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Actor, singer; born
Dino Paul Crocetti, in Steubenville, Ohio on June 7, 1917, the
younger of two sons born of Italian immigrants. Had one brother,
Bill. Martin attended Grant Elementary School in Steubenville, Ohio,
and took up the drums as a hobby as a teenager. After dropping out
of Steubenville High School in the tenth grade, he worked odd jobs,
including part-time as an amateur welterweight boxer under the name
"Kid Crochet." Martin also dabbled in illegal activities,
including driving liquor across state lines during prohibition,
selling lottery tickets, acting as a bookie, and working as a card
dealer and croupier in local gambling joints. Martin began a
successful club act with Jerry Lewis which lasted for several years,
with Dean playing the straight man to Lewis' clown. When he joined
the pack he fit right in as a hard-partying type, yet his image as a
heavy drinker was an act - his glass on stage at the Sands was
always filled with apple juice.
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