Dean Martin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dean Martin
Martin in 1958
Born	Dino Paul Crocetti (1917-06-07)June 7, 1917 Steubenville, Ohio, U.S.
Died	December 25, 1995(1995-12-25) (aged 78) Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Other names	Dino, "the King of Cool"
Occupation	Singer actor comedian
Years active	1932–1995
Spouse(s)	Betty McDonald ​ ​ (m. 1941; div. 1949)​ Jeanne Biegger ​ ​ (m. 1949; div. 1973)​ Catherine Hawn ​ ​ (m. 1973; div. 1976)​
Children	8, including Deana, Dean Paul, and Ricci
Musical career
Genres	Traditional pop country easy listening jazz swing
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Capitol Reprise

Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was a famous American singer, actor, and comedian. He was one of the most popular entertainers in the mid-1900s. People often called him "The King of Cool" because of his relaxed style.

Dean Martin first became famous with comedian Jerry Lewis. They formed a comedy team called Martin and Lewis in 1946. They performed in nightclubs and later appeared on radio, television, and in movies.

After their partnership ended in 1956, Martin started a successful solo career. He became a popular singer, recording many classic and new songs. He was also a big star in Las Vegas. He was good friends with other famous artists like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.. Together, they formed a group known as the Rat Pack.

Starting in 1965, Dean Martin hosted his own TV show, The Dean Martin Show. It was a variety show where he sang and showed off his comedic talent. He was known for his easy-going personality. Later, from 1974 to 1984, he hosted Dean Martin Celebrity Roast. On this show, celebrities, comedians, and politicians would playfully make fun of each other. Throughout his career, Martin performed in many concerts, nightclubs, and appeared in 85 films and TV shows.

Some of his most famous songs include "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?," "Memories Are Made of This," "That's Amore," "Everybody Loves Somebody," and "Volare."

Early Life and First Steps to Fame

Mural of Dean Martin in Steubenville, Ohio

Dean Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti on June 7, 1917, in Steubenville, Ohio. His parents were Italian immigrants. His first language was Italian, and he didn't speak English until he started school at age five. He went to Grant Elementary School in Steubenville. There, he was sometimes teased because his English wasn't perfect.

As a teenager, he enjoyed playing the drums. He left Steubenville High School in the tenth grade. He felt he was smarter than his teachers. Before becoming a star, he had many different jobs. He worked in a steel mill and was a croupier (a person who runs games) at a speakeasy (an illegal bar). He also dealt blackjack and was even a welterweight boxer.

When he was 15, he called himself "Kid Crochet" in boxing. He said he "won all but 11" of his 12 fights. Boxing gave him a broken nose and scarred lip. For a while, he lived with another performer, Sonny King, in New York City. They would sometimes charge people to watch them box each other.

Martin eventually stopped boxing. He started working as a roulette dealer in an illegal casino. At the same time, he sang with local bands. He first called himself "Dino Martini," named after a famous opera singer. Later, bandleader Sammy Watkins suggested he change his name to Dean Martin. He sang in a smooth, crooning style. In 1941, he married Elizabeth "Betty" Anne McDonald. They had four children before they divorced in 1949.

Becoming a Star: From Comedy Duo to Solo Success

Teaming Up with Jerry Lewis

Martin with Jerry Lewis in 1950

Dean Martin met comedian Jerry Lewis at a club in New York. They quickly became friends and decided to form a music-comedy team. Their first show together was in Atlantic City in 1946. It didn't go well at first. The club owner told them they needed to improve their act or they would be fired.

For their next show, Martin and Lewis decided to try something wild. Martin sang, and Lewis, dressed as a busboy, would interrupt him. He dropped plates and caused a funny mess. The audience loved it! This success led to many more shows. Their act involved Lewis playfully interrupting Martin while he sang. They would chase each other around the stage. They said their secret was that they played to each other, not just the audience.

The team made their TV debut in 1948 on The Ed Sullivan Show. They also started a radio show in 1949. That same year, they signed a movie deal with Paramount. They made many popular comedy films together, starting with My Friend Irma.

Despite their success, Martin became unhappy with their movies. He felt they were too similar. This led to arguments with Lewis. After ten years, their famous partnership ended in 1956.

Dean Martin's Solo Career

Dean Martin in a poster for Rio Bravo (1959)

With John Wayne in Rio Bravo (1959)

A scene from Rio Bravo (1959)

After splitting with Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin started his solo career. His first solo movie, Ten Thousand Bedrooms (1957), was not a big hit. But he soon found success as a dramatic actor. He took a smaller role in the war drama The Young Lions (1958). This movie helped him make a big comeback. He then starred with Frank Sinatra in Some Came Running (1958).

By the mid-1960s, Dean Martin was a huge star. He was successful in movies, music, television, and nightclubs. He was praised for his role in Rio Bravo (1959), where he starred with John Wayne. He also made several more movies with Frank Sinatra and other friends from the Rat Pack. These included Ocean's 11 and Sergeants 3. He also starred in comedies like Kiss Me, Stupid (1964) and the fun Matt Helm spy movies.

As a singer, Dean Martin developed his own smooth style. He recorded over 100 albums and 600 songs. His most famous song, "Everybody Loves Somebody," became a number one hit in 1964. It even knocked the Beatles' song "A Hard Day's Night" off the top spot! Elvis Presley was a fan of Martin and copied his style for his song "Love Me Tender." Dean Martin also enjoyed country music. He often hosted country singers on his TV show and was named "Man Of the Year" by the Country Music Association in 1966.

For three decades, Dean Martin was one of the most popular performers in Las Vegas. He was known for his singing and his smooth comedy. His daughter, Gail, also sang in Vegas and on his TV show. His youngest son, Ricci Martin, also performed until his death in 2016. Dean Martin was often seen as a ladies' man, but he spent a lot of time with his family.

The Rat Pack

The Rat Pack at the Cal-Neva Casino. From left to right: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop.

As Dean Martin's solo career grew, he became close friends with Frank Sinatra. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Martin, Sinatra, Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford, and Sammy Davis Jr. formed a famous group known as the Rat Pack. They made movies together and were a big part of the Hollywood social scene.

The Rat Pack was famous for their shows in Las Vegas. Their performances were very popular and brought many people to the city. They would sing songs alone and together. They also told jokes and did funny skits. Their jokes were often about adult topics. Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin were supporters of the civil rights movement. They refused to perform in clubs that did not allow African-American or Jewish performers. The Rat Pack's style and music are still popular today.

The Dean Martin Show and Later Years

Martin and Florence Henderson in The Dean Martin Show (1968)

In 1965, Dean Martin started his own weekly TV show on NBC, The Dean Martin Show. It was a huge success and ran for 264 episodes until 1974. He even won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1966. The show was known for its relaxed style and Martin's quick wit. It was often one of the top-rated shows on TV.

By the early 1970s, The Dean Martin Show was still very popular. Even though his songs weren't always topping the charts, his albums continued to sell well. He also made money from his love of golf. He had his own line of golf balls, and there was even a golf tournament named after him.

Dean Martin began to work less as he got older. The last season of his variety show, from 1973 to 1974, changed into a series of celebrity "roasts." On these shows, Martin and his friends would playfully make fun of famous people. After the show ended, NBC continued to air The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast as special TV shows until 1984.

Later Career and Personal Life

Martin in the film Ada (1961)

Dean Martin continued to record music for many years. His last album, The Nashville Sessions, came out in 1983. He had a small hit with a country song from that album. His last starring movie role was in the 1974 drama Mr. Ricco, where he played a lawyer.

In 1972, he divorced his second wife, Jeanne. A year later, he married Catherine Hawn, but they divorced in 1976. He later became friends with Jeanne again, though they never remarried.

In 1976, Dean Martin had a public reunion with Jerry Lewis on Lewis's TV telethon for charity. Frank Sinatra surprised Lewis by bringing Martin out on stage. The two men hugged, and the audience gave them a huge cheer. This moment was very special for both of them. They remained quiet friends after that.

Dean Martin appeared in a few more films, like The Cannonball Run (1981) and its sequel. He also made his first music video. On March 21, 1987, Dean Martin's son, Dean Paul Martin, sadly died in a jet crash. This loss deeply affected Martin, and he became very sad.

Dean Martin's last shows in Las Vegas were in 1991. He also had a final reunion with Jerry Lewis on his 72nd birthday. His last two TV appearances were tributes to his Rat Pack friends, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra.

Illness and Death

Crypt of Dean Martin, at Westwood Memorial Park

Dean Martin was a heavy smoker for most of his life. In September 1993, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Doctors told him he needed surgery, but he chose not to have it. He stopped smoking after his diagnosis.

He retired from public life in early 1995. Dean Martin passed away on Christmas Day, December 25, 1995, at his home in Beverly Hills. He was 78 years old. He died from breathing problems caused by emphysema. In his honor, the lights of the Las Vegas Strip were dimmed. Dean Martin is buried in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles. His gravestone has the words "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime," which is the title of his most famous song.

Tributes and Legacy

Dean Martin's legacy continues to be honored. In 1997, a road in his hometown of Steubenville, Ohio was renamed Dean Martin Boulevard. There is also an annual Dean Martin Festival held in Steubenville. In 2005, a road in Clark County, Nevada (where Las Vegas is) was renamed Dean Martin Drive.

In 2004, his album Dino: The Essential Dean Martin became his fastest-selling album. In 2007, a new album called Forever Cool was released. It featured Dean Martin's voice with other famous singers. His handprints were placed at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in 1964. He also has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in movies, music, and television.

In 2009, Dean Martin received a special Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award after his death. His children accepted the award for him. In 2010, he received another honor on the Italian Walk of Fame in Toronto, Canada. The town where his father was born in Italy, Montesilvano, also named a square and a congress center after him.

Discography

The list below shows Dean Martin's studio albums only. His full discography, including singles and other releases, can be found in a separate article.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Appearances

See also

In Spanish: Dean Martin para niños