Misplaced Pages

#88911

117-471: Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti ; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular entertainers of the mid-20th century, he was nicknamed "The King of Cool". Martin gained his career breakthrough together with comedian Jerry Lewis , billed as Martin and Lewis , in 1946. They performed in nightclubs and later had numerous appearances on radio and television and in films. Following an acrimonious ending of

234-689: A Looney Tunes cartoon director (for Warner Bros. ) suited Lewis's brand of humor and came on board. The pair did new films, first with Rock-A-Bye Baby (1958) and then The Geisha Boy (1958). Billy Wilder asked Lewis to play the lead role of an uptight jazz musician, who winds up on the run from a mob in Some Like It Hot , but turned it down. Lewis then appeared in Don't Give Up The Ship (1959) and cameoed in Li'l Abner (1959). A 1959 contract between Paramount and Jerry Lewis Productions specified

351-629: A Borscht Belt comedian, saw Lewis' mime act at Brown's Hotel in Loch Sheldrake, New York, the following summer, and the audience was so enthusiastic that Kaye became Lewis' manager and guardian for Borscht Belt appearances. During World War II , Lewis was rejected from military service because of a heart murmur . In 1945, Lewis was 19 when he met 27-year-old singer Dean Martin at the Glass Hat Club in New York City, where

468-582: A Golden Globe nomination, then guest appeared on Ben Casey , The Andy Williams Show and Hullabaloo with son Gary Lewis . Lewis left Paramount in 1966, after 17 years, as the studio was undergoing a corporate shakeup, with the industrial conglomerate Gulf + Western taking over the company. Gulf + Western, scrutinizing the balance sheets, noted the diminishing box office returns of Lewis's recent pictures and did not renew his contract. Undaunted, Lewis signed with Columbia Pictures , where he tried to reinvent himself with more serious roles and starred in

585-657: A Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1966 and was nominated again the following three years. The show exploited his image as a carefree boozer. Martin capitalized on his laid-back persona of the half-drunk crooner , inappropriately hitting on women, and making snappy if slurred remarks about fellow celebrities during his roasts . During an interview on the British TV documentary Wine, Women and Song , aired in 1983, Martin stated, perhaps tongue-in-cheek, that he had someone record them on cassette tape so he could listen to them. Martin's TV show

702-577: A master of ceremonies and vaudevillian who performed under the stage name Danny Lewis, whose parents immigrated to the United States from the Russian Empire to New York, and Rachael "Rae" Levitch (née Brodsky; 1904–1982), a WOR radio pianist and Danny's music director, from Warsaw . Reports about his birth name are conflicting; in Lewis' 1982 autobiography, he claimed his birth name

819-643: A Southern politician in 1961's Ada , and starring in 1963's screen adaptation of an intense stage drama, Toys in the Attic , opposite Geraldine Page , as well as in 1970's drama Airport with Burt Lancaster , a huge box-office success. Sinatra and Martin teamed up for several more movies, the crime caper Ocean's 11 , the musical Robin and the 7 Hoods , and the Western comedies Sergeants 3 and 4 for Texas , with their Rat Pack pals such as Sammy Davis, Jr. , Peter Lawford , and Joey Bishop , as well as

936-533: A better act for their second show that night, they would be fired. Huddling in the alley behind the club, Lewis and Martin agreed to "go for broke", they divided their act between songs, skits, and ad-libbed material. Martin sang and Lewis dressed as a busboy, dropping plates and making a shambles of Martin's performance and the club's decorum until Lewis was chased from the room as Martin pelted him with bread rolls. They performed slapstick , reeled off old vaudeville jokes and did whatever else popped into their heads;

1053-729: A brief relationship with model and longtime friend Patricia Sheehan . Martin's uncle was Leonard Barr , who appeared in several of his shows. In the 1960s and early 1970s Martin lived at 363 Copa De Oro Road in Bel Air, Los Angeles, before selling it to Tom Jones for $ 500,000 in June 1976. Martin's son-in-law was the Beach Boys ' Carl Wilson , who married Martin's daughter Gina. Figure skater Dorothy Hamill and actress Olivia Hussey were his daughters-in-law during their marriages to Martin's son, Dean Paul Martin. Craig, Martin's elder son,

1170-461: A broken nose (later straightened), a scarred lip, many broken knuckles (a result of not being able to afford tape used to wrap boxers' hands), and a bruised body. Of his 12 bouts, Martin said that he "won all but 11." For a time, he shared a New York City apartment with Sonny King , who was also starting in show business and had little money. The two reportedly charged people to watch them bare-knuckle box each other in their apartment, fighting until one

1287-431: A comedy revue requires a larger-than-life comic", Cohen told syndicated columnist Jack O'Brian . "That is why I have engaged Jerry Lewis to star in the new production of Hellzapoppin , which I'm preparing for the coming season." Cohen had revived Hellzapoppin as a TV special in 1972, and was impressed by the contributions of Lynn Redgrave ; he signed her to appear opposite Lewis. This was Lewis's first Broadway show, and

SECTION 10

#1732776495089

1404-536: A crooning style influenced by Harry Mills of the Mills Brothers and Perry Como . By late 1940, Martin had begun singing for Cleveland bandleader Sammy Watkins , who suggested he change his name to Dean Martin. He stayed with Watkins until at least May 1943. By fall 1943, Martin had begun performing in New York. He was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II but was discharged after 14 months due to

1521-525: A factor for the film's burial was that he was not proud of the effort. It was the earliest attempt by an American film director to address the subject of The Holocaust . Following this, Lewis took a break from the movie business for several years. His television appearances during this period included Good Morning America , The Dick Cavett Show , NBC Follies, Celebrity Sportsman, Cher , Dinah! , Tony Orlando and Dawn . As Lewis continued to appear on and annually emcee his telethons , one of

1638-707: A hernia. In October 1941, Martin married Elizabeth "Betty" Anne McDonald in Cleveland , and the couple had an apartment in Cleveland Heights for a while. They eventually had four children before divorcing in 1949. Martin attracted the attention of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Columbia Pictures , but a Hollywood contract was not forthcoming. Martin met comic Jerry Lewis at the Belmont Plaza Hotel in New York City in August 1944. According to Lewis,

1755-467: A hit, ranking with his better successes. Variety' s Gene Arneel reported independent producer Hall Bartlett 's observation, "Lewis is the only star whose pictures all turn out in the black." Lewis continued to direct more films that he co-wrote with Bill Richmond, including The Ladies Man (1961), where Lewis constructed a three-story dollhouse-like set spanning two sound stages, with the set equipped with state-of-the-art lighting and sound, eliminating

1872-725: A hit. The duo began their film careers at Paramount Pictures as ensemble players, in My Friend Irma (1949) and its sequel My Friend Irma Goes West (1950). Followed by their own series of 14 new movies, At War with the Army (1950), That's My Boy (1951), Sailor Beware (1952), Jumping Jacks (1952), The Stooge (1952), Scared Stiff (1953), The Caddy (1953), Money from Home (1953), Living It Up (1954), 3 Ring Circus (1954), You're Never Too Young (1955), Artists and Models (1955), Pardners (1956) and Hollywood or Bust (1956). The two appeared on

1989-482: A limited release by Warner Bros. , and was not well received by the critics or the public. The Day the Clown Cried (1972), a drama directed by and starring Lewis and set in a Nazi concentration camp , received only brief exposure. The film was rarely discussed by him, but he said that litigation over post-production finances and copyright prevented its completion and widespread theatrical release. He also said

2106-650: A minor hit single with " Since I Met You Baby " and made his first music video, which appeared on MTV and was created by Martin's youngest son, Ricci. On March 21, 1987, Martin's son, actor Dean Paul Martin (formerly Dino of the 1960s " teeny-bopper " rock group Dino, Desi & Billy ), died when his F-4 Phantom II jet fighter crashed while flying with the California Air National Guard . Martin's grief over his son's death left him depressed and demoralized. Lewis stated in an on-stage interview in 2005 that subsequent to his son's death Martin became

2223-574: A month after his second marriage had dissolved, Martin, at 55, married 26-year-old Catherine Hawn on April 25, 1973. Hawn had been the receptionist at the chic Gene Shacove hair salon in Beverly Hills. They divorced November 10, 1976. He was also briefly engaged to Gail Renshaw , Miss World –U.S. 1969. Eventually, Martin reconciled with Jeanne, though they never remarried. Martin and Hawn had no biological children of their own but Martin adopted Hawn's daughter, Sasha. After their divorce, Martin had

2340-600: A much publicized feud", according to an account in the Pittsburgh Press . "He would neither rehearse nor perform any songs with her, reports said." The backstage chaos extended to several sudden cast changes during the Boston run. On January 18, 1977, NBC executives flew to Boston to see the show, and their reactions were so negative that Cohen closed the show immediately and canceled both the Broadway engagement and

2457-477: A night and, when not on tour or on a film location, liked to go home to see his family. Martin borrowed the lovable-drunk shtick from Joe E. Lewis , but his convincing portrayals of heavy boozers in Some Came Running and Howard Hawks's Rio Bravo led to unsubstantiated claims of alcoholism. Martin starred in and co-produced four Matt Helm superspy comedy adventures during this time, as well as

SECTION 20

#1732776495089

2574-533: A number of Westerns . By the early 1970s, The Dean Martin Show was still earning solid ratings, and although he was no longer a Top 40 hitmaker, his record albums continued to sell. He found a way to make his passion for golf profitable by offering a signature line of golf balls, and the Dean Martin Tucson Open was an event on golf's PGA Tour from 1972 to 1975. At his death, Martin was reportedly

2691-570: A number of solo specials for NBC and starred in his adaptation of " The Jazz Singer " for Startime , then hosted the Academy Awards three times, in 1956, 1957 and 1959. The third telecast, which ran twenty minutes short, forced him to improvise to fill time. Lewis remained at Paramount and started off with his first solo film The Delicate Delinquent (1957) then starred in The Sad Sack (1957). Frank Tashlin , whose background as

2808-431: A payment of $ 10 million plus 60% of the profits for 14 films over seven years. This made Lewis the highest paid individual Hollywood talent to date and was unprecedented in that he had unlimited creative control, including final cut and the return of film rights after 30 years. Lewis's clout and box office were so strong that Barney Balaban , head of production at Paramount, told the press, "If Jerry wants to burn down

2925-618: A phonograph played offstage. He landed a gig at a burlesque house in Buffalo, but his performance fell flat and he was unable to book any more shows. To make ends meet, Lewis worked as a soda jerk and a theater usher for Suzanne Pleshette 's father, Gene Pleshette, at the Paramount Theatre as well as at Loew's Capitol Theatre , both in New York City. A veteran burlesque comedian, Max Coleman, who had worked with Lewis' father years before, persuaded him to try again. Irving Kaye,

3042-519: A pilot called Sheriff Who , a second version of The Jerry Lewis Show (this time as a one-hour variety show for NBC, which ran from 1967 to 1969), and The Danny Thomas Hour . He also appeared on Playboy After Dark , Jimmy Durante's The Lennon Sisters Hour , The Red Skelton Show , The Jack Benny Birthday Special, The Mike Douglas Show , The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour , The Hollywood Palace , The Engelbert Humperdinck Show, The Irv Kupcinet Show and The Linkletter Show . Behind

3159-414: A publicity photo of Martin, Lewis, and actress Sheree North was published on the cover of Look magazine. Martin was shocked to see Lewis and North pictured but Martin cropped off the page. The team's publicity manager, Jack Keller, remembered Martin walking on the set "with a copy of Look and he threw it right in my face and called me every vile name he could think of." Lewis recalled Martin "saying he

3276-459: A publicity photo of the team for the magazine cover but cropped Martin out. The boys did their final live nightclub act at the Copacabana on July 24, 1956. Both Lewis and Martin went on to have successful solo careers, but neither would comment on the split nor consider a reunion. Martin surprised Lewis on his appearance on The Eddie Fisher Show on September 30, 1958, appeared together at

3393-440: A punchline at the very end of the film. This was really a time-saving device; by concentrating on visual action, Lewis could film the scenes faster without bothering to remember written dialogue. Another time-saver was his innovative use of instant video playback, which allowed Lewis to review each scene on videotape immediately after filming it, thus eliminating film-laboratory delays and expenses. Trade reviewer Pete Harrison noted

3510-528: A reclusive alcoholic. Later, a tour with Davis and Sinatra in 1988, undertaken in part to help Martin recover, sputtered. Martin was married three times. He wed Elizabeth Anne "Betty" McDonald, (July 14, 1922 – July 11, 1989) of Ridley Park, Pennsylvania in 1941. The couple had four children: Martin then married Dorothy Jean "Jeanne" Biegger (March 27, 1927 – August 24, 2016), a former Orange Bowl queen from Coral Gables, Florida . Their marriage lasted 24 years (1949–1973) and produced three children: Less than

3627-462: A rendition of a song he had learned as a child, " Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody " along with " Come Rain or Come Shine ." Lewis recalled, "When I was done, the place exploded. I walked off the stage knowing I could make it on my own." At his wife's urging, Lewis used his own money to record the songs on a single. Decca Records heard it, liked it and insisted he record an album for them. The single of "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby" went to No. 10 and

Dean Martin - Misplaced Pages Continue

3744-592: A revival of Damn Yankees , Inside the Actors Studio , The Martin Short Show , The Simpsons , Late Night with Conan O'Brien , Law & Order: Special Victims Unit , The Nutty Professor II (2008), The Talk , Max Rose (2013) The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon , The Trust (2016) and Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee . Lewis "single-handedly created

3861-556: A romantic comedy, Marriage on the Rocks . Martin also co-starred with Shirley MacLaine in a number of films, including Some Came Running , Artists and Models , Career , All in a Night's Work , and What a Way to Go! He played a satiric variation of his own womanizing persona as Las Vegas singer "Dino" in Billy Wilder 's comedy Kiss Me, Stupid (1964) with Kim Novak , and Martin poked fun at his image in films such as

3978-432: A series of TV specials through 1984. For nearly a decade, Martin had recorded as many as four albums a year for Reprise Records . Martin recorded his final Reprise album, Once in a While in 1974, which was not issued until 1978. His final recordings were made for Warner Bros. Records . The Nashville Sessions was released in 1983, from which he had a hit with "(I Think That I Just Wrote) My First Country Song", which

4095-738: A small picture and brief biography in the Gazebo Park at Route 7 and North Fourth Street. The Dean Martin Hometown Festival is held over a long weekend every June in Steubenville: led by The Dean Martin Association since 2024, impersonators, friends and family, and entertainers, many of Italian ancestry, appear. In 2005, Clark County, Nevada , renamed a portion of Industrial Road as Dean Martin Drive. A similarly named street

4212-670: A socially inept scientist who invents a serum that turns him into a handsome but obnoxious ladies' man. It is often considered to be Lewis's best film. In 1963, he had a cameo in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), fully starred in Who's Minding the Store? (1963) and hosted The Jerry Lewis Show , a lavish 13-week, big-budget show which aired on ABC from September to December in 1963. Lewis next starred in The Patsy (1964), his satire about

4329-583: A square between via Sarca and via Torrente Piomba and a congress palace called Pala Dean Martin congress center in via Aldo Moro adjacent to the Porto Allegro structure (former cinema Warner). A number of Martin songs have been featured across popular culture for decades. Hits such as "Ain't That a Kick in the Head", "Sway", "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You", "That's Amore", and Martin's signature song "Everybody Loves Somebody" have been in films (such as

4446-599: A string of more new box-office successes: Three on a Couch (1966), also during this period, he appeared in Way...Way Out (1966) for 20th Century-Fox , then The Big Mouth (1967), Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River (1968) and Hook, Line & Sinker (1969). Lewis continued to make television appearances: The Merv Griffin Show , The Sammy Davis Jr. Show, Batman , Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In , Password ,

4563-422: A style of humor that was half anarchy, half excruciation. Even comics who never took a pratfall in their careers owe something to the self-deprecation Jerry introduced into American show business." Jerry Lewis was the most profoundly creative comedian of his generation and arguably one of the two or three most influential comedians born anywhere in this century. The King of Comedy , 1996 His comedy style

4680-412: A teenager, Martin played the drums as a hobby. He dropped out of Steubenville High School in the tenth grade because, according to Martin, he thought he was smarter than his teachers. Martin bootlegged liquor , worked in a steel mill, served as a croupier at a speakeasy and a blackjack dealer, and was a welterweight boxer. At 15, Martin billed himself as "Kid Crochet". His prizefighting earned him

4797-588: A third and final version of The Jerry Lewis Show, this time as a syndicated talk show for Metromedia, which was not continued beyond the scheduled five shows, directed an episode of Brothers , appeared at the first Comic Relief in 1986, where he was the only performer to receive a standing ovation, appeared for Classic Treasures , Fight for Life (1987), did a second double act with Davis Jr., hosted America's All-Time Favorite Movies and came on Speaking of Everything . While guest starring in five episodes of Wiseguy , its filming schedule forced Lewis to miss

Dean Martin - Misplaced Pages Continue

4914-491: A triple threat: they could make money from his work in nightclubs, films, and records. Randall was paid off to relinquish the role, Martin replaced him and the film turned out to be the beginning of Martin's comeback. He starred alongside Frank Sinatra for the first time in the Vincente Minnelli drama, Some Came Running (1958). By the mid-1960s, Martin was a movie, recording, television, and nightclub star. He

5031-489: Is the subject of Dean Martin's Wild Party and Dean Martin's Vegas Shindig , a pair of video slot machines found in many casinos. The games feature songs sung by Martin during the bonus feature and the count-up of a player's winnings. A compilation album called Amore! debuted at Number One on Billboard magazine's Top Pop Catalog Albums chart in its February 21, 2009, issue. Jerry Lewis Jerry Lewis (born Joseph Levitch ; March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017)

5148-724: The Matt Helm spy spoofs of the 1960s, in which he was a co-producer. In the third Matt Helm film The Ambushers (1967), Helm, about to be executed, receives a last cigarette and tells the provider, "I'll remember you from the great beyond", continuing sotto voce , "somewhere around Steubenville, I hope". As a singer, Martin copied the styles of Harry Mills (of the Mills Brothers ), Bing Crosby , and Perry Como until he developed his own and could hold his own in duets with Sinatra and Crosby. Like Sinatra, Martin could not read music, but he recorded more than 100 albums and 600 songs. His signature tune, " Everybody Loves Somebody ", knocked

5265-614: The Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami as his setting—on a small budget, with a very tight shooting schedule—Lewis shot the film during the day and performed at the hotel in the evenings. Bill Richmond collaborated with him on many of the episodic blackouts and sight gags. The film presented a new approach for the usually frenetic and highly vocal comedian: in The Bellboy Lewis doesn't speak at all—he only whistles—until

5382-700: The Hollywood Walk of Fame : one at 6519 Hollywood Boulevard for movies; the second at 1617 Vine for recordings; and a third at 6651 Hollywood Boulevard for television. In February 2009, Martin was honored with a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award . Four of his surviving children, Gail, Deana, Ricci and Gina accepted it on his behalf. In 2010, Martin received a posthumous star on the Italian Walk of Fame in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The town of origin of Dean's father, Montesilvano , dedicated to him

5499-604: The Muscular Dystrophy Association ), Lewis performed in concert stages, nightclubs, audio recordings and appeared in at least 117 film and television productions. He was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and France awarded him the Legion of Honor in 2006. Lewis was born on March 16, 1926, in Newark, New Jersey , to a Jewish family. His parents were Daniel "Danny" Levitch (1902–1980),

5616-490: The Muscular Dystrophy Association , in September 1976. Sinatra shocked Lewis by bringing Martin out on stage and as the two men embraced, the audience gave them a standing ovation and the phones lit up, resulting in one of the telethon's most profitable years up to that time. Lewis later reported the event was one of the three most memorable of his life. Lewis quipped, "So, you working?" Martin, playing drunk, replied that he

5733-843: The Museum of the Moving Image 's opening with a retrospective of his work. Lewis then attended Martin's 72nd birthday at Bally's in Las Vegas, wheeling out a cake, sang " Happy Birthday " to him and joked, "Why we broke up, I'll never know." Then starred in Cookie (1989), directed episodes of Super Force in 1990 and Good Grief in 1991 and appeared in Mr. Saturday Night (1992), The Arsenio Hall Show , The Whoopi Goldberg Show , Inside The Comedy Mind , Mad About You and Arizona Dream (1993). Then appeared for Funny Bones (1995),

5850-684: The Olympic Fund Telethon and cameoed in Road to Bali (1952). Crosby and Hope would do the same in Scared Stiff a year later. Attesting to the duo's popularity, DC Comics published The Adventures of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis from 1952 to 1957. The team appeared on What's My Line? in 1954, the 27th annual Academy Awards in 1955, The Steve Allen Show and The Today Show in 1956. Martin's participation became an embarrassment in 1954 when Look magazine published

5967-528: The Palace Theater in New York and Martin called on the phone during this period to wish him the best of luck. "I've never been happier", said Lewis. "I have peace of mind for the first time." Lewis established himself as a solo act, starting with the first of six appearances on What's My Line? from 1956 to 1966, then guest starred on The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show , Tonight Starring Jack Paar and The Ed Sullivan Show . In January 1957, Lewis did

SECTION 50

#1732776495089

6084-460: The Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, which marked a turning point in his life and career. The Sands signed him for five years to perform six weeks each year and paid him the same amount they had paid Martin and Lewis as a team. Live performances became a staple of Lewis's career and over the years he performed at casinos, theaters, and state fairs. In February 1957, Lewis followed Garland at

6201-483: The dailies . Sammy Watkins (musician) During the early 1940s, a young man going by the name of Dino Martini was the band's male vocalist. At Watkins's urging, Martini dropped the ‘i’ in his stage name and subsequently became a star in the United States under his new stage name, Dean Martin . Watkins sued Martin in July 1950 for unpaid royalties, claiming that he had only been given $ 1,000 since 1943 when Martin

6318-399: The 1959 Academy Awards closing, reunited several times publicly and sometimes privately according to interviews they gave to magazines. After ending his partnership with Martin in 1956, Lewis and his wife Patty took a vacation in Las Vegas to consider the direction of his career. He felt his life was in a crisis state: "I was unable to put one foot in front of the other with any confidence. I

6435-505: The 2008 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show ). Danny Gans portrayed Martin in the 1992 CBS miniseries Sinatra . Martin was portrayed by Joe Mantegna in the 1998 HBO movie about Sinatra and Martin titled The Rat Pack . Mantegna was nominated for both an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for the role. British actor Jeremy Northam portrayed the entertainer in the 2002 made-for-TV movie Martin and Lewis , alongside Will & Grace 's Sean Hayes as Jerry Lewis. Martin

6552-781: The Beatles ' " A Hard Day's Night " off number one in the United States in 1964. This was followed by "The Door is Still Open to My Heart", which reached number six that year. Elvis Presley was said to have been a fan of Martin, and patterned his performance of " Love Me Tender " after Martin's style. Martin, like Elvis, was influenced by country music . By 1965, some of Martin's albums, such as Dean "Tex" Martin Rides Again , Houston , Welcome to My World , and Gentle on My Mind , were composed of country and western songs by artists such as Johnny Cash , Merle Haggard , and Buck Owens . Martin hosted country performers on his TV show and

6669-562: The Front? (1970) was a World War II military comedy starring Lewis as a wealthy playboy who wants to enlist in the armed forces. Rejected, he forms his own volunteer army and infiltrates the enemy forces on the Italian front. The cast included many of Lewis's cronies, including Jan Murray , Steve Franken , Kathleen Freeman , Kenneth MacDonald , Joe Besser , and (in a broad caricature of Adolf Hitler ) Sidney Miller . The film received only

6786-605: The Hollywood social scene, and were politically influential (through Lawford's marriage to Patricia Kennedy, sister of President John F. Kennedy ). The Rat Pack was legendary for its Las Vegas Strip performances. For example, the marquee at the Sands Hotel might read "DEAN MARTIN—MAYBE FRANK—MAYBE SAMMY". Their appearances were valuable because the city would flood with wealthy gamblers. Their act (always in tuxedo) consisted of each singing individual numbers, duets and trios, along with seemingly improvised slapstick and chatter. In

6903-572: The Hollywood star-making industry, The Disorderly Orderly (1964), his final collaboration with Tashlin, appeared in a cameo on The Joey Bishop Show and starred in The Family Jewels (1965) about a young heiress who must choose among six uncles, one of whom is up to no good and out to harm the girl's beloved bodyguard who practically raised her. In 1965, Lewis went on The David Susskind Show , starred in his final Paramount-released film Boeing Boeing (1965), in which he received

7020-598: The Oscar-winning Logorama , A Bronx Tale , Casino , Goodfellas , Payback , Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol , Sexy Beast , Moonstruck , Vegas Vacation , Swingers , and Return to Me ), television series (such as American Dad! , Friends , The Sopranos , Mad Men , House MD , Samurai Jack , and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ), video games (such as The Godfather: The Game , The Godfather II , Fallout: New Vegas , and Mafia II ), and fashion shows (such as

7137-677: The R&;R AC chart. It also went to No. 36 on the R&R Country chart – the last time Martin had a song this high in the charts was in 1965, with the song " I Will ", which reached No. 10 on the Pop chart. An album of duets, Forever Cool , was released by Capitol/EMI in 2007. It features Martin's voice with Kevin Spacey , Shelby Lynne , Joss Stone , Big Bad Voodoo Daddy , Robbie Williams , McBride and others. His footprints were immortalized at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in 1964. Martin has three stars on

SECTION 60

#1732776495089

7254-547: The Rat Pack, so-called after an earlier group of social friends, the Holmby Hills Rat Pack centered on Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall , of which Sinatra had been a member (The Martin-Sinatra-Davis-Lawford-Bishop group referred to themselves as "The Summit" or "The Clan" and never as "The Rat Pack", although this has remained their identity in popular imagination). The men made films together, formed part of

7371-507: The Store? (1963), The Patsy (1964), The Disorderly Orderly (1964), The Family Jewels (1965) and Three on a Couch (1966), and portrayed Jerry Langford in Martin Scorsese 's The King of Comedy (1982) earning a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor nomination. He was an early and prominent user of video assist . From star of The Colgate Comedy Hour to host of The Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon (benefiting

7488-752: The TV spectacular, forfeiting the million-dollar payment from NBC. "It's not ready for Broadway and cannot be made so in three remaining weeks before the opening", Cohen said. Cohen's spokesman subsequently announced that the stars would be replaced: "Recasting means recasting, and that's it." Lewis went on and starred in Circus of the Stars , Pink Lady and Jeff , Hardly Working (1981, his first " comeback " film in 11 years), Late Night with David Letterman , Star Search , Cracking Up (1983, originally titled as Smorgasbord ), Slapstick (Of Another Kind) (1984) and

7605-476: The Town (later renamed as The Ed Sullivan Show ) June 20, 1948. In 1950, they signed with NBC to be one of a series of weekly rotating hosts of The Colgate Comedy Hour , a live Sunday evening broadcast. Lewis, writer for the team's nightclub act, hired Norman Lear and Ed Simmons as regular writers for their Comedy Hour material. By 1951, with an appearance at the Paramount Theatre in New York, they were

7722-521: The U.S. and number 2 in the UK, the era of the pop crooner was waning with the advent of rock and roll . Martin wanted to become a dramatic actor, known for more than slapstick comedy films. Though offered a fraction of his former salary to co-star in a war drama, The Young Lions (1958), Martin's part would be with Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift . Tony Randall already had the part, but talent agency MCA realized that with this film, Martin would become

7839-585: The US alone, over 50 million worldwide. Martin's best known songs include " Ain't That a Kick in the Head? ", " Memories Are Made of This ", " That's Amore ", " Everybody Loves Somebody ", " You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You ", " Sway ", and " Volare ". Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti on June 7, 1917, in Steubenville, Ohio , to Italian father Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti (1894–1967) and Italian-American mother Angela Crocetti ( née Barra; 1897–1966). Gaetano, who

7956-557: The album Jerry Lewis Just Sings went to No. 3 on the Billboard charts, staying near the top for four months and selling a million and a half copies. With the success of that album, he recorded additional albums More Jerry Lewis (an EP of songs from this release was released as Somebody Loves Me ), and Jerry Lewis Sings Big Songs for Little People (later reissued with fewer tracks as Jerry Lewis Sings for Children ). Non-album singles were released, and It All Depends On You hit

8073-422: The audience laughed. This success led to a series of well-paying engagements on the Eastern seaboard, culminating in a run at New York's Copacabana . The act consisted of Lewis interrupting and heckling Martin while he was trying to sing, with the two ultimately chasing each other around the stage. The secret, both said, is that they ignored the audience and played to each other. The team made its television debut on

8190-532: The bumbling everyman , Lewis used tightly choreographed, sophisticated sight gags, physical routines, verbal double-talk and malapropisms . "You cannot help but notice Lewis's incredible sense of control in regards to performing—they may have looked at times like the ravings of a madman but his best work had a genuine grace and finesse behind it that would put most comedic performers of any era to shame." They are "choreographed as exactly as any ballet, each movement and gesture coming on natural beats and conforming to

8307-420: The casino's refusal to agree to Martin's request to perform only once a night. Martin joined the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino , where he was the featured performer on the hotel's opening night of December 23, 1973, and Martin's contract required him to star in a film ( Mr. Ricco ) for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios. Martin also made a public reconciliation with Lewis on his partner's Labor Day telethon , benefiting

8424-449: The characters. In films such as The Ladies Man (1961), The Disorderly Orderly (1964), The Patsy (1964) and Cracking Up (1983), there is either neuroticism, schizophrenia, or both that drive the plot. Lewis was able to explore and dissect the psychological side of his persona, which provided a depth to the character and the films that was not present in his previous efforts. During the 1960 production of The Bellboy, Lewis pioneered

8541-591: The charts in April and May 1957, but peaked at only No. 68. Further singles were recorded and released by Lewis into the mid-1960s. But these were not Lewis's first forays into recording, nor his first appearance on the hit charts. During his partnership with Martin, they made several recordings together, charting at No. 22 in 1948 with the 1920s That Certain Party and later mostly re-recording songs highlighted in their films. In late 1956, Lewis began performing regularly at

8658-419: The first broadcast of CBS-TV network's The Ed Sullivan Show (then called The Toast Of The Town ) on June 20, 1948, with composers Rodgers and Hammerstein also appearing. Hoping to improve their act, the two hired young comedy writers Norman Lear and Ed Simmons to write their bits. With the assistance of both Lear and Simmons, the two would take their act beyond nightclubs. A radio series began in 1949,

8775-512: The great comic geniuses of all time. They were friends, as well, with Lewis acting as best man when Martin remarried in 1949. But harsh comments from critics, as well as frustration with the similarity of Martin and Lewis movies, which producer Hal Wallis refused to change, led to Martin's dissatisfaction. He put less enthusiasm into the work. Martin soldiered on during the production of the Martin & Lewis feature 3 Ring Circus (1954), when

8892-476: The late '40s and early '50s, nobody had ever seen a comedian as wild as Jerry Lewis." Placed in the context of the conservative era, his antics were radical and liberating, paving the way for future comedians Steve Martin , Richard Pryor , Andy Kaufman , Paul Reubens , and Jim Carrey . Carrey wrote: "Through his comedy, Jerry would stretch the boundaries of reality so far that it was an act of anarchy ... I learned from Jerry", and "I am because he was." Acting

9009-464: The most memorable was the 1976 show, whereas on that broadcast, unrehearsed, Sinatra offered to bring an old friend on stage. From the wings came Dean Martin, as the audience cheered. Lewis was stunned by the surprise, but he embraced Martin and they exchanged jokes for several minutes. In 1976, producer Alexander H. Cohen signed Lewis to star in a revival of Olsen and Johnson 's musical-comedy revue Hellzapoppin . "I do think that to succeed today,

9126-410: The need for boom microphones in each room. His next movie The Errand Boy (1961), used the same formula as The Bellboy , with Lewis turned loose in a movie studio for blackouts and sight gags. Lewis was also somewhat active in television. NBC released him from a long-term contract in 1960; the official reason given was that Lewis was devoting more time to his motion pictures. A more probable reason

9243-425: The overall rhythmic form which is headed to a spectacular finale: absolute catastrophe." Although Lewis made it no secret that he was Jewish, he was criticized for hiding his Jewish heritage. In several of his films—both with Martin and solo—Lewis's Jewish identity is hinted at in passing, and was never made a defining characteristic of his onscreen persona. Aside from the 1959 television movie The Jazz Singer and

9360-571: The partnership in 1956, Martin pursued a solo career as a performer and actor. He established himself as a singer, recording numerous contemporary songs as well as standards from the Great American Songbook . Martin became one of the most popular acts in Las Vegas and was known for his friendship with fellow artists Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. , who together with several others formed the Rat Pack . Starting in 1965, Martin

9477-604: The scenes, he contributed to some scripts for Filmation 's animated series Will the Real Jerry Lewis Please Sit Down , directed an episode of The Bold Ones and directed the Peter Lawford and Sammy Davis, Jr. comedy One More Time (1970), a sequel to Richard Donner 's Salt and Pepper (1968). Lewis would leave Columbia after his agreement with the studio lapsed, leaving him to produce his next movie independently. Which Way to

9594-399: The show's producer, his friend Greg Garrison , made a handshake deal giving Garrison, a pioneer TV producer in the 1950s, 50% of the show. However, the validity of that ownership is the subject of a lawsuit brought by NBCUniversal . Despite Martin's reputation as a drinker—perpetuated via his vanity license plate "DRUNKY"—his alcohol use was quite disciplined. Martin was the first to call it

9711-443: The sight gags but felt that Lewis was not a true pantomime artist: "As a mute, there are only brief moments of his work coming close to Chaplin , Jacques Tati , or Harpo Marx . Lewis, always laughed at, fails to win the viewer's heart." Lewis later revealed that Paramount was not happy about financing a "silent movie" and withdrew backing. Lewis used his own funds to cover the movie's $ 950,000 budget. The Bellboy turned out to be

9828-523: The single largest minority shareholder of RCA stock. Martin began reducing his schedule once comfortable financially. The final (1973–1974) season of his variety show was retooled into one of celebrity roasts , requiring less involvement. In the roasts, Martin and his panel of pals made fun of a variety of popular entertainment, athletic, and political figures. After the show's cancellation, NBC continued to air The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast as

9945-630: The socially charged 1960s, their jokes revolved around adult themes, such as Sinatra's womanizing and Martin's drinking, as well as Davis's race and religion. Sinatra and Martin supported the civil rights movement and refused to perform in clubs that would not allow black American or Jewish performers. Posthumously, the Rat Pack has experienced a popular revival, inspiring the George Clooney / Brad Pitt Ocean's Trilogy . In 1965, Martin launched his weekly NBC comedy-variety series, The Dean Martin Show , which ran for 264 episodes until 1974. He won

10062-668: The studio I'll give him the match!" Lewis ended his association with Hal Wallis, their last joint venture being Visit to a Small Planet (1960). His next film was Cinderfella (1960), directed by Frank Tashlin; it was supposed to be Lewis's summer release, but Paramount withheld it in preparation for a Christmas 1960 release. Paramount, needing a quickie movie for its summer 1960 schedule, insisted that Lewis must produce one. This resulted in Lewis's sudden transformation from movie clown to all-around filmmaker. He produced, directed, co-wrote, and starred in The Bellboy (1960). Using

10179-409: The technique of using video cameras and multiple closed circuit monitors, which allowed him to review his performance instantly. This was necessary since he was acting as well as directing. His techniques and methods of filmmaking, documented in his book and his USC class, enabled him to complete most of his films on time and under budget since reshoots could take place immediately instead of waiting for

10296-489: The transition from Jack Paar to Johnny Carson in 1962, and his appearance on the show scored the highest ratings thus far in late night, surpassing other guest hosts and Paar. The three major networks began a bidding war, wooing Lewis for his own talk show. Lewis then directed, co-wrote and starred in The Nutty Professor (1963). A parody of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde , it featured him as Professor Kelp ,

10413-420: The two French movies To Catch a Cop (1984) and How Did You Get In? We Didn't See You Leave (1984), both which had their distribution under Lewis's control. During this period he took the very rare dramatic role as Jerry Langford in Martin Scorsese 's The King of Comedy (1982), playing a late night TV talk-show host stalked by a delusional would-be comedian played by Robert De Niro . Later, he hosted

10530-561: The two men met initially in the lobby, where Martin approached him and said, "Hey, I saw your act, you're a funny kid." Martin was singing at the hotel's famous Glass Hat Club at the time and the two happened to be on the same bill. Martin and Lewis formed a fast friendship which led to their participation in each other's acts and the formation of a music-comedy team. Their debut together occurred at Atlantic City 's 500 Club on July 24, 1946, and they were not well received. The owner, Skinny D'Amato , warned them that if they did not come up with

10647-595: The two performed until they debuted at Atlantic City 's 500 Club as Martin and Lewis on July 25, 1946. The duo gained attention as a double act with Martin serving as the straight man to Lewis's zany antics. The inclusion of ad-libbed improvisational segments in their planned routines added a unique quality to their act and separated them from previous comedy duos. Lewis and Martin quickly rose to national prominence, first with their popular nightclub act, then as stars of their radio program The Martin and Lewis Show . The two made their television debut on CBS' Toast of

10764-444: The unreleased 1972 film The Day the Clown Cried , Lewis never appeared in a film or film role that had any ties to his Jewish heritage. When asked about this lack of Jewish portrayal in a 1984 interview, Lewis stated, "I never hid it, but I wouldn't announce it and I wouldn't exploit it. Plus the fact it had no room in the visual direction I was taking in my work." Lewis's physical movements in films received some criticism because he

10881-570: The year Martin and Lewis signed with Paramount producer Hal B. Wallis as comedy relief for the movie My Friend Irma . Their agent, Abby Greshler, negotiated one of Hollywood's best deals: although they received only $ 75,000 between them for their films with Wallis, Martin and Lewis were free to do one outside film a year, which they would co-produce through their own York Productions. They also controlled their club, record, radio, and television appearances, and through these they earned millions of dollars. In Dean & Me , Lewis calls Martin one of

10998-499: Was Joseph, after his maternal grandfather, but his birth certificate , the 1930 U. S. Census , and the 1940 U. S. Census all named him as Jerome. Reports about the hospital where he was born conflict as well; biographer Shawn Levy claims Lewis was born at Clinton Private Hospital and others report it as Newark Beth Israel Hospital . Other aspects of his early life conflict with accounts made by family members, burial records, and vital records . In his teenage years, Lewis

11115-528: Was a barber, was originally from Montesilvano, Pescara , and Angela was born December 18, 1897, in Fernwood, Ohio . Angela's father, Domenico Barra, emigrated from Monasterolo del Castello , Bergamo. Martin's first language was Italian and he spoke no English until starting school at the age of five. Martin attended Grant Elementary School in Steubenville, where he was bullied for his broken English . As

11232-469: Was a success. The show's loose format featured quick-witted improvisation from Martin and his weekly guests. This prompted a battle between Martin and NBC censors, who insisted on more scrutiny of the content. He later had trouble with NBC for his off-the-cuff use of obscene Italian phrases, which brought complaints from viewers who spoke the language. The show was often in the Top Ten. Martin, appreciative of

11349-561: Was among the most popular acts in Las Vegas , where he sang and was a comedian, benefiting from the decade of comedy with Lewis. Martin's daughter, Gail, also sang in Vegas and on many TV shows including his, co-hosting his summer replacement series on NBC. Daughter Deana Martin continues to perform, as did youngest son Ricci Martin until his death in August 2016. Eldest son Craig was a producer on Martin's television show and daughter Claudia

11466-618: Was an American comedian, filmmaker, actor, humanitarian and singer, who was famously nicknamed "The King of Comedy" and appeared in more than 59 motion pictures. These included a series of sixteen Martin and Lewis films with Dean Martin as his partner during their 10-year act in radio, stage, television and film. He then acted without Martin in Visit to a Small Planet (1960), Cinderfella (1960), The Bellboy (1960), The Errand Boy (1961), The Ladies Man (1961), It's Only Money (1962), The Nutty Professor (1963), Who's Minding

11583-444: Was an actress in films such as For Those Who Think Young . Though thought of as promiscuous, Martin spent a lot of time with his family; as second wife Jeanne put it, prior to the couple's divorce, "He was home every night for dinner." As Martin's solo career grew, he and Frank Sinatra became friends. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Martin and Sinatra, along with friends Joey Bishop , Peter Lawford , and Sammy Davis Jr. , formed

11700-538: Was appearing "at the 'Meggum ' " (meaning the MGM Grand Hotel). This, with the death of Martin's son Dean Paul Martin more than a decade later, helped bring the two men together. They maintained a quiet friendship, but only performed again once, on Martin's 72nd birthday in 1989. Martin returned to films briefly with appearances in the star-laden, critically panned but commercially successful The Cannonball Run and its sequel Cannonball Run II . He also had

11817-461: Was completely unnerved to be alone." While there, he received an urgent request from his friend Sid Luft , who was Judy Garland 's husband and manager, saying that she couldn't perform that night in Las Vegas because of strep throat , and asking Lewis to fill in. Lewis had not sung alone on stage since he was five years old, twenty-five years before. He delivered jokes and clowned with the audience while Garland sat off-stage, watching. He then sang

11934-627: Was dedicated in 2008 in Rancho Mirage, California . Martin's family was presented a gold record in 2004 for Dino: The Essential Dean Martin , his fastest-selling album, which also hit the iTunes Top 10, and in 2006 it was certified "Platinum". There is a street named after Martin in San Antonio, Texas . For the week ending December 23, 2006, the Dean Martin and Martina McBride duet of " Baby, It's Cold Outside " reached No. 7 on

12051-476: Was diagnosed with lung cancer at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in September 1993. He was told that he would require surgery to prolong his life, but he rejected it. Martin retired from public life in early 1995 and died of acute respiratory failure resulting from emphysema at his Beverly Hills home on Christmas Day, 1995, at the age of 78. The lights of the Las Vegas Strip were dimmed in his honor. Martin

12168-438: Was fed up to the ears playing a stooge. One morning he arrived an hour late on the set and stared daggers at me. 'Anytime you wanta call it quits, just let me know.'" Martin was chagrined by the situation: "Why the hell should I come in on time? There's not a damn thing for me to do." In later years Martin reflected on the working conditions during 3 Ring Circus : "There was no sense of me being in that picture at all. The picture

12285-614: Was interred at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles. The crypt features the epitaph " Everybody loves somebody sometime ", the first line of his signature song. In 1997, Ohio Route 7 through Steubenville was rededicated as Dean Martin Boulevard. Road signs bearing an Al Hirschfeld caricature of Martin's likeness designate the stretch with a historical marker bearing

12402-578: Was knocked out. Martin knocked out King in the first round of an amateur boxing match. Martin gave up boxing to work as a roulette stickman and croupier in an illegal casino behind a tobacco shop, where he had started as a stock boy. At the same time, he sang with local bands, calling himself "Dino Martini" (after the Metropolitan Opera tenor Nino Martini ). Martin got his break working for the Ernie McKay Orchestra . He sang in

12519-650: Was known as Dude in Rio Bravo (1959), directed by Howard Hawks and also starring John Wayne and singer Ricky Nelson . Martin teamed again with Wayne in The Sons of Katie Elder (1965), cast as brothers. In 1960, Martin was cast in the film version of the Judy Holliday stage musical comedy Bells Are Ringing . He won a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in the 1960 film comedy Who Was That Lady? , but continued to seek dramatic roles, portraying

12636-453: Was known for pulling pranks in his neighborhood, including sneaking into kitchens to steal fried chicken and pies. He was expelled from Weequahic High School in the ninth grade and dropped out of Irvington High School in the tenth grade. Lewis said that he ceased using the names Joseph and Joey as an adult to avoid being confused with Joe E. Lewis and Joe Louis . By age 15, Lewis had developed his "Record Act", miming lyrics to songs while

12753-485: Was married to Lou Costello 's daughter Carole (1938–1987) until her death from a stroke at age 48. Dean Martin bred Andalusian horses at his Hidden Valley Ranch, Thousand Oaks Ventura County, California. Martin volunteered to perform fundraisers for the Bergson Group in the late 1940s. Although a Republican, Martin supported Democratic candidate Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. Martin, a lifelong heavy smoker,

12870-677: Was named "Man Of the Year" by the Country Music Association in 1966. The final album of his recording career was 1983's The Nashville Sessions . The image of Martin as a Vegas entertainer in a tuxedo has been an enduring one. " Ain't That a Kick in the Head? ", a song Martin performed in Ocean's 11 , did not become a hit at the time, but has enjoyed a revival in the media and pop culture and has been his most frequently played song in media for two decades. For three decades, Martin

12987-405: Was on 35 minutes before I sang one song. Then it was an old one, 'It's a Big, Wide Wonderful World', and I sang it to animals." Martin lived up to his contract and remained with Lewis until the agreement expired on July 25, 1956, 10 years to the day from the first teaming. Martin's first solo film, Ten Thousand Bedrooms (1957), was a box-office failure. Although " Volare " reached number 15 in

13104-404: Was perceived as imitating or mocking those with a physical disability.  Through the years, the disability that has been attached to his comedic persona has not been physical, but mental. Neuroticism and schizophrenia have been a part of Lewis's persona since his partnership with Dean Martin; however, it was in his solo career that these disabilities became important to the plots of his films and

13221-424: Was physically uninhibited, expressive, and potentially volatile. He was known especially for his distinctive voice, facial expressions, pratfalls, and physical stunts. His improvisations and ad-libbing, especially in nightclubs and early television were revolutionary among performers. It was "marked by a raw, edgy energy that would distinguish him within the comedy landscape." Will Sloan, of Flavorwire wrote, "In

13338-503: Was recorded with Conway Twitty and made a respectable showing on the country charts. A follow-up single, "L.A. Is My Home"/"Drinking Champagne", came in 1985. The 1974 film drama Mr. Ricco marked Martin's final starring role, in which he played a criminal defense lawyer. In 1972, Martin filed for divorce from his second wife, Jeanne. A week later, his business partnership with the Riviera hotel in Las Vegas dissolved amid reports of

13455-540: Was so eagerly awaited that NBC-TV promised Cohen $ 1,000,000 for the rights to broadcast the opening night live on national television. Out-of-town tryouts were staged in Washington, DC , Baltimore , and Boston to excellent business but mixed reviews. There was turmoil behind the scenes, as comedy star Lewis dominated the production and had serious arguments with producer Cohen, co-star Redgrave, and writer-adaptor Abe Burrows . "Lewis and Miss Redgrave had been having

13572-463: Was the difficulty in finding a weekly television vehicle for Lewis. (NBC did announce two series in development, "Permanent Waves" and "The Comedy Concert.") Lewis's TV appearances were usually guest shots. He appeared in The Wacky World of Jerry Lewis, Celebrity Golf, The Garry Moore Show , The Soupy Sales Show, It's Only Money (1962) and guest hosted The Tonight Show during

13689-499: Was the host of the television variety program The Dean Martin Show , which centered on Martin's singing and comedic talents and was characterized by his relaxed, easy-going demeanor. From 1974 to 1984, Martin was roastmaster on the popular Dean Martin Celebrity Roast , which drew celebrities, comedians and politicians. Throughout his career, Martin performed in concert stages, nightclubs, audio recordings and appeared in 85 film and television productions and sold 12 million records in

#88911