Inside Dean Martin’s $1.8m Lavish Home Where He Hung Out with Family & Hosted Rat Pack Mates

Before his death, renowned entertainer Dean Martin was famous for various reasons, including hosting lavish parties in his luxury mansion. In 2018, the house was put up for sale at $1.8 million. Take a look inside the state-of-the-art building.

The late actor, singer, and comedian Dean Martin was one of the greatest figures in the entertainment industry in the mid-20th century. Often described as "The King of Cool," the show business legend was famous for his charisma and his good sense of humor.

A man of many talents, Martin built a successful career that spanned several years, and to this day, he is still remembered as one of the best performers in Hollywood. Here is a look into the icon's life on the big screen and away from the camera.

WHAT WAS MARTIN'S CAREER LIKE?

Martin became famous in 1946 alongside fellow comedian Jerry Lewis in a comedy-musical act called "Martin & Lewis." The pair began performing in clubs, and soon, they worked their way up to television, radio, and record deals.

However, the duo separated in 1956, and each pursued individual careers. Soon after, the actor became a movie star, starring in films like "The Young Lions" and "Some Came Running."

While filming the latter movie, Martin met Frank Sinatra, and the pair became best friends. They eventually formed the group "Rat Pack," which also had Sammy Davis Jr as a member.

Martin was also an amazing singer. He had several hit songs throughout the 1960s, like "The Door Is Still Open To My Heart" and "Everybody Loves Somebody."

The entertainer managed his singing and acting talents successfully. In 1965, he starred on NBC's comedy-variety series "The Dean Martin Show," which ran until 1974.

MARTIN'S LAST YEARS

For the following twenty years, the Hollywood star reduced his workload and only appeared in a few films and concert specials with the Rat Pack. Sadly, in 1988, he was diagnosed with a kidney condition and was forced to quit the group.

Five years later, Martin was diagnosed with lung cancer and refused surgery to prolong his life. He died during the early hours of December 25, 1995, at his home in Beverly Hills. The renowned singer was 78 years old.

MARTIN — A PROUD FAMILY MAN

For many of the famous fathers in Hollywood today, family life is precious because there is so little of it to go around. However, it was slightly different for the famous husbands and fathers of the 1950s and 1960s.

Martin was one of such men who was focused on being an amazing family man. In the 78 years he lived, the "The Door Is Still Open To My Heart" singer was married three times and had eight children — seven biological and one adopted.

His first marriage was to Elizabeth Anne "Betty" McDonald in 1941. Their union yielded four children — Craig, Claudia, Gail, and Deanna.

The couple's union was short-lived, and after a few years, they called it quits in 1949. Upon their divorce, Martin won custody of the children. Shortly after his first divorce, the acclaimed actor married his second wife, Dorothy Jean "Jeanne" Biegger.

Throughout his stay in the lavish home, Martin made sure to host parties, where he invited several Hollywood stars.

The pair stayed married for more than two decades before going their separate ways. They welcomed three children together, Dean Paul — who died during a crash in 1987 — Ricci and Gina.

Martin's third marriage was to Catherine Hawn, and it lasted only three years. And although they did not have any biological children, he adopted Hawn's daughter, Sasha.

MARTIN'S PALM SPRINGS LUXURY HOME

To date, Martin is remembered for his tremendous professional successes, and his love for luxury is still talked about.

Before he passed away, the award-winning artist was the proud owner of a lavish apartment located at 447 W. Mariscal Road in the Palm Springs neighborhood.

The neighborhood did not just consist of luxury houses for individuals and families; other buildings were also used for certain events. Martin often joined his Rat Pack buddies David Jr and Sinatra for several charity performances at the Palm Springs Riviera Resort.

The Palm Springs neighborhood, designed by Architects Krisel and Palmer, boasted 330 homes. Apart from Martin's apartment, the homes of celebrities like Joan Collins, Kirk Douglas, Elvis Presley, and Marilyn Monroe were situated in that environment.

THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR

Martin's home, known as "The Tea Dance House," was built in 1954 and is seated on 2,342 square feet. The interior of the home consists of three bedrooms and three bathrooms.

Furthermore, it has a grand white piano sitting in the living room, alongside several art collections. The fireplace, expensive floor-to-ceiling walls of glass doors, white terrazzo flooring are best described as a masterpiece.

The kitchen is fully equipped with dual dishwashers, a wine refrigerator, ice maker, dual ovens, refrigerators, and a six-burner gas cooktop.

The home furnishings are well made and designed by some of the best interior designers, furniture designers, and architects like Milo Baughman, Miles Van der Rohe, and Warren Platner.

While the inside speaks of luxury, the exterior of the house is not any different. The outdoor vicinity offers a beautiful view of the San Jacinto Mountains.

The backyard is properly beautified by nature, consisting of palm trees, citrus trees, and a grass lawn. It also has a swimming pool, spa, and a two-car garage.

A HOME FOR PARTIES

Throughout his stay in the lavish home, Martin made sure to host parties, where he invited several Hollywood stars of the 1960s era. Every Sunday afternoon, he and his second wife would organize tea dances, hence the home's nickname.

The couple occupied their home for several years before selling it off. In 2018, the home was put up for sale at $1.8 million. It was listed with The Agency and sold, fully furnished. Further details about the sale of the mansion remain unclear.