Dean Martin's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) The Dean Martin Show Host Dean Martin Celebrity Roast Himself - R… Person To Person Dean Martin The Colgate Comedy Hour Dean Martin… The Dean Martin Comedy World Dean Martin Half Nelson Dean Martin

Main Movie Roles 2007 - Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project 1985 - That's Dancing! 1984 - Terror in the Aisles 1984 - Cannonball Run II 1981 - The Cannonball Run 1970 - Airport 1969 - The Wrecking Crew 1968 - Bandolero! 1968 - 5 Card Stud 1967 - Mondo Hollywood 1967 - The Ambushers 1966 - The Silencers 1965 - The Sons of Katie Elder 1964 - What A Way to Go! 1964 - Robin and the 7 Hoods 1963 - 4 for Texas 1962 - The Road to Hong Kong 1962 - Something's Got to Give 1962 - Sergeants 3 1960 - Ocean's Eleven 1960 - Bells Are Ringing 1959 - Rio Bravo 1958 - The Young Lions 1956 - Pardners 1956 - Hollywood or Bust 1955 - Artists and Models 1953 - The Caddy 1953 - Scared Stiff 1952 - Jumping Jacks 1952 - Sailor Beware 1952 - Road to Bali

BIOGRAPHY:

Though best known for the 51 films he made, Dean Martin was a prizefighter, steel mill laborer, gas station attendant and card shark before seeing the first glimmer of fame. It came when he teamed up with comedian Jerry Lewis (I) in 1946. Films such as At War with the Army (1950) sent the team toward superstardom. After teaming with Lewis, Martin - born Dino Paul Crocetti - became a dramatic actor and the star of a long-running television variety show. Personality conflicts broke up the comedy duo in 1957. Few thought that Martin would go one to achieve solo success, but he did, winning critical acclaim for his role in The Young Lions (1958) with Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift. A succession of films followed for the singer-actor, including Some Came Running (1958) with Shirley MacLaine and Frank Sinatra. All would later be members of the "Rat Pack." Martin learned well and proved potent at the box office throughout 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. Rough Night in Jericho with George Peppard and Jean Simmons, 1967. 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). 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.


TRIVIA:

• He declined to participate in the March on Washington in August 1963.
• After being drafted into the United States Army and serving a stateside year (1944-45) in Akron, Ohio, during World War II, Martin was classified 4-F and was discharged.
• 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).
• When 20th Century-Fox fired 'Marilyn Monroe' (qv) as his co-star in _Something's Got to Give (1962)_ (qv) and then attempted to replace her with 'Lee Remick' (qv), 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 re-hired, but she died of a drug overdose before shooting on this never-finished film could resume.
• He had a fear of elevators and a love of comic books, which he read his entire life.
• Had a night-club in North Bay Village, Florida in the late 1970s and early 1980s called Dino's. It was next to 'Jilly Rizzo' (qv)'s club, Jilly's.
• His style of singing was initially influenced by 'Harry Mills' (qv) of 'The Mills Brothers' (qv).
• 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 (I)' (qv), 'Frank Sinatra' (qv), 'Lucille Ball' (qv), 'George Burns' (qv), 'James Stewart (I)' (qv), 'Orson Welles' (qv), 'Jack Benny' (qv), 'Phyllis Diller (I)' (qv), 'Milton Berle' (qv), 'Gene Kelly (I)' (qv), 'Don Rickles' (qv), 'Rich Little (I)' (qv), 'John Wayne (I)' (qv), and 'Foster Brooks' (qv).