in the years after Dean quit the "Rat Pack Reunion" tour, but they did reconcile a few months before his death, over dinner - and a breadroll fight.
22. His friends often described him as easygoing and good natured, loving to laugh and make others laugh. They also said that he was sometimes quiet and liked to spend time alone, and that they seldom knew what he was thinking.
23. He and former wife Jeanne Martin maintained a friendship after their divorce, and consulted each other on family matters. When his health declined, Jeanne encouraged him not to worry about facing death, and to look at it as the chance he longed for, to be reunited with their son Dean Paul Martin, and with his parents.
24. His style of singing was initially influenced by Harry Mills of The Mills Brothers.
25. When 20th Century-Fox fired Marilyn Monroe as his co-star in Something's Got to Give (1962) and then attempted to replace her with Lee Remick, he reminded the studio that he had contractual approval of his co-star, and refused to continue the project without Monroe. His act of loyalty eventually got Marilyn rehired, but she died of a drug overdose before shooting on this never-finished film could resume. Nine hours of largely unseen footage from the film remained in the vaults at 20th Century Fox until 1999. The film was then edited to include some of the unseen footage, wherever feasible and digitally restored, as a 37 minute film. After 39 years, The film finally premiered on Cable TV's "American Movie Classics", on June 1, 2001. It is available on DVD.
26. Although he had almost 40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 charts between 1951 and 1968, only three went to number one: "That's Amore" (Capitol: 1953), "Memories Are Made of This" (Capitol: 1956), and his theme song, "Everybody Loves Somebody" (Reprise: 1964).
27. Despite the legend that he and comedy partner Jerry Lewis always despised each other, the two were actually quite close friends and the tension between the two began in 1956, when "outside people" (as Lewis called them to Peter Bogdanovich) began to "poison" Martin against Lewis. Frank Sinatra eventually staged a public reunion over 20 years after, during a 1976 MDA telethon that Jerry was hosting. However, they did reunite twice, briefly, during that 20 year hiatus. In 1958, they appeared together as surprise guests on "The Joey Bishop Show" and in 1960, they appeared together on stage at "The Sands" in Las Vegas where they did a duet of "Come Back to Me". Over the next 10 years, following their 1970s reunion, they became close again.
28. He and the other members of the Rat Pack were banned from Marilyn Monroe's funeral by Joe DiMaggio
29. Following his diagnosis of lung cancer at Cedars Sinai Medical Center on September 16, 1993, Martin finally quit smoking and even managed to perform briefly, and rather jauntily, at his 77th birthday celebration on June 7, 1994. The following year, after the cancer had spread, he declined to have major surgery on his liver and kidneys which doctors told him was necessary to prolong his life, and succumbed to respiratory failure on Christmas Day 1995.
30. In 1954, he and Jerry Lewis recorded a radio spot promoting "Tuck Tape" then a competing brand of "Scotch Tape and noticing the recording tape for the commercial was still rolling, decided to improvise additional radio spots, with Jerry and Dean slipping profanities into his dialog. The unedited master recording was surreptitiously taken from the studio and made into a "bootleg" record that sold briskly among collectors.
31. Although Martin was a Republican, he supported Frank Sinatra's campaign to elect John F. Kennedy as President in 1960.
32. Had a nightclub in North Bay Village, Florida in the late 1970s and early 1980s called Dino's. This was next to Jilly Rizzo's nightclub called Jilly's.
33. He declined to participate in the March on Washington in August 1963.
34. Dean Martin was so distraught over the murder of his The Wrecking Crew (1968) co-star Sharon Tate in August 1969, that he abandoned the next already-announced "Matt Helm" motion picture series installment (to be titled "The Ravagers"), and never played the character again.
35. Although he made out to be a heavy drinker on stage, he mostly used apple juice, but off stage was a Jack Daniels man.
36. Dean Martin did not party all night with the rest of the "Rat Pack" crew - actually calling themselves "The Clan". He usually went to bed early so he could play golf the next morning. He was obsessed with golf, and once stated in an interview that he would have preferred to be a professional golfer than an entertainer.
37. He was close friends with John Wayne, Gary Cooper and Julie London.
38. At age 16, Dean Martin was a welterweight boxer who compiled a record of 25-11.
39. In 1962, Martin left Capitol Records and signed with Reprise, the label started and owned by Frank Sinatra. In 1964, he recorded his blockbuster hit, "Everybody Loves Somebody", which beat The Beatles to become the No. 1 hit in America for one week. It became the theme song for his television variety series, The Dean Martin Show (1965), which ran on NBC for eight years. Martin followed this with The Dean Martin Comedy World (1974), which ran from 1973 to 1974. An indelible part of Martin's television shtick was his comedic portrayal of life as a lush, which many viewers never realized was just an act.
40. After being drafted into the United States Army and serving a stateside year (1944-1945) in Akron, Ohio, during World War II, Martin was classified 4-F and was discharged.
41. Had eight children: Stephen Craig Martin (b. June 29, 1942), Claudia Martin (b. March 16, 1944 - died 2001 (breast cancer)), Barbara Martin (b. April 11, 1945) and Deana Martin (b. August 19, 1948) with first wife Elizabeth McDonald. Dean Paul Martin (b. November 17, 1951 - died March 21, 1987 (plane crash)), Ricci Martin (b. September 20, 1953) and Gina Martin (Gina Caroline Martin) (b. December 20, 1956) with second wife Jeanne Martin and adopted daughter Sasha Martin with third wife Catherine Hawn.
42. He was close friends with Montgomery Clift. Martin was always grateful for the help Clift had given him while filming The Young Lions (1958) - Martin's first major dramatic role - and he would accompany him to parties after the rest of Hollywood had disowned him due to his increasing addictions to drugs and alcohol.
43. Although Jerry Lewis was often made out to be the short guy in their act, he was actually the same height as Martin and used to cut the heel off of his shoe to achieve the effect.
44. Martin's variety show contract was utterly remarkable in how little he was required to participate. Martin felt he performed better cold and took notice of Fred MacMurray's long-standing 65-day "on the set" contract for producer Don Fedderson for My Three Sons. He succeeded in reaching a new plateau on that one by only be contractually required to appear on the set during the taping. All guest stars, no matter how "big" were required to rehearse with stand-ins (see Greg Garrison). As a result, Martin would often happily flub his lines, to the delight of his audience. More often than not, he'd leave the stage and be seen driving off the studio lot in his sports car before taping concluded.
45. He was awarded 3 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 6519 Hollywood Boulevard, for Recording at 1617 Vine Street, and for Television at 6651 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
46. Godfather of Tori Spelling.
47. Once employed as a steelworker.
48. Posthumously inducted into the Lou Holtz/Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame (2001).
49. Although Martin's official height was 5' 11", many people who knew him said he wore lifts and his real height was either 5' 8" or 5' 9". He once claimed to be 6' 1" in an interview.
50. Growing up in Steubenville, Ohio, Martin was childhood friends with famed gambler and sports handicapper, Jimmy 'The Greek' Snyder. (The two appeared together onscreen in The Cannonball Run (1981)) Like Snyder, Martin began his early career hanging around Steubenville's notorious gambling dens.
51. His third wife Cathy was the daughter of Major League Baseball Player Jim Baxes, and sister of James Coleman.
52. In a telegram sent to his friend Elvis Presley he wrote: "Dear Elvis, if you can't handle The Beatles, I'll do it for us. June 1964.".
53. Was also a newspaper carrier in his younger days.
54. In his autobiography "In the Arena" (1995), Charlton Heston wrote that Frank Sinatra would not allow Martin to perform at the inaugural ball for Ronald Reagan's first inauguration as President of the United States, because Martin was too drunk.
55. In 1962, he recorded an American version of the French song "C'est si bon" which was written in 1947 by Henri Betti (music) and André Hornez (lyrics). The musical arrangements were done by Neal Hefti and the English lyrics were written by Jerry Seelen in 1950.
56. A major supporter of the state of Israel, Martin performed concerts to raise funds for the Bergson Group, a Zionist Revisionist underground movement based in Palestine during the 1940s.
57. Had emphysema for the last 20 years of his life.
58. Martin and comedy partner Jerry Lewis were in 17 feature films together: My Friend Irma (1949), My Friend Irma Goes West (1950), At War with the Army (1950), That's My Boy (1951), The Stooge (1951), Sailor Beware (1952), Jumping Jacks (1952), Road to Bali (1952), Scared Stiff (1953), The Caddy (1953), Money from Home (1953), Living It Up (1954), 3 Ring Circus (1954), You're Never Too Young (1955), Artists and Models (1955), Pardners (1956) and Hollywood or Bust (1956).
59. Was in a long-time relationship with Phyllis Davis in the 1970s.
60. After his "breakup" with Jerry Lewis in the mid-1950s, Martin was widely pegged as the likelier of the two partners to see his career take a serious downturn. Instead, Martin proved a durable box office draw throughout the 1960s, continued to have chart-ranking hit songs, and eventually hosted an eponymous variety show that was one of NBC's highest rated series.
61. Many critics felt Martin's voice steadily deteriorated after the mid-1970s, largely due to his chain smoking. However he continued to perform until 1991, despite needing oxygen.
62. He has appeared in one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Rio Bravo (1959).
Personal Quotes (27)
1. If people want to think I get drunk and stay out all night, let 'em. That's how I got here, you know.
2. I've got seven kids. The three words you hear most around my house are 'hello', 'goodbye', and 'I'm pregnant'.
3. To those who felt he joked his way through songs during concert and nightclub appearences: "You wanna hear it straight, buy the album."
4. [upon filing for divorce from his second wife] I know it's the gentlemanly thing to let the wife file. But, then, everybody knows I'm no gentleman.
5. I drink because my body craves, needs alcohol. I don't drink, my body's a drunk.
6. [on Joey Bishop] Most people think of Joey Bishop as just a replacement for Johnny Carson. That's NOT true. We in show business know better: we don't think of him at ALL.
7. [on Phyllis Diller] Phyllis is the women of about whom Picasso once said, "Somebody throw a drop cloth over that."
8. [on Frank Sinatra] In high school, Frank never participated in extra-curricular activities, like nature study, paintings or ceramics. Frank's hobby was a most interesting one: he was an amateur gynecologist.
9. [on James Stewart] There's a statue of Jimmy Stewart in the Hollywood Wax Museum, and the statue talks better than he does.
10. [on Orson Welles] What can you say about Orson Welles that Don Rickles hasn't already said about him?!
11. [on Bob Hope] As a young boy, Bob didn't have much to say. He couldn't afford writers then.
12. [on Don Rickles] Don's idea of a fun evening is to show home movies of the attack on Pearl Harbor...with a laugh track.
13. [on Johnny Carson] Johnny Carson is a comedian who is seen every night in millions of bedrooms all over America...and that's why his last wife left him.
14. [on Milton Berle] Milton Berle is an inspiration to every young person that wants to get into show business. Hard work, perseverance, and discipline: all the things you need...when you have no talent.
15. [on his tee-total friend Pat Boone] I once shook hands with Pat Boone, and my whole right side sobered up!
16. I'd hate to be a teetotaler. Imagine getting up in the morning and knowing that's as good as you're going to feel all day.
17. I can't stand an actor or actress who tells me acting is hard work. It's easy work. Anyone who says it isn't never had to stand on his feet all day dealing blackjack.
18. Motivation is a lotta crap.
19. [on The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)] Someone else, would have laid around, feeling sorry for himself, for a year. But Duke, he just doesn't know, how to be sick ... he's recuperating the hard way. He's two loud speaking guys in one. Me, when people see me, they sometimes say, "Oh, there goes Perry Como." But there's only one John Wayne, and nobody makes any mistakes about that.
20. [on Shirley MacLaine] Shirley, I love her, but her oars aren't touching the water these days.
21. [on singer Eddie Fisher] The reason I drink is because, when I'm sober, I think I'm Eddie Fisher.
22. [on Frank Sinatra] When he dies, they're giving his zipper to the Smithsonian.
23. [on Jerry Lewis] At some point, he said to himself, "I'm extraordinary, like Charles Chaplin." From then on, nobody could tell him anything. He knew it all.
24. [in 1964, upon introducing The Rolling Stones on ABC TVs' "Hollywood Palace"] I've been rolled when I was stoned.
25. The whole world is drunk and we're just the cocktail of the moment. Someday soon, the world will wake up, down two aspirin with a glass of tomato juice, and wonder what the hell all the fuss was all about.
26. [on Bette Davis] Bette made Warner Bros. what it is today, broke.
27. [Introducing Caitlyn Jenner at the 1979 celebrity roast of Joe Namath] What a man. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Bruce Jenner.
Salary (4)
The Young Lions (1958) $35,000
All in a Night's Work (1961) $250,000
Ada (1961) $300,000
Airport (1970) $7,000,000"
2. Background from {[https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/dean-martin-8977.php]}
"Dean Martin Biography
Dean Martin was a prominent American singer, actor, as well as a comedian. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.
Birth: June 7, 1917 at Steubenville, Ohio
Born as: Dino Paul Crocetti
Died At Age: 78
Famous As: Actor, Comedian, Singer
Height: 1.79 M
Spouse/Ex-: Jeanne Martin
Father: Gaetano Crocetti
Mother: Angela Crocetti
Siblings: Bill Crocetti
Children: Dean Paul Martin
Religion: Catholicism
Died of cancer on December 25, 1995 at age 78 in Beverly Hills
Founder/Co-Founder: Reprise Records
Dean Martin, born as Dino Paul Crocetti, was an American singer, actor, as well as a comedian counted amongst the most popular entertainers of the 20th century in the United States. He is best remembered for his shows, ‘The Dean Martin Show’ and ‘The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast’. He also teamed up with Jerry Lewis to form a duo called ‘Martin and Lewis’ that became immensely popular among the audiences. He was a member of the famous ‘Rat Pack’ (which also had members like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.) as well. Charming and talented, Martin had also acted in several films in his long career. His filmography includes ‘The Young Lions’, ‘Some Came Running’, ‘Ocean's 11’, ‘Sergeants 3’, and ‘Who's Got the Action?’ Apart from acting and performing comedy, Martin was a singer as well and had earned a lot of popularity for his hit singles, such as ‘Everybody Loves Somebody’, ‘You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You’, ‘Sway’, ‘Volare’, ‘That's Amore’, ‘Ain't That a Kick in the Head?’, and ‘Memories Are Made of This’. He was known for his pleasant cool personality and many described him as the “King of cool” in the industry.
Childhood & Early Life
• Dean Martin was born in Steubenville, Ohio, on June 7, 1917, to Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti, a barber by profession, and Angela Crocetti. Both his parents were of Italian descent. He had an older brother named William Alfonso Crocetti who died in 1968.
• He grew up speaking Italian and could not speak English until he was five years old. He was bullied at his first school, Grant Elementary School in Steubenville, for his broken English. Later, he dropped out of Steubenville High School when he was in the 10th grade because he felt he was smarter than his teachers, a reason that sounded odd to several people around him.
• After dropping out of the school, he took up many jobs including those of a blackjack dealer and liquor vendor. He also served as a speakeasy croupier and worked in a steel mill. At the age of 15, he picked up boxing to earn some money; this occupation, however, ended up getting him a broken nose, a scarred lip, and several broken knuckles.
• He then moved to New York City. In order to make ends meet, he and his roommate Sonny King, who was also trying to build a career in the show business, used to hold bare-knuckle boxing matches in their apartment. The fights wouldn’t end until someone passed out. People paid them for such matches.
Career
• During his early days in New York City when Dean Martin was looking to build his career in the show business and was waiting for an offer from the top production houses from Hollywood, he met Jerry Lewis, another comedian, at the Glass Hat Club. Both were working in shows as comedians and forged a friendship as well as an agreement to work in each other’s shows.
• They formed their own act and made their debut at Atlantic City's 500 Club on July 24, 1946. It did not go well and they were warned by the owner of the show to improve their act. They decided to be more ruthless and added songs, slapstick, and old vaudeville jokes to their performances. The crowd loved the “crazy” act and the duo got a lot of praise for their spontaneous actions and eventually, the act earned them a series of well-paying engagements on the Eastern seaboard and also ran at the New York's Copacabana.
• Dean Martin also appeared on several short-films as well as feature films. However, his first major role in a film ‘Ten Thousand Bedrooms’ in 1957 did not succeed at the box office.
• In 1958, he appeared in the movie ‘The Young Lions’ which became a turning point in Martin’s acting career. Within the next decade, he established himself as a film star working in films like ‘Some Came Running’ alongside the great Frank Sinatra. He also won a Golden Globe nomination for his work in the film ‘Who Was That Lady?’ and later appeared in popular films like ‘Ocean's 11’, ‘Sergeants 3’, and ‘Who's Got the Action?’
• After working with the great Frank Sinatra, the two became good friends and formed a team that consisted of Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford, and Sammy Davis Jr. besides the two. The men worked for a long time, making films together, and were so popular that they even influenced the political ideologies held by the masses.
• Martin launched his own comedy-variety series ‘The Dean Martin Show’ in 1965 on NBC. The show was a huge hit and Martin was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for ‘Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy’ in 1966, which he eventually won.
Major Works
• At the beginning of his career, Dean Martin’s partnership with fellow comedian Jerry Lewis was one of the highlights in his career. Together they performed on numerous occasions and even went on to appear in New York's Copacabana. They eventually appeared on television as well in the ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’. Their act was praised and loved by the audience and earned them the spotlight they were looking for.
• He reached the pinnacle of his career with ‘The Dean Martin Show’ which he launched on NBC in 1965. The show ran for nine years and consisted of 264 episodes. He portrayed himself as a careless drinker who would flirt with women with cheeky pick up lines. Martin won a Golden Globe Award for ‘Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy’ in 1966 and also won three more nominations back to back in the next three years.
• Martin delivered a lot of hit singles between 1951 and 1968. He witnessed almost 40 of his popular singles featuring on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during that time period. Among those forty tracks, the three which topped the chart were ‘That's Amore’ in 1953, ‘Memories Are Made of This’ in 1956 and ‘Everybody Loves Somebody’ in 1964.
Awards & Achievements
• In 1966, Dean Martin won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy for ‘The Dean Martin Show.’
• He was posthumously honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in February 2009.
Personal Life
• Dean Martin was married three times. He wed Elizabeth Anne McDonald on October 2, 1941. The couple had four children together, Craig Martin, Claudia Martin, Gail Martin and Deana Martin. Martin and Elizabeth got divorced in 1949.
• In September 1949, he married Jeanne Martin. Martin had three children with her, Dean Paul Martin, Ricci Martin, and Gina Martin. Their marriage lasted for 24 years and came to an end on March 29, 1973 through a divorce. Lastly, Martin married Catherine Hawn on April 25, 1973 and got divorced in February 1976.
• A heavy smoker, Martin was diagnosed with lung cancer at the Cedars Sinai Medical Center in September 1993. On December 25, 1995, he died of acute respiratory failure resulting from emphysema at his Beverly Hills home.
Trivia
• Martin has a street named after him in Texas.
• He was inducted into the Lou Holtz/Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame in 2001.
• His signature hit single ‘Everybody Loves Somebody’ is written on his tombstone.
• He used to drink apple juice and not real alcohol during stage performances.
• He had worked in a total of 17 feature films with his friend Jerry Lewis between 1949 and 1956."
Mini Bio: Dean Martin
Born in Steubenville, Ohio, on June 7, 1917, to Italian immigrants, Dean Martin entered the nightclub circuit and landed a contract with MCA to sing in New York City. There he met Jerry Lewis and they started a long-running comedy partnership on radio, television and film. The team split in 1956, and Martin joined the Rat Pack also including Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford in Las Vegas stage shows and on film. Martin died on December 25, 1995, in Beverly Hills, California.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDqwRr2qSZM
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey SSG John Ross SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SrA Christopher Wright Cpl Gabriel F.
born with the name Dino Paul Crocetti.
Images
1. Dino Crocetti and his older brother Bill Crocetti
2. Dean Martin with his parents Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti and an Italian-American mother, Angela Crocetti (née Barra)
3. Dean Martin with his wife Jeanne Martin and their son Dean Paul
4. The Rat Pack, 1961 by Art Shay - Joey Bishop, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Frank Sinatra
Biographies
1. imdb.com/name/nm0001509/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm]
2. thefamouspeople.com/profiles/dean-martin-8977.php
Background from {[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001509/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm]}
"Dean Martin Biography
Overview (5)
Born June 7, 1917 in Steubenville, Ohio, USA
Died December 25, 1995 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA (lung cancer and emphysema)
Birth Name Dino Paul Crocetti
Nicknames Dino; King Leer; The King of Cool; The Boy with the Tall, Dark and Handsome Voice
Height 5' 10" (1.78 m)
Mini Bio (1)
If there had to be an image for cool, the man to fit it would be Dean Martin.
Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti in Steubenville, Ohio, to Angela (Barra) and Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti, a barber. His father was an Italian immigrant, and his mother was of Italian descent. He spoke only Italian until age five. Martin came up the hard way, with such jobs as a boxer (named Kid Crochet), a steel mill worker, a gas station worker and a casino croupier and dealer.
In 1946, he got his first ticket to stardom, as he teamed up with another hard worker who was also trying to succeed in Hollywood: Jerry Lewis. Films such as At War with the Army (1950) sent the team toward super-stardom. The duo were to become one of Hollywood's truly great teams. They lasted 11 years together, and starred in 16 movies. They were unstoppable, but personality conflicts broke up the team. Even without Lewis, Martin was a true superstar.
Few thought that Martin would go on to achieve solo success, but he did, winning critical acclaim for his role in The Young Lions (1958) with Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift, and Some Came Running (1958), with Shirley MacLaine and Frank Sinatra. Movies such as Rio Bravo (1959) brought him international fame. One of his best remembered films is in Ocean's 11 (1960), in which he played Sam Harmon alongside the other members of the legendary Rat Pack: Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford. Martin proved potent at the box office through the 1960s, with films such as Bells Are Ringing (1960) and Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964), again with Rat Pack pals Sammy Davis Jr. and Sinatra. During much of the 1960s and 1970s, Martin's movie persona of a boozing playboy prompted a series of films as secret agent Matt Helm and his own television variety show. Airport (1970) followed, featuring Martin as a pilot. He also played a phony priest in The Cannonball Run (1981).
In 1965, Martin explored a new method for entertaining his fans: Television. That year he hosted one of the most successful TV series in history: The Dean Martin Show (1965), which lasted until 1973. In 1965, it won a Golden Globe Award. In 1973, he renamed it "The Dean Martin Comedy Hour", and from 1974 to 1984 it was renamed again, this time "The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts". It became one of the most successful TV series in history, skewering such greats as Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, James Stewart, George Burns, Milton Berle, Don Rickles, Phyllis Diller and Joe Namath.
His last public role was a return to the stage, for a cross-country concert tour with Davis and Sinatra. He spoke affectionately of his fellow Rat Packers. "The satisfaction that I get out of working with these two bums is that we have more laughs than the audience has", Martin said.
After the 1980s, Martin took it easy--that is, until his son, Dean Paul Martin died in a plane crash in March 1987. Devastated by the loss, from which he never recovered, he walked out on a reunion tour with Sinatra and Davis. Martin spent his final years in solitude and out of the public light. A heavy smoker most of his life, Dean Martin died on Christmas Day, 1995 at age 78 from complications to lung cancer.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: deanmartin101
Spouse (3)
Catherine Hawn (25 April 1973 - 24 February 1976) (divorced) (1 child)
Jeanne Martin (1 September 1949 - 29 March 1973) (divorced) (3 children)
Elizabeth Anne McDonald (2 October 1941 - 23 March 1949) (divorced) (4 children)
Trade Mark (5)
Rich smooth voice; Cigarette and a glass of alcohol whenever he was doing his nightclub acts; frequently worked with Jerry Lewis and members of the Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra, Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford and Sammy Davis Jr.; Usually wore lifts in his films and on his television show; Ohio accent
Trivia (62)
1. His son, Dean Paul Martin (Dino), was killed in a plane crash on March 21, 1987.
2. Member of the "Rat Pack" with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. All appeared in Ocean's 11 (1960).
3. Father of Gail Martin, Craig Martin, Claudia Martin, Deana Martin, Gina Martin, Ricci Martin and Dean Paul Martin.
4. Grandfather of Alexander Martin.
5. Following his death, he was interred at Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California.
6. His parents were Gaetano and Angella Crocetti. Although born in Ohio, he spoke only Italian until age 5.
7. He had a fear of elevators and a love of comic books, which he read his entire life.
8. His career as a boxer was described by him as follows, "I won all but 11 fights." When asked how many he had fought, he would reply, "A dozen." In reality, he fought 36 bouts and won 25 of them under the name Dino Crocetti. He reportedly fought under the nickname Kid Crochet, although no records of fights have been found under that name.
9. Passed away exactly 29 years to the day (December 25, 1995) after his mother, Angela Crocetti (December 25, 1966).
10. Nephew of actor/comedian Leonard Barr.
11. Much of the "booze" that he drank on stage during his famous "Rat Pack" performances was really apple juice. (Son Dean Paul Martin spilled this secret, after the variety show ended production, stating that his father could not have performed if he had really drunk that much liquor.).
12. Father-in-law of Carole Costello. She was married to Craig Martin, his oldest son, and was the daughter of Lou Costello.
13. From 1973 to 1984, he was the host of the "Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts". In one of the most classic television series of all time, Dean and his panel of actors and comics would shower the guest of honor with insults. This series contained the most famous names in the history of entertainment, such as Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, George Burns, James Stewart, Orson Welles, Jack Benny, Phyllis Diller, Milton Berle, Gene Kelly, Don Rickles, Rich Little, John Wayne and Foster Brooks.
14. In 1950, Dean's television career began with The Martin & Lewis Show on The Colgate Comedy Hour, which ran through 1955. He hosted various other shows before reluctantly taking the 1965 gig which turned into a 19-year success under various names.
15. Dean is one of few actors who have received not just one, but three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one for Motion Pictures at 6519 Hollywood Blvd., one for Television at 6651 Hollywood Blvd., and a third for his recording career.
16. Underwent rhinoplasty when he was age 27. The procedure was rumored to have been paid for by Lou Costello among others.
17. Son-in-law was the late Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys (married to Dean's daughter Gina).
18. Has a street named after him in San Antonio, Texas.
19. "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime" - words written on his tombstone, after his signature hit song.
20. Starred (with Jerry Lewis) on NBC Radio's "The Martin and Lewis Show" (1949-1953).
21. He and Frank Sinatra were best friends, a fact he held very dear to his heart. The two didn't speak much, in the years after Dean quit the "Rat Pack Reunion" tour, but they did reconcile a few months before his death, over dinner - and a breadroll fight.
22. His friends often described him as easygoing and good natured, loving to laugh and make others laugh. They also said that he was sometimes quiet and liked to spend time alone, and that they seldom knew what he was thinking.
23. He and former wife Jeanne Martin maintained a friendship after their divorce, and consulted each other on family matters. When his health declined, Jeanne encouraged him not to worry about facing death, and to look at it as the chance he longed for, to be reunited with their son Dean Paul Martin, and with his parents.
24. His style of singing was initially influenced by Harry Mills of The Mills Brothers.
25. When 20th Century-Fox fired Marilyn Monroe as his co-star in Something's Got to Give (1962) and then attempted to replace her with Lee Remick, he reminded the studio that he had contractual approval of his co-star, and refused to continue the project without Monroe. His act of loyalty eventually got Marilyn rehired, but she died of a drug overdose before shooting on this never-finished film could resume. Nine hours of largely unseen footage from the film remained in the vaults at 20th Century Fox until 1999. The film was then edited to include some of the unseen footage, wherever feasible and digitally restored, as a 37 minute film. After 39 years, The film finally premiered on Cable TV's "American Movie Classics", on June 1, 2001. It is available on DVD.
26. Although he had almost 40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 charts between 1951 and 1968, only three went to number one: "That's Amore" (Capitol: 1953), "Memories Are Made of This" (Capitol: 1956), and his theme song, "Everybody Loves Somebody" (Reprise: 1964).
27. Despite the legend that he and comedy partner Jerry Lewis always despised each other, the two were actually quite close friends and the tension between the two began in 1956, when "outside people" (as Lewis called them to Peter Bogdanovich) began to "poison" Martin against Lewis. Frank Sinatra eventually staged a public reunion over 20 years after, during a 1976 MDA telethon that Jerry was hosting. However, they did reunite twice, briefly, during that 20 year hiatus. In 1958, they appeared together as surprise guests on "The Joey Bishop Show" and in 1960, they appeared together on stage at "The Sands" in Las Vegas where they did a duet of "Come Back to Me". Over the next 10 years, following their 1970s reunion, they became close again.
28. He and the other members of the Rat Pack were banned from Marilyn Monroe's funeral by Joe DiMaggio
29. Following his diagnosis of lung cancer at Cedars Sinai Medical Center on September 16, 1993, Martin finally quit smoking and even managed to perform briefly, and rather jauntily, at his 77th birthday celebration on June 7, 1994. The following year, after the cancer had spread, he declined to have major surgery on his liver and kidneys which doctors told him was necessary to prolong his life, and succumbed to respiratory failure on Christmas Day 1995.
30. In 1954, he and Jerry Lewis recorded a radio spot promoting "Tuck Tape" then a competing brand of "Scotch Tape and noticing the recording tape for the commercial was still rolling, decided to improvise additional radio spots, with Jerry and Dean slipping profanities into his dialog. The unedited master recording was surreptitiously taken from the studio and made into a "bootleg" record that sold briskly among collectors.
31. Although Martin was a Republican, he supported Frank Sinatra's campaign to elect John F. Kennedy as President in 1960.
32. Had a nightclub in North Bay Village, Florida in the late 1970s and early 1980s called Dino's. This was next to Jilly Rizzo's nightclub called Jilly's.
33. He declined to participate in the March on Washington in August 1963.
34. Dean Martin was so distraught over the murder of his The Wrecking Crew (1968) co-star Sharon Tate in August 1969, that he abandoned the next already-announced "Matt Helm" motion picture series installment (to be titled "The Ravagers"), and never played the character again.
35. Although he made out to be a heavy drinker on stage, he mostly used apple juice, but off stage was a Jack Daniels man.
36. Dean Martin did not party all night with the rest of the "Rat Pack" crew - actually calling themselves "The Clan". He usually went to bed early so he could play golf the next morning. He was obsessed with golf, and once stated in an interview that he would have preferred to be a professional golfer than an entertainer.
37. He was close friends with John Wayne, Gary Cooper and Julie London.
38. At age 16, Dean Martin was a welterweight boxer who compiled a record of 25-11.
39. In 1962, Martin left Capitol Records and signed with Reprise, the label started and owned by Frank Sinatra. In 1964, he recorded his blockbuster hit, "Everybody Loves Somebody", which beat The Beatles to become the No. 1 hit in America for one week. It became the theme song for his television variety series, The Dean Martin Show (1965), which ran on NBC for eight years. Martin followed this with The Dean Martin Comedy World (1974), which ran from 1973 to 1974. An indelible part of Martin's television shtick was his comedic portrayal of life as a lush, which many viewers never realized was just an act.
40. After being drafted into the United States Army and serving a stateside year (1944-1945) in Akron, Ohio, during World War II, Martin was classified 4-F and was discharged.
41. Had eight children: Stephen Craig Martin (b. June 29, 1942), Claudia Martin (b. March 16, 1944 - died 2001 (breast cancer)), Barbara Martin (b. April 11, 1945) and Deana Martin (b. August 19, 1948) with first wife Elizabeth McDonald. Dean Paul Martin (b. November 17, 1951 - died March 21, 1987 (plane crash)), Ricci Martin (b. September 20, 1953) and Gina Martin (Gina Caroline Martin) (b. December 20, 1956) with second wife Jeanne Martin and adopted daughter Sasha Martin with third wife Catherine Hawn.
42. He was close friends with Montgomery Clift. Martin was always grateful for the help Clift had given him while filming The Young Lions (1958) - Martin's first major dramatic role - and he would accompany him to parties after the rest of Hollywood had disowned him due to his increasing addictions to drugs and alcohol.
43. Although Jerry Lewis was often made out to be the short guy in their act, he was actually the same height as Martin and used to cut the heel off of his shoe to achieve the effect.
44. Martin's variety show contract was utterly remarkable in how little he was required to participate. Martin felt he performed better cold and took notice of Fred MacMurray's long-standing 65-day "on the set" contract for producer Don Fedderson for My Three Sons. He succeeded in reaching a new plateau on that one by only be contractually required to appear on the set during the taping. All guest stars, no matter how "big" were required to rehearse with stand-ins (see Greg Garrison). As a result, Martin would often happily flub his lines, to the delight of his audience. More often than not, he'd leave the stage and be seen driving off the studio lot in his sports car before taping concluded.
45. He was awarded 3 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 6519 Hollywood Boulevard, for Recording at 1617 Vine Street, and for Television at 6651 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
46. Godfather of Tori Spelling.
47. Once employed as a steelworker.
48. Posthumously inducted into the Lou Holtz/Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame (2001).
49. Although Martin's official height was 5' 11", many people who knew him said he wore lifts and his real height was either 5' 8" or 5' 9". He once claimed to be 6' 1" in an interview.
50. Growing up in Steubenville, Ohio, Martin was childhood friends with famed gambler and sports handicapper, Jimmy 'The Greek' Snyder. (The two appeared together onscreen in The Cannonball Run (1981)) Like Snyder, Martin began his early career hanging around Steubenville's notorious gambling dens.
51. His third wife Cathy was the daughter of Major League Baseball Player Jim Baxes, and sister of James Coleman.
52. In a telegram sent to his friend Elvis Presley he wrote: "Dear Elvis, if you can't handle The Beatles, I'll do it for us. June 1964.".
53. Was also a newspaper carrier in his younger days.
54. In his autobiography "In the Arena" (1995), Charlton Heston wrote that Frank Sinatra would not allow Martin to perform at the inaugural ball for Ronald Reagan's first inauguration as President of the United States, because Martin was too drunk.
55. In 1962, he recorded an American version of the French song "C'est si bon" which was written in 1947 by Henri Betti (music) and André Hornez (lyrics). The musical arrangements were done by Neal Hefti and the English lyrics were written by Jerry Seelen in 1950.
56. A major supporter of the state of Israel, Martin performed concerts to raise funds for the Bergson Group, a Zionist Revisionist underground movement based in Palestine during the 1940s.
57. Had emphysema for the last 20 years of his life.
58. Martin and comedy partner Jerry Lewis were in 17 feature films together: My Friend Irma (1949), My Friend Irma Goes West (1950), At War with the Army (1950), That's My Boy (1951), The Stooge (1951), Sailor Beware (1952), Jumping Jacks (1952), Road to Bali (1952), Scared Stiff (1953), The Caddy (1953), Money from Home (1953), Living It Up (1954), 3 Ring Circus (1954), You're Never Too Young (1955), Artists and Models (1955), Pardners (1956) and Hollywood or Bust (1956).
59. Was in a long-time relationship with Phyllis Davis in the 1970s.
60. After his "breakup" with Jerry Lewis in the mid-1950s, Martin was widely pegged as the likelier of the two partners to see his career take a serious downturn. Instead, Martin proved a durable box office draw throughout the 1960s, continued to have chart-ranking hit songs, and eventually hosted an eponymous variety show that was one of NBC's highest rated series.
61. Many critics felt Martin's voice steadily deteriorated after the mid-1970s, largely due to his chain smoking. However he continued to perform until 1991, despite needing oxygen.
62. He has appeared in one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Rio Bravo (1959).
Personal Quotes (27)
1. If people want to think I get drunk and stay out all night, let 'em. That's how I got here, you know.
2. I've got seven kids. The three words you hear most around my house are 'hello', 'goodbye', and 'I'm pregnant'.
3. To those who felt he joked his way through songs during concert and nightclub appearences: "You wanna hear it straight, buy the album."
4. [upon filing for divorce from his second wife] I know it's the gentlemanly thing to let the wife file. But, then, everybody knows I'm no gentleman.
5. I drink because my body craves, needs alcohol. I don't drink, my body's a drunk.
6. [on Joey Bishop] Most people think of Joey Bishop as just a replacement for Johnny Carson. That's NOT true. We in show business know better: we don't think of him at ALL.
7. [on Phyllis Diller] Phyllis is the women of about whom Picasso once said, "Somebody throw a drop cloth over that."
8. [on Frank Sinatra] In high school, Frank never participated in extra-curricular activities, like nature study, paintings or ceramics. Frank's hobby was a most interesting one: he was an amateur gynecologist.
9. [on James Stewart] There's a statue of Jimmy Stewart in the Hollywood Wax Museum, and the statue talks better than he does.
10. [on Orson Welles] What can you say about Orson Welles that Don Rickles hasn't already said about him?!
11. [on Bob Hope] As a young boy, Bob didn't have much to say. He couldn't afford writers then.
12. [on Don Rickles] Don's idea of a fun evening is to show home movies of the attack on Pearl Harbor...with a laugh track.
13. [on Johnny Carson] Johnny Carson is a comedian who is seen every night in millions of bedrooms all over America...and that's why his last wife left him.
14. [on Milton Berle] Milton Berle is an inspiration to every young person that wants to get into show business. Hard work, perseverance, and discipline: all the things you need...when you have no talent.
15. [on his tee-total friend Pat Boone] I once shook hands with Pat Boone, and my whole right side sobered up!
16. I'd hate to be a teetotaler. Imagine getting up in the morning and knowing that's as good as you're going to feel all day.
17. I can't stand an actor or actress who tells me acting is hard work. It's easy work. Anyone who says it isn't never had to stand on his feet all day dealing blackjack.
18. Motivation is a lotta crap.
19. [on The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)] Someone else, would have laid around, feeling sorry for himself, for a year. But Duke, he just doesn't know, how to be sick ... he's recuperating the hard way. He's two loud speaking guys in one. Me, when people see me, they sometimes say, "Oh, there goes Perry Como." But there's only one John Wayne, and nobody makes any mistakes about that.
20. [on Shirley MacLaine] Shirley, I love her, but her oars aren't touching the water these days.
21. [on singer Eddie Fisher] The reason I drink is because, when I'm sober, I think I'm Eddie Fisher.
22. [on Frank Sinatra] When he dies, they're giving his zipper to the Smithsonian.
23. [on Jerry Lewis] At some point, he said to himself, "I'm extraordinary, like Charles Chaplin." From then on, nobody could tell him anything. He knew it all.
24. [in 1964, upon introducing The Rolling Stones on ABC TVs' "Hollywood Palace"] I've been rolled when I was stoned.
25. The whole world is drunk and we're just the cocktail of the moment. Someday soon, the world will wake up, down two aspirin with a glass of tomato juice, and wonder what the hell all the fuss was all about.
26. [on Bette Davis] Bette made Warner Bros. what it is today, broke.
27. [Introducing Caitlyn Jenner at the 1979 celebrity roast of Joe Namath] What a man. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Bruce Jenner.
Salary (4)
The Young Lions (1958) $35,000
All in a Night's Work (1961) $250,000
Ada (1961) $300,000
Airport (1970) $7,000,000"
2. Background from {[https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/dean-martin-8977.php]}
"Dean Martin Biography
Dean Martin was a prominent American singer, actor, as well as a comedian. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.
Birth: June 7, 1917 at Steubenville, Ohio
Born as: Dino Paul Crocetti
Died At Age: 78
Famous As: Actor, Comedian, Singer
Height: 1.79 M
Spouse/Ex-: Jeanne Martin
Father: Gaetano Crocetti
Mother: Angela Crocetti
Siblings: Bill Crocetti
Children: Dean Paul Martin
Religion: Catholicism
Died of cancer on December 25, 1995 at age 78 in Beverly Hills
Founder/Co-Founder: Reprise Records
Dean Martin, born as Dino Paul Crocetti, was an American singer, actor, as well as a comedian counted amongst the most popular entertainers of the 20th century in the United States. He is best remembered for his shows, ‘The Dean Martin Show’ and ‘The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast’. He also teamed up with Jerry Lewis to form a duo called ‘Martin and Lewis’ that became immensely popular among the audiences. He was a member of the famous ‘Rat Pack’ (which also had members like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.) as well. Charming and talented, Martin had also acted in several films in his long career. His filmography includes ‘The Young Lions’, ‘Some Came Running’, ‘Ocean's 11’, ‘Sergeants 3’, and ‘Who's Got the Action?’ Apart from acting and performing comedy, Martin was a singer as well and had earned a lot of popularity for his hit singles, such as ‘Everybody Loves Somebody’, ‘You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You’, ‘Sway’, ‘Volare’, ‘That's Amore’, ‘Ain't That a Kick in the Head?’, and ‘Memories Are Made of This’. He was known for his pleasant cool personality and many described him as the “King of cool” in the industry.
Childhood & Early Life
• Dean Martin was born in Steubenville, Ohio, on June 7, 1917, to Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti, a barber by profession, and Angela Crocetti. Both his parents were of Italian descent. He had an older brother named William Alfonso Crocetti who died in 1968.
• He grew up speaking Italian and could not speak English until he was five years old. He was bullied at his first school, Grant Elementary School in Steubenville, for his broken English. Later, he dropped out of Steubenville High School when he was in the 10th grade because he felt he was smarter than his teachers, a reason that sounded odd to several people around him.
• After dropping out of the school, he took up many jobs including those of a blackjack dealer and liquor vendor. He also served as a speakeasy croupier and worked in a steel mill. At the age of 15, he picked up boxing to earn some money; this occupation, however, ended up getting him a broken nose, a scarred lip, and several broken knuckles.
• He then moved to New York City. In order to make ends meet, he and his roommate Sonny King, who was also trying to build a career in the show business, used to hold bare-knuckle boxing matches in their apartment. The fights wouldn’t end until someone passed out. People paid them for such matches.
Career
• During his early days in New York City when Dean Martin was looking to build his career in the show business and was waiting for an offer from the top production houses from Hollywood, he met Jerry Lewis, another comedian, at the Glass Hat Club. Both were working in shows as comedians and forged a friendship as well as an agreement to work in each other’s shows.
• They formed their own act and made their debut at Atlantic City's 500 Club on July 24, 1946. It did not go well and they were warned by the owner of the show to improve their act. They decided to be more ruthless and added songs, slapstick, and old vaudeville jokes to their performances. The crowd loved the “crazy” act and the duo got a lot of praise for their spontaneous actions and eventually, the act earned them a series of well-paying engagements on the Eastern seaboard and also ran at the New York's Copacabana.
• Dean Martin also appeared on several short-films as well as feature films. However, his first major role in a film ‘Ten Thousand Bedrooms’ in 1957 did not succeed at the box office.
• In 1958, he appeared in the movie ‘The Young Lions’ which became a turning point in Martin’s acting career. Within the next decade, he established himself as a film star working in films like ‘Some Came Running’ alongside the great Frank Sinatra. He also won a Golden Globe nomination for his work in the film ‘Who Was That Lady?’ and later appeared in popular films like ‘Ocean's 11’, ‘Sergeants 3’, and ‘Who's Got the Action?’
• After working with the great Frank Sinatra, the two became good friends and formed a team that consisted of Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford, and Sammy Davis Jr. besides the two. The men worked for a long time, making films together, and were so popular that they even influenced the political ideologies held by the masses.
• Martin launched his own comedy-variety series ‘The Dean Martin Show’ in 1965 on NBC. The show was a huge hit and Martin was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for ‘Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy’ in 1966, which he eventually won.
Major Works
• At the beginning of his career, Dean Martin’s partnership with fellow comedian Jerry Lewis was one of the highlights in his career. Together they performed on numerous occasions and even went on to appear in New York's Copacabana. They eventually appeared on television as well in the ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’. Their act was praised and loved by the audience and earned them the spotlight they were looking for.
• He reached the pinnacle of his career with ‘The Dean Martin Show’ which he launched on NBC in 1965. The show ran for nine years and consisted of 264 episodes. He portrayed himself as a careless drinker who would flirt with women with cheeky pick up lines. Martin won a Golden Globe Award for ‘Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy’ in 1966 and also won three more nominations back to back in the next three years.
• Martin delivered a lot of hit singles between 1951 and 1968. He witnessed almost 40 of his popular singles featuring on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during that time period. Among those forty tracks, the three which topped the chart were ‘That's Amore’ in 1953, ‘Memories Are Made of This’ in 1956 and ‘Everybody Loves Somebody’ in 1964.
Awards & Achievements
• In 1966, Dean Martin won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy for ‘The Dean Martin Show.’
• He was posthumously honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in February 2009.
Personal Life
• Dean Martin was married three times. He wed Elizabeth Anne McDonald on October 2, 1941. The couple had four children together, Craig Martin, Claudia Martin, Gail Martin and Deana Martin. Martin and Elizabeth got divorced in 1949.
• In September 1949, he married Jeanne Martin. Martin had three children with her, Dean Paul Martin, Ricci Martin, and Gina Martin. Their marriage lasted for 24 years and came to an end on March 29, 1973 through a divorce. Lastly, Martin married Catherine Hawn on April 25, 1973 and got divorced in February 1976.
• A heavy smoker, Martin was diagnosed with lung cancer at the Cedars Sinai Medical Center in September 1993. On December 25, 1995, he died of acute respiratory failure resulting from emphysema at his Beverly Hills home.
Trivia
• Martin has a street named after him in Texas.
• He was inducted into the Lou Holtz/Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame in 2001.
• His signature hit single ‘Everybody Loves Somebody’ is written on his tombstone.
• He used to drink apple juice and not real alcohol during stage performances.
• He had worked in a total of 17 feature films with his friend Jerry Lewis between 1949 and 1956."
Mini Bio: Dean Martin
Born in Steubenville, Ohio, on June 7, 1917, to Italian immigrants, Dean Martin entered the nightclub circuit and landed a contract with MCA to sing in New York City. There he met Jerry Lewis and they started a long-running comedy partnership on radio, television and film. The team split in 1956, and Martin joined the Rat Pack also including Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford in Las Vegas stage shows and on film. Martin died on December 25, 1995, in Beverly Hills, California.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDqwRr2qSZM
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey SSG John Ross SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SrA Christopher Wright Cpl Gabriel F.
![](https://d26horl2n8pviu.cloudfront.net/link_data_pictures/images/000/523/086/qrc/MV5BMTI0NzgzMjg4OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwNzgyNzQ2._V1_UY1200_CR78_0_630_1200_AL_.jpg?1591612872)
If there had to be an image for cool, the man to fit it would be Dean Martin. Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti in Steubenville, Ohio, to Angela (...
(11)
(0)
Thank you for the bio share on one of Americas greatest actors, and member of the famous Ratpack.
(7)
(0)
Read This Next