Dino, Desi, & Billy was a 1960s teen trio formed from the sons of two celebrity musicians, Desi Arnaz Jr. and Dino Martin, and their friend Billy Hinsche. They released five boy-band style albums between 1964 and 1969, plus a lot of singles. Some of them charted, mostly because the guys were famous and rather cute.
Dino was Dean Paul Martin, the son of Rat Packer Dean Martin. He was very rich, very famous, and sort of talented, but not very focused. He was good at so many things that he couldn't decide on one.
After his group disbanded, Dino played professional tennis and semi-pro football; he got his pilot's license; he studied medicine; joined the National Guard. He started calling himself Dean Paul instead of Dino. He changed into a blond. He developed a spectacular physique.
And he acted, of course. Not a lot -- he was too busy. 7 movies, mostly in roles as playboys or a woman's illcit lover; some guest spots on tv shows (including his Dad's Dean Martin Comedy Hour), and some "as himself" appearances on talk shows and game shows.
His most substantial role was in Misfits of Science (1985-86) as Dr. Billy Hayes, the hetero-horny scientist who drives around in an ice cream truck with a group of rowdy teenage superheroes. Kevin Peter Hall (left) had the ability to shrink. A pre-Friends Courteney Cox played a juvenile delinquent with telekinetic powers
More after the break
Friday night in West Hollywood? On those rare occasions when I was home, I watched Mr. Belvedere for obvious reasons (Rob Stone, sigh).
He died in 1987 when the small plane he was flying crashed.
His son, Alexander Martin, is also an actor.
See also: Michael Cade: California Dreams, Chaplin, Devils, and That Chest. With a n*de Aaron and the Greek God Pan
