topic Re: DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY in TV and Movies

DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY

Oznell — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 01:11:48 GMT

What a sweet picture. Always thought that Dean Martin had the most adorable family:

The four oldest children were with his first wife, Betty McDonald-- Craig, Claudia, Gail and Deana. ( Edited to add-- Oops, knew I'd screw up -- I misspelled Deana's name as "Dina". Correction made.)

With his second wife, Jeanne Biegger, he had Dean Paul Jr., Ricci, and Gina. He also had sole custody of the first four.

He had his last child with final wife, Catherine Hawn, when he adopted her daughter from a previous marriage, Sasha Martin, when she was a little girl. Love the way she is looking up at him:

I don't know much about any of them, but Deana always seems charming, intelligent and bubbly in interviews. She's now in her mid seventies. She followed her father into performing, as did some of the others.

Most people know of the tragedy of his son Dean Paul's death in a plane crash; Dean was said never to be the same afterwards.

His oldest son, Craig, is still very much alive at 81. I don't think I had seen him before.

Re: DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY

JudyL — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 01:10:44 GMT

I remember his TV variety show.

Re: DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY

cheriere — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 01:20:05 GMT

@Oznell

What a terrific post! I always loved ❤️ Dean Martin. So much of his life that I didn't even know about.
I didn't know he had so many children lol, much less full custody of the first four.
The only wife I remembered was Jeannie too.

I really enjoyed reading your post and the pictures are great! Thanks 😊💝🌸

Re: DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY

SaveTheTurtles — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 01:22:10 GMT

This brought back memories. I remembered much of what you posted. They were a good looking bunch!

Re: DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY

colliemom4 — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 01:52:14 GMT

I hadn't thought about him in a long time and don't ever recall seeing his family. They are a good looking bunch. Thanks for posting these @Oznell

Re: DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY

Goldengate8361 — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 02:26:06 GMT

Dean Martin was a cool dude.

Re: DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY

Mz iMac — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 03:24:40 GMT

@Oznell Do you know what was wrong w/DM wify #1 for the judge to award him full custody of 4 children? Highly unusual & unheard of at the time.

Re: DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY

Spacrazy — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 04:23:51 GMT

I adored Dean Martin. He was the absolute best!

I've got one of his records on right now...

Re: DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY

AngelPuppy1 — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 10:01:27 GMT

I loved him! He was so charming and his music was and is so cool! He had a gorgeous family. His son was so handsome and I do remember hearing that this just destroyed Dean. My mother absolutely adored him, as well.

Re: DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY

freakygirl — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 10:02:31 GMT

what a good looking family!

Re: DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY

Group 5 minus 1 — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 10:36:51 GMT

Anyone remember the "I Love Lucy" where she was in a fashion show in Hollywood (Don Loper) was the designer,and many of wives of these stars also modeled. I think Jeanne Martin was one of them. It was season 4, episode 19. She was in it and it was 1955.

Re: DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY

SoCal Bred — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 12:16:39 GMT

@Oznell

Brings back alot of memories, he has a beautiful family, I used to think Dean's 2nd wife Jeanne was so beautiful and do remember the tragic plane crash during military training of his son, Dino. I also remember his pop group, Dino, Desi and Billy as well. Dino Jr was previously married to Olivia Hussey and Dorothy Hamill.

Re: DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY

kaydee50 — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 12:24:58 GMT

I love the way he sings. Saw him once in Vegas and was disappointed but he was past his prime at that time. Didn't know he had 3 wives and so many kids. RIP.

Re: DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY

beckyb1012 — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 13:13:40 GMT

I always adored him and loved when he did comedy's.

@Oznell thanks for the picture and update I also did not know there were three marriages I thought only two.

(in the middle of your original post her name is still misspelled if you want to correct)

Re: DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY

haddon9 — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 13:26:44 GMT

I remember his son was in the group, Dino, Desi & Billy...

Dean Paul Martin, Desi Arnaz Jr. & Billy Hinsche.

Re: DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY

newjersey — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 14:06:02 GMT

Nice photo. Never knew he had a son that is now 81 years old. Loved Dean Martin's singing.

Re: DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY

qvcaddition — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 15:58:26 GMT

When I was in High School in San Francisco, we cut school one day and went to the Golden Gate Theatre to see, I think, the movie Quo Vatis, and in those days, you got a live opening act before the movie came on.

The opening act was live in person, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. They were becoming very popular.

They were not only funny, but could they dance. We never got to see the movie, because when their act was finished, we went to the back alley and they opened the window and threw down signed autograph pictures.

That was a great day, regardless of the trouble we got in for cutting classes.

I'm 88 now, but those were the best times in San Francisco and to be a teenager.

I also got to see Dean Martin in 1958 in Las Vegas where I got married at the Little White church and had an Elvis impersonator.

I remember when Elvis first was on the Ed Sullivan Show and my thoughts were, he Will never make it. BOY, WAS I Wrong.

I was from SF and didn't like cowboy music. We didn't listen to that kind of music. More ballads and love songs. Johnny Mathis was still in the rival school from ours, he hadn't made it yet.

Ah, the good old days.

Still play Dean's music. Love him. Didn't care for Sinatra. That was my Mojther's era. I have some of her 45' records.

Re: DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY

Oznell — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 18:47:16 GMT

@Mz iMac, I was also struck by the fact that he had sole custody of the older children-- as you say, unusual for that time, where, all things being equal, the mother would have been more likely favored. And the article said that Dean's second wife, Jeanne, raised them. But they didn't explain any circumstances around the first wife.

@qvcaddition , whoa, those are great stories-- what a fun time in your life, just super that you shared those memories with us!

Posters generally have such fond feelings about Dean, so nice to read.

Re: DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY

Mary Bailey — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 18:56:11 GMT

I saw a documentary on Dean Martin a year or two ago. If I remember correctly his first wife had a very severe drinking problem. That's why he had full custody.

Re: DEAN MARTIN'S FAMILY

Moonlady — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 05:29:08 GMT

I always liked Dean Martin. There hasn't been a time when I've heard him sing that I don't evision him smiling.

I heard the same thing about his grief over the loss of Dean Paul--that he couldn't get over it.