Dean Martin Martin. Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995), was an Italian-American singer, actor, comedian, and producer. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool" for his seemingly effortless charisma and self-assurance. He and Jerry Lewis formed the immensely popular comedy duo Martin and Lewis, with Martin serving as the straight man to Lewis' slapstick hijinks. A member of the "Rat Pack", Martin went on to become a star of concert stages, nightclubs, audio recordings, motion pictures, and television. Martin was
Jerry Lewis and was unprecedented in that he had unlimited creative control, including final cut, and the return of film rights after 30 years. Lewis' clout and box office were so strong that Barney Balaban, the head of production at Paramount at that time, told the press, "If Jerry wants to burn down the studio I'll give him the match!" He had finished his film contract with Wallis with "Visit to a Small Planet" (1960) and wrapped up production on his own film "Cinderfella" (1960), with Ed Wynn and directed by Tashlin. The movie was postponed for a Christmas 1960 release. Paramount