Who was Dean Paul Martin? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Dean Paul Martin Jr., Dean Paul Crocetti Jr.

Died At Age: 35

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Dorothy Hamill (m. 1982–1984), Olivia Hussey (m. 1971–1978)

father: Dino Paul Crocetti

mother: Jeanne Biegger

children: Alexander Martin

Born Country: United States

Family Members American Men

Died on: March 21, 1987

place of death: San Gorgonio Mountain, California, United States

Ancestry: British American, Italian American

: Military Aircraft Crash

U.S. State: California

Cause of Death: Plane Crash

City: Santa Monica, California

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Childhood & Early Life

Dean Paul Martin Jr. was born on November 17, 1951, in Santa Monica, California. He was the first of the three children of singer-actor Dean Martin and his second wife, Jeanne Biegger. He had a younger brother, Ricci Martin, and a younger sister, Gina Martin. He had four older half-siblings, namely Claudia, Craig, Deana, and Gail.

Martin studied at the ‘Urban Military Academy,’ Brentwood, California. Interested in tennis, he developed proficiency in the sport and played in a junior competition at ‘Wimbledon.’ Along with Desi Arnaz Jr. (son of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz) and neighbor Billy Hinsche, Martin formed a rock band at 14. Their band, ‘Dino, Desi, & Billy’ (1965–1968), enjoyed decent success with a few of their tracks. Their single ‘I’m a Fool’ (1965) was a hit and had reached the ‘Top 30’ twice.

He learnt to fly aircrafts during his teenage years, and at 16, he obtained his pilot’s license. During his early years, he was known as “Dino.” However, during his late teens, he came to be known by his birth name, “Dean Paul.”

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Career

He made his first on-screen appearance during his teens, when he and his bandmates were introduced as themselves in the action–adventure film, ‘Murderers’ Row’ (1966), which starred his father in the lead role. Following this, he was seen in the lead role of ‘The Boy’ in the 1969 drama film ‘A Boy… a Girl.’

Martin starred as a professional tennis player, opposite Ali MacGraw, in the Anthony Harvey-directed romantic drama ‘Players’ (1979), which was about a young tennis player’s involvement with an older woman. This performance fetched him a nomination for the ‘Golden Globe Award’ for the ‘Best New Star of the Year – Male.’

In 1983, Martin played the role of ‘Sonny Rigotti’ in the auto-racing drama ‘Heart Like a Wheel,’ directed by Jonathan Kaplan. He was part of the ‘NBC TV’ science-fiction comedy ‘Misfits of Science’ (1985–1986), in which he worked alongside Courteney Cox. In the 1987 drama film ‘Made in U.S.A.,’ he starred opposite Katherine Kelly Lang of ‘The Bold and the Beautiful.’

Martin appeared in the mystery thriller film ‘Backfire’ along with Keith Carradine and Karen Allen. However, the film was released in 1988, after his death.

In 1980, Martin joined the ‘California Air National Guard.’ In 1981, he completed his undergraduate pilot training at the ‘Laughlin Air Force Base,’ Texas. He started his service as a second lieutenant and was a captain at the time of his death.

Family & Personal Life

He had the reputation of a “playboy” and had dated Candace Burgen, Tina Sinatra, and others. He also drove racing cars and flew Learjets.

Martin got married to actor Olivia Hussey on April 17, 1971. Their son, Alexander Gunther Martin, was born on February 12, 1973. The couple divorced in 1978.

On January 8, 1982, Martin married ‘Olympic’ gold medal-winning figure skater Dorothy Hamill. They divorced in 1984.

Death

Martin had over 400 hours of experience in flying the ‘F-4C Phantom’ jet fighter aircrafts and was considered an expert pilot. On March 21, 1987, he went on a weekend training flight with his unit (the ‘Air National Guard’s ‘163rd Tactical Fighter Group’) based at the ‘March Air Force Base’ in Riverside, California. He was accompanied by his weapons systems officer, Capt. Ramon Ortiz. The fighter jet took off at 1:45 pm. His son Alex (12), saw him off. After 10 minutes, at a height of nearly 11,000 feet, his jet disappeared from the radar over the snow-covered slopes of Mt. San Gorgonio in the San Bernardino National Forest. There was already a 6-foot cover of snow on the ground when the plane disappeared, and a snowstorm that night resulted in 2 more feet of snow. The plane wreckage was found only after 5 days.

He was interred in the ‘Los Angeles National Cemetery,’ Los Angeles, California.

Dean Paul Martin Biography