Dean Paul Martin | |
|---|---|
 Capt. Dean Paul Martin on a USAF F-4 Phantom | |
| Born | Dino Paul Crocetti Jr. (1951-11-17)November 17, 1951 Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Died | March 21, 1987(1987-03-21) (aged 35) |
| Cause of death | Military aircraft crash |
| Resting place | Los Angeles National Cemetery |
| Years active | 1966–1987 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 1 |
| Father | Dean Martin |
| Relatives | Ricci Martin (brother) Deana Martin (half-sister) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | California Air National Guard |
| Years of service | 1980–1987 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 196th Attack Squadron |
Dean Paul Martin Jr. (bornDino Paul Crocetti Jr.; November 17, 1951 – March 21, 1987) was an American pop singer and film and television actor. A member of theCalifornia Air National Guard, Martin died in a crash during a military training flight. He was the son of entertainerDean Martin.
Martin's parents were the singer and entertainerDean Martin and his second wife, Jeanne Biegger. Dean Paul was the fifth of Dean Martin's eight children and Jeanne's eldest son.[1] He attended theUrban Military Academy in Brentwood, California. As a youth, he was encouraged toward a singing career.
At age 13, he joinedDesi Arnaz Jr. andBilly Hinsche in the pop groupDino, Desi & Billy, which had a few minor hits in the US in 1965, entering theBillboard U.S. top 30 twice with "I'm a Fool" (#17)[2] and "Not the Lovin' Kind" (#25).[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 who competed in the qualifying competition forWimbledon.[4]
He co-starred withAli MacGraw in the1979 filmPlayers, playing a professional tennis player,[5] for which he was nominated for aGolden Globe Award asNew Star of the Year – Actor.[6] He later starred in the TV seriesMisfits of Science, broadcast during the 1985-1986 television season.[7] The series co-starredCourteney Cox.[8]
His final film appearance was inBackfire, co-starringKaren Allen andKeith Carradine, released in 1988 after Martin's death.[9] The film was dedicated to his memory.
Martin, an avid pilot, obtained his pilot's license at age 16 and became an officer in theCalifornia Air National Guard in 1980.[7] He entered active duty for officer training in theU.S. Air Force under thePalace Chase program (permitting direct entry into theAir National Guard orAir Force Reserve), was commissioned as a second lieutenant and completed pilot training atColumbus AFB, Mississippi, in 1981. Following transition training in theF-4 Phantom IIjet fighter at Homestead AFB, Florida, in the 308th Tactical Fighter Squadron, he was assigned to the California Air National Guard's196th Tactical Fighter Squadron,163rd Tactical Fighter Group atMarch AFB, California, flying the F-4C Phantom II as a part-time Air National Guardsman. He eventually rose to the rank ofcaptain.[10]
During a March 21, 1987 training mission from March AFB, Martin's F-4 jet crashed in California'sSan Bernardino Mountains during a snowstorm, killing him and his weapons systems officer, Captain Ramon Ortiz.[11] Martin was 35 years old.[12][7] Officials stated that Martin's jet plunged approximately 4,000 feet from its last radar altitude reading of 9,300 feet and hit the side of the mountain at approximately 400 miles per hour. The plane's wreckage was found on the east side of Wood Canyon inRiverside County.[13] As per reports from Air National Guard and the Air Force, Martin may have experienced vertigo in a snowstorm and did not hear the command from the Ontario Airport controller to change directions to avoid the mountain peak.[14]
His remains were interred at theLos Angeles National Cemetery, aU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs cemetery, inLos Angeles,California.[15]
Martin married the actressOlivia Hussey in 1971.[16] They had one child, Alexander (b. 1973), and divorced in 1978.[17] He married theOlympic gold medalist ice skaterDorothy Hamill in 1982,[18] and they divorced in 1984.[19] Martin also datedCandice Bergen andTina Sinatra.[7]
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