You’ve probably seen the footage. Dean Martin leans against a piano, a cigarette dangling from one hand and a rocks glass in the other, looking like he just rolled out of the world’s most effortless party. He was the "King of Cool," the man who made Frank Sinatra look like he was trying too hard. But if you think his life was all high-stakes gambling and late-night carousing with the Rat Pack, you’ve got the wrong guy. Honestly, the real story of Dean Martin and family is way more interesting—and a lot more complicated—than the boozy stage persona he spent decades perfecting.
He wasn't a drunk. Not even close. That "bourbon" in his glass on stage? Mostly apple juice. While Frank and Sammy were out painting the town red, Dean was usually the first one to slip out the back door. He wanted to get home. He had a 6:00 p.m. dinner rule that was basically sacred. For a guy who seemed like he didn't have a care in the world, he was actually a creature of rigid habit, driven by a deep, sometimes quiet devotion to his eight children.
The Three Chapters of the Martin Household
Dean’s family life didn’t happen all at once. It was a sprawling, three-act play involving three different wives and a small army of kids.
First, there was Elizabeth "Betty" McDonald. They married in 1941, back when Dean was still Dino Crocetti, a guy struggling to make it as a crooner. They had four kids: Craig, Claudia, Gail, and Deana. But the marriage was rough. Betty struggled with alcohol, and by 1949, it was over. In a move that was pretty scandalous for the 1940s, Dean won sole custody of all four children.
Enter Jeanne Biegger. She was a breathtaking model from Florida, and by all accounts, she was the love of his life. They married in 1949 and stayed together for 24 years. Jeanne didn't just have three kids of her own with Dean—Dean Paul (Dino), Ricci, and Gina—she stepped in and raised the first four children as her own. It was a massive, blended household in Beverly Hills that felt more like a small village than a celebrity mansion.
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Finally, there was Catherine Hawn. That marriage was short—only about three years—but Dean adopted her daughter, Sasha, bringing the final count to eight.
A House Full of "Uncles"
Growing up as part of the Martin clan meant your "uncles" were the biggest stars on the planet. Deana Martin has talked about how Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. were just... around. They’d drop by the house, and to the kids, they weren't icons; they were just Dad’s buddies.
But Dean kept a wall up. Even with his kids, he was famously "cool"—which sometimes translated to being emotionally distant. He loved them, no question. He provided a life of incredible luxury. But he wasn't the type to sit down for a deep, soul-searching heart-to-heart. He expressed love through presence and provision. If he was home, watching a Western on TV with a bowl of pasta, he was happy.
The "Golden Boy" Tragedy That Changed Everything
If you want to understand why the light seemed to go out of Dean Martin’s eyes in his later years, you have to look at March 21, 1987.
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His son, Dean Paul Martin, was the superstar of the family. He was a "golden boy" in every sense—a professional tennis player, a singer in the band Dino, Desi & Billy, an actor, and a captain in the California Air National Guard. He was the one who seemed to inherit all of Dean’s charisma but added a drive that Dean himself often lacked.
On that afternoon, Dean Paul took off in an F-4 Phantom jet for a routine training mission. He flew straight into a snowstorm over the San Bernardino Mountains. The plane slammed into a granite cliff at 400 miles per hour. He was only 35.
Dean was never the same.
The man who once joked his way through every crisis became a ghost. He withdrew from the world. He’d spend his nights at a booth in La Famiglia, an Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills, eating alone. He wasn't looking for the spotlight anymore. The "King of Cool" was just a grieving father who had lost his favorite son, and the effortless charm he’d used to shield himself from the world didn't work anymore.
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Where the Martin Children Are Now
While some of the Martin children stayed in the shadows, others became keepers of the flame.
- Deana Martin: She’s arguably the most visible. An accomplished singer and performer in her own right, she has spent decades defending her father’s legacy. Her book, Memories Are Made of This, is probably the best resource if you want to know what it was actually like inside that house.
- Ricci Martin: He followed the musical path, collaborating with the Beach Boys and even touring with a tribute show to his dad. Sadly, Ricci passed away in 2016 at the age of 62.
- Craig Martin: He worked mostly behind the scenes as a producer, notably on his father’s legendary variety show.
- Gail Martin: She had a brief but successful career as a singer, often appearing on Dean’s Christmas specials.
The family has had its share of heartbreak. Claudia Martin passed away from breast cancer in 2001. But the surviving siblings, especially Deana, continue to push back against the "drunk" myth. They want people to know the man who was home by 6:00, who hated elevators because he was claustrophobic, and who would call the cops on his own kids' parties—pretending to be an angry neighbor—just so he could get some sleep.
Practical Lessons from the Martin Family Legacy
If you’re looking at the history of Dean Martin and family as a fan or a researcher, there are a few things you can actually take away from how they handled fame and tragedy:
- The Power of the Persona: Dean taught us that you can own your public image without letting it own you. He created a character so convincing that people still believe he was tipsy on stage 30 years after his death.
- The "6:00 p.m. Rule": Even at the height of his fame, Dean prioritized a routine. In a world that demands 24/7 access, setting hard boundaries for family time is a survival skill.
- Grief is the Great Equalizer: No amount of money or "cool" could protect Dean from the loss of his son. It’s a reminder that beneath the tuxedo, these icons are just people.
If you want to see the real Dean, stop looking at the movie posters. Look at the old home movies of him with his kids. That’s where the "King of Cool" actually lived.
To get a true sense of the family dynamic, you should look for the 1967 and 1968 Christmas specials of The Dean Martin Show. These aren't just variety hours; they are rare glimpses of the entire Martin clan—all the kids from both marriages—sharing the screen. Seeing them interact reveals more about Dean's character than any biography ever could. Or, grab a copy of Deana Martin’s memoir to see the "Uncle Frank" stories for yourself.