You know him as the smooth crooner, the charismatic performer who made it all look so effortless. Dean Martin, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, a glass of scotch in hand, and a microphone at the ready, seemed like the picture of spontaneity. Picture this: he’d stride onto the stage, cracking jokes, belting out timeless hits like "Volare" and "That's Amore," and engaging the crowd in a way that made everyone feel like they were part of the show. For over three decades, Dean was a Las Vegas legend, drawing crowds with his laid-back charm and undeniable talent.
The Man Behind the Myth
But here's the thing—Dean's "scotch-swilling barfly" persona? Yeah, that was all part of the act. As Deana Martin, his daughter and executive producer of the new documentary Dean Martin: King of Cool, tells Closer Weekly, "He made it look so easy, like he was just having fun, but he worked really, really hard." The documentary, which premieres November 19 on TCM, aims to peel back the layers and reveal the real Dean Martin—a man who often sipped apple juice during performances instead of scotch. Surprising, right?
Dean Martin: The Quiet Man
Now, while many people in Dean’s life, including at least one of his three wives, might say he kept people at arm's length, Deana offers a different perspective. She understood her father in a way that many others didn’t. "He spent his whole life talking and entertaining—and he was just so funny—so sometimes he just wanted to be quiet," she reveals. For Dean, downtime wasn't about late-night parties or endless chatter. Instead, he craved simplicity: a quiet evening, a good night's sleep, and a round of golf in the morning. "He didn’t need chitchat. He didn’t need to have a lot of people around. He wanted to go to bed early and get up to play golf," Deana explains.
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A Day in Dean’s Perfect Life
So, what did a perfect Sunday look like for Dean Martin? It started with a morning round of golf, a passion that gave him peace and relaxation. Then, it was time for a big family dinner. "It’s a big table with a lot of people—seven kids and my grandparents," Deana recalls fondly. "My dad would be there, just loving all of it." These family dinners were more than just meals; they were moments of connection and joy for Dean, who tried his best to be home for supper every night.
Despite his love for family, Dean wasn’t your typical "hands-on" dad in the modern sense. "He was a great dad, but he was busy, so he couldn’t pick me up from ballet lessons," Deana admits. But don’t get me wrong—Dean had his moments. Once, when Deana begged him to take her shopping for a suede coat for her 16th birthday, he left his golf game to make it happen. "He was so cute. The sales ladies were running around. And I’m asking, ‘Should it be suede or should it be leather?’ He was like, ‘Get the suede. Can I go now?’" Deana recalls with a laugh.
The Legacy of a Legend
Dean’s charm wasn’t just a trait; it was a gift passed down from his mother, Angela, who joked that he inherited all the charm in the family. He put that charm to work in a career that spanned five decades, encompassing slapstick comedy, hit records, wildly successful television shows, and roles in both comedic and dramatic films. "If he was ever nervous about doing anything, he never showed it," Deana says. "He had that great talent, and I think he always knew he’d succeed. But if it hadn’t happened for him, I think that he probably would have been happy as a golfer."
Dean’s breezy confidence earned him the title of "King of Cool" from none other than Elvis Presley. Deana recalls the moment when Elvis took her hand and leaned down to say, "You know, Deana, they call me the King of Rock and Roll. But your dad, he’s the King of Cool." A title that perfectly encapsulates Dean Martin’s enduring legacy.
— Reporting by Amanda Champagne-Meadows
For more on this story, pick up the latest issue of Closer magazine, on newsstands now.
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