Dean Paul Martin

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Dean Paul Martin Jr. (born Dino Paul Crocetti Jr.; November 17, 1951 – March 21, 1987) was an American pop singer and actor. He was the son of entertainer Dean Martin and grew up in Santa Monica, California.

Early life
Dean Paul was the fifth of Dean Martin’s eight children and the oldest son with his mother, Jeanne Biegger. He attended Urban Military Academy in Brentwood and was encouraged to pursue singing from a young age.

Music
At 13, he joined the pop group Dino, Desi & Billy with Desi Arnaz Jr. and Billy Hinsche. The group had a few major hits in 1965, including “I’m a Fool” (reaching the Billboard Top 30) and “Not the Lovin’ Kind.”

Tennis
In his late teens, he started using the name Dean Paul Martin and pursued tennis, even competing in Wimbledon qualifying.

Acting
Dean Paul co-starred with Ali MacGraw in the 1979 film Players, playing a professional tennis player and earning a Golden Globe nomination for New Star of the Year. He later starred in the TV series Misfits of Science (1985–1986) with Courteney Cox. His final film, Backfire, was released in 1988 after his death and was dedicated to his memory.

Aviation
An avid pilot, he earned his pilot’s license at 16 and joined the California Air National Guard in 1980. Through the Palace Chase program, he completed officer training and became a captain, flying F-4 Phantom II jets with the 196th Tactical Fighter Squadron at March Air Force Base, California.

Death
On March 21, 1987, during a training flight from March AFB, his F-4 jet crashed in the San Bernardino Mountains amid a snowstorm, killing him and his weapons systems officer, Captain Ramon Ortiz. He was 35. The crash occurred after the jet reportedly lost altitude and struck the mountainside at high speed. His remains were buried at the Los Angeles National Cemetery in California.

Personal life
Dean Paul married actress Olivia Hussey in 1971; they had one child and divorced in 1978. He then married Olympic gold medalist Dorothy Hamill in 1982; they divorced in 1984. He dated Candice Bergen and Tina Sinatra. In 1974 he was arrested for possession of unregistered machine guns and an anti-tank cannon; he pleaded guilty, was fined, and received probation.