Dean Paul Martin

Dean Paul Martin Jr. (born Dean Paul Crocetti Jr., November 17, 1951 – March 21, 1987) was an American pop singer and film and television actor. A member of the California Air National Guard, Martin died in a crash during a military training flight. Martin was the son of American entertainer Dean Martin.

For the English soccer player of the sea same name, see Dean Martin (footballer born 1957).
Dean Paul Martin
Capt. Dean Paul Martin on a USAF F-4 Phantom
Born
Dean Paul Martin Jr.

(1951-11-17)November 17, 1951
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
DiedMarch 21, 1987(1987-03-21) (aged 35)
San Gorgonio Mountain, California, U.S.
Cause of deathMilitary aircraft crash
Years active1966–1987
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1971; div. 1978)​

​
​
(m. 1982; div. 1984)​
Children1
Parent(s)Dean Martin
Jeanne Biegger
RelativesRicci Martin (brother)
Deana Martin (half-sister)

Early life and career

Martin's parents were singer and entertainer Dean Martin and his second wife, Jeanne Biegger. Dean Paul was the fifth of Dean Martin's eight children, and was Jeanne's eldest son.[1] He attended the Urban Military Academy in Brentwood, California. As a youth, Martin was encouraged toward a singing career. At age 13 he joined Desi Arnaz Jr. and Billy Hinsche in the pop group Dino, Desi & Billy, which had a few minor hits in the US in 1965, landing in the Billboard Top 30 twice; "I'm A Fool" (U.S. #17) and "Not The Lovin' Kind" (U.S. #25).[2][3]

Martin began to go by his given name of Dean Paul instead of the nickname "Dino" in his late teens. He became a successful tennis player (he competed in a junior competition at Wimbledon) and an actor.[4] He co-starred with Ali MacGraw in the 1979 film Players, starring as a professional tennis player,[5] for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award as New Star of the Year – Actor.[6] He later starred in the TV series Misfits of Science which aired during the 1985-1986 television season.[7] The series co-starred Courteney Cox.[8]

His final film appearance came in Backfire, co-starring Karen Allen and Keith Carradine, released in 1988 after Martin's death.[9]

Aviation career and death

Martin, an avid pilot, obtained his pilot's license at age 16 and became an officer in the California Air National Guard in 1980.[7] He entered active duty for officer training in the U.S. Air Force under the Palace Chase program (i.e., direct entry into the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve), was commissioned as a second lieutenant, and completed Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin AFB, Texas in 1981. Following transition training in the F-4 Phantom II jet fighter at Homestead AFB, FL in the 308TFS, he was assigned to the California Air National Guard's 196th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 163rd Tactical Fighter Group, at March AFB, California, flying the F-4C Phantom II as a Traditional (i.e., part-time) Air National Guardsman. He eventually rose to the rank of captain.[10]

Martin died in 1987 when his F-4 departed March Air Force Base, California, on a routine training mission and crashed in California's San Bernardino Mountains during a snowstorm, killing him and his weapons systems officer, Captain Ramon Ortiz.[11][12][13][14] He was 35 years old.[7]

Martin is buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs cemetery in Los Angeles, California.[15]

Personal life

Martin married actress Olivia Hussey in 1971;[16][17] they had one child, Alexander, and divorced in 1978.[18] He married Olympic gold medalist ice skater Dorothy Hamill in 1982,[19] and they divorced in 1984.[20] Martin also dated Candice Bergen and Tina Sinatra.[7] He was engaged to be married at the time of his death.

References
  1. Johnson, Karl B. (1998). Dean Martin: A Collecting Guide to His Recording, Sheet Music, Films, and Videos. Tucson, Arizona: J. Carlson Press. p. 7. ISBN 0-9644176-4-2.
  2. "Billboard Aug 21, 1965". Billboard. Vol. 77 no. 34. August 21, 1965. p. 22.
  3. "Billboard Sep 11, 1965". Billboard. Vol. 77 no. 37. September 11, 1965. p. 79.
  4. Wolfson, Lisa (April 1, 1987). "Memorial Service for Pilot-Actor Son of Dean Martin". Associated Press. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  5. Canby, Vincent (June 8, 1979). "Screen: 'Players' Takes World Tennis Tour:On the Courts". The New York Times. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  6. "Dean-Paul Martin". Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  7. "Dean Martin Jr. on Missing F-4 : Singer's Son Was Flying Jet That Is Feared Down". Los Angeles Times. March 23, 1987. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  8. Holston, Noel (October 4, 1985). "'MISFITS OF SCIENCE' CRACKLES WITH ENERGY". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  9. Willman, Chris (June 17, 1989). "Film Making Does Just What Title Says in 'Backfire'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  10. "Controller's Frantic Orders Noted in Report on Jet Crash : Martin Apparently Didn't Hear Warning". Los Angeles Times. June 12, 1987. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  11. Arias, Ron (April 13, 1987). "Actor, Athlete and Dashing Pilot, Dean Paul Martin Dies When His Jet Crashes on a Mountainside". People. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  12. "Dean Martin's son disappears in jet". The Evening News. Newburgh, New York. Associated Press. March 24, 1987. p. 12A. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  13. "Dean Paul Martin's body taken off peak". Lewiston Daily Sun. Maine. Associated Press. March 27, 1987. p. 3. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  14. "Dean Paul Martin's body found". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. March 26, 1987. p. A9. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  15. Wolfson, Lisa (April 2, 1987). "Stars attend services for Dean Paul Martin". Reading Eagle. Pennsylvania. Associated Press. p. 38. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  16. "Dino Martin weds". The Evening News. Newburgh, New York. Associated Press. April 19, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  17. "Dino Martin weds". The Bangor Daily News. Maine. Associated Press. April 19, 1971. p. 23. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  18. Wilson, Earl (October 2, 1978). "Newly divorced Olivia visits". Milwaukee Sentinel. Field Enterprises, Inc. p. 2, part 3. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  19. "Dorothy Hamill marries Dean Martin's son". Ellensburg Daily Record. Washington. UPI. January 9, 1982. p. 12. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  20. Thomson, Candus (September 29, 2007). "Hamill keeps on smiling". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
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