The Last Hours of...Dean Martin

On Christmas Day 1995, Dean Martin, nicknamed the “King of Cool”, died at the age of 78, leaving behind a five decade legacy in music, movies, and television. Dean Martin started life in the limelight as a crooner in local bars and clubs, but quickly shot to international stardom as a singer, releasing over 30 albums, and even knocking The Beatles off the top spot in the charts with his hit rendition of “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometimes.” He started his acting character as one half of the comedy duo, “Martin and Lewis” with Jerry Lewis, but after 10 years he cut ties and decided to go it alone. He subsequently starred in more than 40 movies, from Westerns with John Wayne to Oceans 11 with Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Junior, with whom he would join forces in movies, on stage and television. The press dubbed them “The Rat Pack”. Dean went on to host his very own TV show, “The Dean Martin Show”, which earned him a Golden Globe award for Best Male Television Star. But 50 years in the limelight took its toll on this popular entertainer. He chain smoked his whole life and was a drinking man, even using alcohol as a prop for a convincing “drunky” stage persona. However, one tragic moment in 1987 would see Dean Martin’s life unravel. During the last 8 years of his life his alcohol intake spiralled out of control and he became dependent on opioid painkillers. He died at the age 78 of respiratory arrest. As a lifelong smoker he developed Emphysema and later, lung cancer. However, world renowned forensic pathologist, Dr Michael Hunter doesn’t think this is the whole story. He needs to delve deep into Dean Martin’s records to discover whether there was, in fact, something else going on in Dean’s body that contributed to his eventual demise.