Age, Biography, and Wiki
- Full Name: Dino Paul Crocetti
- Stage Name: Dean Martin
- Birthdate: June 7, 1917
- Died: December 25, 1995 (aged 78)
- Birthplace: Steubenville, Ohio, USA
- Nickname: King of Cool
Dean Martin rose to fame as a singer, actor, and comedian, first in partnership with Jerry Lewis (Martin and Lewis), and later as a solo star. He was central to the Rat Pack, alongside Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., and hosted the highly successful The Dean Martin Show and The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast.
| Occupation | Stand-up Comedians |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 7 June 1917 |
| Age | 108 Years |
| Birth Place | Steubenville, Ohio, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 25 December, 1995 |
| Died Place | Beverly Hills, California, U.S. |
Height, Weight & Measurements
- Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 170–180 lbs (77–82 kg) during his active career (typical range for television and film appearances)
- Measurements: Not officially documented, but known for a slim, well-proportioned build befitting his leading-man roles.
| Height | 183 cm |
| Weight | 180 lbs |
| Body Measurements | |
| Eye Color | |
| Hair Color |
Dating & Relationship Status
- Marital Status: Married multiple times
- Key Relationships:
- Betty McDonald: Married 1941–1949 (four children)
- Jeanne Biegger: Married 1949–1973 (three children)
- Catherine Hawn: Married 1974–1976 (no children)
- Dated notable actresses and socialites throughout his career; known for a charming, romantic image, but details of specific dating relationships were private and sporadic in public records.
Angela's father, Domenico Barra, emigrated from Monasterolo, Bergamo. Martin had an older brother Guglielmo "William" Antonio Crocetti (1916–1968). At 15, Martin billed himself as "Kid Crochet". His prizefighting earned him a broken nose (later straightened), a scarred lip, many broken knuckles (a result of not being able to afford tape used to wrap boxers' hands), and a bruised body. Of his 12 bouts, Martin said that he "won all but 11." For a time, he shared a New York City apartment with Sonny King, who was also starting in show business and had little money. The two reportedly charged people to watch them bare-knuckle box each other in their apartment, fighting until one was knocked out. Martin knocked out King in the first round of an amateur boxing match. Martin gave up boxing to work as a roulette stickman and croupier in an illegal casino behind a tobacco shop, where he had started as a stock boy. At the same time, he sang with local bands, calling himself "Dino Martini" (after the Metropolitan Opera tenor Nino Martini). Martin got his break working for the Ernie McKay Orchestra. He sang in a crooning style influenced by Harry Mills of The Mills Brothers and Perry Como. By late 1940, Martin had begun singing for Cleveland bandleader Sammy Watkins, who suggested he change his name to Dean Martin. He stayed with Watkins until at least May 1943. By fall 1943, Martin had begun performing in New York. He was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II but was discharged after 14 months due to a hernia.
The image of Martin as a Vegas entertainer in a tuxedo has been an enduring one. "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?", a song Martin performed in Ocean's 11, did not become a hit at the time, but has enjoyed a revival in the media and pop culture and has been his most frequently played song in media for two decades. For three decades, Martin was among the most popular acts in Las Vegas, where he sang and was a comedian, benefiting from the decade of comedy with Lewis. Martin's daughter, Gail, also sang in Vegas and on many TV shows including his, co-hosting his summer replacement series on NBC. Daughter Deana Martin continues to perform, as did youngest son Ricci Martin until his death in August 2016. Eldest son Craig was a producer on Martin's television show and daughter Claudia was an actress in films such as For Those Who Think Young. Though thought of as promiscuous, Martin spent much time with his family; as second wife Jeanne put it, prior to the couple's divorce, "He was home every night for dinner."
In 1972, Martin filed for divorce from his second wife, Jeanne. A week later, his business partnership with the Riviera hotel in Las Vegas dissolved amid reports of the casino's refusal to agree to Martin's request to perform only once a night. Martin joined the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, where he was the featured performer on the hotel's opening night of December 23, 1973, and Martin's contract required him to star in a film (Mr. Ricco) for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios.
Martin and Hawn had no biological children of their own, but Martin adopted Hawn's daughter, Sasha. After their divorce, Martin had a brief relationship with model and longtime friend Patricia Sheehan.
The town of origin of Dean's father, Montesilvano, dedicated to him a square between via Sarca and via Torrente Piomba and a congress palace called Pala Dean Martin congress center in via Aldo Moro adjacent to the Porto Allegro structure (former cinema Warner).
| Parents | |
| Husband | Betty McDonald (m. 1941-1949) Jeanne Biegger (m. 1949-1973) Catherine Hawn (m. 1973-1976) |
| Sibling | |
| Children |
Net Worth and Salary
- Net Worth at Death (1995): $30 million
- Salary: As a top performer in nightclubs, movies, and TV, Martin’s income was substantial in his heyday. He was among the highest-paid entertainers of the 1960s–1970s, though exact annual salaries are not publicly detailed.
- Estate Value in 2025: While Dean Martin passed away in 1995, his estate continues to generate royalties from music, film, and television. His Beverly Hills home, purchased for $120,000 in the 1970s and expanded to 12,000 square feet, was later sold for $1.35 million in 1998 and $2 million in 2003. Recently, the property was offered for sale at $28 million, though the value accrues to new owners and not directly to Martin’s estate.
- YouTube & Digital Presence: Some online channels dedicated to Dean Martin generate modest monthly income (estimates between $30–$100/month), but these are not directly linked to Martin himself or his estate, rather to content creators posting his work.
Martin's first solo film, Ten Thousand Bedrooms (1957), was a box-office failure. Although "Volare" reached number 15 in the U.S. and number 2 in the UK, the era of the pop crooner was waning with the advent of rock and roll. Martin wanted to become a dramatic actor, known for more than slapstick comedy films. Though offered a fraction of his former salary to co-star in a war drama, The Young Lions (1958), Martin's part would be with Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift. Tony Randall already had the part, but talent agency MCA realized that with this film, Martin would become a triple threat: they could make money from his work in nightclubs, films, and records. Randall was paid off to relinquish the role, Martin replaced him and the film turned out to be the beginning of Martin's comeback. He starred alongside Frank Sinatra for the first time in the Vincente Minnelli drama, Some Came Running (1958).
Martin is the subject of Dean Martin's Wild Party and Dean Martin's Vegas Shindig, a pair of video slot machines found in many casinos. The games feature songs sung by Martin during the bonus feature and the count-up of a player's winnings. A compilation album called Amore! debuted at number one on Billboard magazine's Top Pop Catalog Albums chart in its February 21, 2009, issue.
Career, Business, and Investments
- Music Career: Sold over 12 million records in the U.S. and 50 million globally. Known for hits like “That’s Amore,” “Everybody Loves Somebody,” and “Memories Are Made of This”.
- Film Career: Appeared in 85 films, including classics with Jerry Lewis and later as a solo actor (e.g., “Ocean’s 11,” “Rio Bravo”).
- Television: Hosted The Dean Martin Show (1965–1974) and The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast (1974–1984).
- Business & Investments: Invested in real estate, notably his Beverly Hills and Palm Springs homes. His estate profited from property sales, and his name continues to be licensed for merchandise, music, and nostalgia products.
- Legacy: Dean Martin’s branding and content remain popular, with ongoing sales of music, DVDs, and tribute products.
Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor, and comedian. Nicknamed the "King of Cool", he is regarded as one of the most popular entertainers of the mid-20th century. Martin gained his career breakthrough together with comedian Jerry Lewis, billed as Martin and Lewis, in 1946. They performed in nightclubs and later had numerous appearances on radio and television and in films.
Following an acrimonious ending of the partnership in 1956, Martin pursued a solo career as a performer and actor. He established himself as a singer, recording numerous contemporary songs as well as standards from the Great American Songbook. Martin became one of the most popular acts in Las Vegas and was known for his friendship with fellow artists Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., who together with several others formed the Rat Pack.
Starting in 1965, Martin was the host of the television variety program The Dean Martin Show, which centered on Martin's singing and comedic talents and was characterized by his relaxed, easy-going demeanor. From 1974 to 1984, Martin was roastmaster on The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast, a popular show that drew celebrities, comedians and politicians. Throughout his career, Martin performed on concert stages, in nightclubs and audio recordings and appeared in 85 film and television productions and sold 12 million records in the United States alone, over 50 million worldwide. Martin's best-known songs include "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?", "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", and "Volare".
Sinatra and Martin teamed up for several more movies, the crime caper Ocean's 11, the musical Robin and the 7 Hoods, and the Western comedies Sergeants 3 and 4 for Texas, with their Rat Pack pals such as Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop, as well as a romantic comedy, Marriage on the Rocks. Martin also co-starred with Shirley MacLaine in a number of films, including Some Came Running, Artists and Models, Career, All in a Night's Work, and What a Way to Go! He played a satiric variation of his own womanizing persona as Las Vegas singer "Dino" in Billy Wilder's comedy Kiss Me, Stupid (1964) with Kim Novak, and Martin poked fun at his image in films such as the Matt Helm spy spoofs of the 1960s, in which he was a co-producer. In the third Matt Helm film The Ambushers (1967), Helm, about to be executed, receives a last cigarette and tells the provider, "I'll remember you from the great beyond", continuing sotto voce, "somewhere around Steubenville, I hope".
As Martin's solo career grew, he and Frank Sinatra became friends. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Martin and Sinatra, along with friends Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford, and Sammy Davis Jr., formed the Rat Pack, so-called after an earlier group of social friends, the Holmby Hills Rat Pack centered on Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, of which Sinatra had been a member (The Martin-Sinatra-Davis-Lawford-Bishop group referred to themselves as "The Summit" or "The Clan" and never as "The Rat Pack", although this has remained their identity in popular imagination). The men made films together, formed part of the Hollywood social scene, and were politically influential (through Lawford's marriage to Patricia Kennedy, sister of President John F. Kennedy).
Despite Martin's reputation as a drinker—perpetuated via his vanity license plate "DRUNKY"—his alcohol use was quite disciplined. Martin was the first to call it a night and, when not on tour or on a film location, liked to go home to see his family. Martin borrowed the lovable-drunk shtick from Joe E. Lewis, but his convincing portrayals of heavy boozers in Some Came Running and Howard Hawks' Rio Bravo led to unsubstantiated claims of alcoholism. Martin starred in and co-produced four Matt Helm superspy comedy adventures during this time, as well as a number of Westerns. By the early 1970s, The Dean Martin Show was still earning solid ratings, and although he was no longer a Top 40 hitmaker, his record albums continued to sell. He found a way to make his passion for golf profitable by offering a signature line of golf balls, and the Dean Martin Tucson Open was an event on golf's PGA Tour from 1972 to 1975. At his death, Martin was reportedly the single largest minority shareholder of RCA stock.
Social Network
Dean Martin was not active on social media (having passed away before the advent of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter). However, tribute pages and fan accounts dedicated to him exist across all major platforms. Official archives and estate-controlled accounts occasionally post updates about his music and legacy.
As a singer, Martin copied the styles of Harry Mills (of the Mills Brothers), Bing Crosby, and Perry Como until he developed his own and could hold his own in duets with Sinatra and Crosby. Like Sinatra, Martin could not read music, but he recorded 35 studio albums and over 550 songs. His signature tune, "Everybody Loves Somebody", knocked the Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" off number one in the United States in 1964. This was followed by "The Door is Still Open to My Heart", which reached number six that year. Elvis Presley was said to have been a fan of Martin, and patterned his performance of "Love Me Tender" after Martin's style. Martin, like Elvis, was influenced by country music. By 1965, some of Martin's albums, such as Dean "Tex" Martin Rides Again, Houston, Welcome to My World, and Gentle on My Mind, were composed of country and western songs by artists such as Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Buck Owens. Martin hosted country performers on his TV show and was named "Man Of the Year" by the Country Music Association in 1966. The final album of his recording career was 1983's The Nashville Sessions.
* Arthur Marx. Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime (Especially Himself): The story of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, New York, NY: Hawthorn Books, 1974, ISBN 978-0-8015-2430-1
Education
- Formal Education: Limited; Martin left school after the 10th grade and did not attend college.
- Early Life: Worked odd jobs before launching his entertainment career. His real-world experience contributed to his charismatic stage presence and comedic timing.
