Ex-wife of Dean Martin dies at 89

Former model Jeanne Martin, ex-wife of actor Dean Martin, has passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer. She was 89.

She died yesterday at her Beverly Hills home, her family announced, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Their youngest son, musician Ricci Martin, died earlier this month.

Born Dorothy Jean Biegger on March 27, 1927, in Coral Gables, Florida, she went by Jeanne when she began modeling in Miami. She was voted Orange Bowl queen in 1947.

A year later, she came to the Beachcomber Club in Miami to see a New Year's Eve show starring Martin and Lewis.

Jeanne maintained she had never heard of either entertainer until that night.
 

A week after Martin was granted a divorce from first wife Betty McDonald, he and 22-year-old Jeanne Biegger wed on September 1, 1949.

Matriarch of their large family, she gave birth to three of Dean's children while raising four more from his previous marriage.

For 20 years, they were viewed as one of Hollywood's happiest couples until on December 10, 1969, Jeanne issued a statement that they were parting ways.

Their break-up in 1969 caused nearly as much distress to Martin's fans as his professional split with partner Jerry Lewis had in 1956.

The divorce wasn't finalised until 1972. Dean Martin was wed once more, to Catherine Hawn, a hair-salon receptionist, and legally adopted her daughter, Sasha, but that union ended in 1976. Jeanne never remarried.

The pair became reacquainted in 1987 when one of their sons, actor Dean Paul Martin, was killed at 35 while piloting a military jet. Jeanne and Dean remained on good terms until his death from respiratory failure on Christmas Day 1995.

Eldest daughter Claudia Martin died of breast cancer in 2001. Their youngest son, musician Ricci Martin, died on August 3.

She is survived by son Craig Martin; daughters Gail Martin Downey, Deana Martin Griffeth and Gina Martin Romano, and 11 grandchildren. Funeral services will be private.