Martin's variety show contract was utterly remarkable in how little he was required to participate. Martin felt he performed better cold and took notice of Fred MacMurray's long-standing 65-day "on the set" contract for producer Don Fedderson for My Three Sons. He succeeded in reaching a new plateau on that one by only be contractually required to appear on the set during the taping. All guest stars, no matter how "big" were required to rehearse with stand-ins (see Greg Garrison). As a result, Martin would often happily flub his lines, to the delight of his audience. More often than not, he'd leave the stage and be seen driving off the studio lot in his sports car before taping concluded.
Member of the "Rat Pack" with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. All appeared in Ocean's Eleven (1960).
Much of the "booze" that he drank on stage during his famous "Rat Pack" performances was really apple juice. (Son Dean Paul Martin spilled this secret, after the variety show ended production, stating that his father couldn't have performed if he'd really drunk that much liquor.)
Nephew of actor/comedian Leonard Barr.
Once employed as a steelworker.
One of his favorite hobbies during his reclusive final years was watching westerns on television - the older the better.
Son-in-law was the late Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys (married to Dean's daughter Gina).
Starred (with Jerry Lewis) on NBC Radio's "The Martin and Lewis Show" (1949-1953).
The line "Everybody loves somebody sometime" is written on his grave.
Underwent rhinoplasty when he was 27. The procedure was rumored to have been paid for by Lou Costello among others.
When 20th Century-Fox fired Marilyn Monroe as his co-star in Something's Got to Give (1962) and then attempted to replace her with Lee Remick, he reminded the studio that he had contractual approval of his co-star, and refused to continue the project without Monroe. His act of loyalty eventually got Marilyn re-hired, but she died of a drug overdose before shooting on this never-finished film could resume.