Martin Paul Crocetti was born in Steubenville, Ohio, to Gaetano Alfonso "Guy" Crocetti, an Italian immigrant and barber, and his Ohio-born wife, Angela (Barra) Crocetti. He did not speak English until the age of five. Martin had a tough childhood, working various jobs such as a boxer, steel mill worker, gas station worker, and casino croupier/dealer.
In 1946, Martin teamed up with Jerry Lewis, and they became one of Hollywood's most iconic duos. They starred in 16 movies together, including At War with the Army, before their partnership ended due to personality conflicts. Martin went on to achieve solo success, earning critical acclaim for his roles in The Young Lions and Some Came Running.
Martin's international fame was solidified with films like Rio Bravo and Ocean's Eleven, in which he starred alongside the Rat Pack. He continued to be a box office draw throughout the 1960s, with films such as Bells Are Ringing and Robin and the 7 Hoods. During this time, he also appeared in a series of Matt Helm films and hosted his own television variety show.
In 1965, Martin began hosting The Dean Martin Show, which became one of the most successful TV series in history. The show won a Golden Globe Award in 1965 and ran until 1973. Martin continued to work in television, renaming his show The Dean Martin Comedy Hour and later The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts.
Martin's last public role was a cross-country concert tour with Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra. He spoke fondly of his fellow Rat Packers, saying they had more laughs than the audience. After his son's death in 1987, Martin became reclusive and died in 1995 at the age of 78 due to complications from lung cancer.
