Catherine Hawn was Dean Martin’s third wife from 1973 to 1976. A former salon receptionist from Ohio, she married the legendary entertainer at 25. After their divorce, she retreated from public life entirely, making her last appearance at Dean’s 1995 funeral.
When you marry one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, the world expects you to stay in the spotlight. Catherine Hawn did the opposite. She married Dean Martin in 1973, stepped into Hollywood glamour for three years, then walked away completely. No tell-all books. No interviews. No social media presence. She simply disappeared.
Her story raises a question many people find fascinating: how does someone connected to a legend like Dean Martin vanish so completely? This article covers Catherine Hawn’s life before fame, her marriage to the “King of Cool,” and the private life she built after their divorce.
Who Is Catherine Hawn?
Early Life in Ohio
Catherine Mae Hawn was born on November 30, 1947, in Steubenville, Ohio. Details about her childhood remain scarce. She grew up in a working-class environment, far removed from Hollywood’s glitz. Nothing in her early years suggested she would one day marry one of America’s most beloved entertainers.
By her early twenties, Catherine had moved to California. She found work as a receptionist at Gene Shacove’s hair salon on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. The salon attracted Hollywood’s elite, giving Catherine daily exposure to celebrities without being one herself.
Working at a Celebrity Hotspot
The Gene Shacove salon wasn’t just any workplace. It was where stars went to look their best. Catherine managed appointments, greeted famous clients, and handled the demands of a high-profile business. She learned how to navigate celebrity culture from the service side.
This experience proved valuable. She understood the pressures of fame before experiencing them personally. Working at the salon also put her in Dean Martin’s path, changing her life completely.
Meeting Dean Martin
How They Connected
Dean Martin was already twice divorced when he walked into the salon. At 55, he was at the height of his career but also slowing down. His NBC variety show was winding down, and he was seeking more personal time.
According to Ricci Martin’s memoir That’s Amore: A Son Remembers Dean Martin, a family friend named Frank Calcagnini introduced them. Frank had dated Dean’s second wife Jeanne after their divorce, creating an unusual connection. When Catherine and Dean met, they clicked immediately.
Catherine was 25 years old, three decades younger than Dean. She was blonde, calm, and refreshingly normal compared to Hollywood types. Dean had been married to performers before. Catherine offered something different: authenticity and groundedness.
A Quick Courtship
Their relationship moved fast. Dean had finalized his divorce from Jeanne Biegger in February 1973. By April, he was marrying Catherine. The speed raised eyebrows across Hollywood, but Dean seemed certain about his decision.
Catherine brought a daughter named Sasha from a previous relationship. Dean adopted Sasha during their marriage, showing his commitment to building a family with Catherine. This gesture meant everything to her.
The Lavish 1973 Wedding
Hollywood’s Most Extravagant Ceremony
On April 25, 1973, Catherine and Dean married at his Bel Air estate. The wedding cost between $50,000 and $100,000, equivalent to roughly $350,000 to $600,000 today. Dean spared no expense.
The ceremony featured flowers imported from France, including rare lilacs. Twenty-two cages filled with white doves were released during the event. The guest list included Hollywood royalty, with Frank Sinatra attending and later calling it one of the most beautiful weddings he’d ever witnessed.
Catherine wore an elegant white gown. Photos from that day show her beaming beside Dean, who looked equally happy. For one afternoon, a former receptionist became the bride at Hollywood’s wedding of the year.
Life as Mrs. Dean Martin
After the wedding, Catherine’s life transformed overnight. She appeared on The Merv Griffin Show in November 1973 as Dean Martin’s wife. Magazine covers featured the couple at restaurants and events. Getty Images captured them at Chasen’s Restaurant and the Candy Store in Beverly Hills.
Catherine handled the attention gracefully. She attended awards show pre-parties and Hollywood functions. Despite the spotlight, friends noted she never seemed comfortable with fame. She was there to support Dean, not to become a celebrity herself.
Marriage Challenges and Divorce
Age Gap and Family Dynamics
The 30-year age difference created challenges. Dean had seven children from previous marriages, ranging from teenagers to adults. His priorities were divided among his career, existing family, and his new wife.
Catherine focused on raising Sasha and adjusting to her new role. The age gap and different lifestyles led to many issues between them. Dean was winding down his career while Catherine was just starting her adult life.
Dean’s lingering feelings for Jeanne Biegger also complicated matters. Although he didn’t act on them during his marriage to Catherine, he reconciled with Jeanne shortly after their divorce, showing how attached he remained to his second wife.
The 1976 Split
The marriage ended in November 1976 after just over three years. They filed for divorce citing “irreconcilable differences.” Unlike many Hollywood divorces, theirs was handled privately. No tabloid battles. No public accusations. Just a quiet ending to a high-profile marriage.
The exact reasons remained private. Some sources suggested Dean’s connection to Jeanne played a role. Others mentioned Catherine’s discomfort with celebrity life. Whatever the cause, both handled the split with dignity.
| Marriage Timeline | Details |
|---|---|
| Wedding Date | April 25, 1973 |
| Dean’s Age | 55 years old |
| Catherine’s Age | 25 years old |
| Divorce Filed | November 1976 |
| Marriage Length | 3 years, 7 months |
| Adopted Child | Sasha (Catherine’s daughter) |
Life After Dean Martin
Choosing Privacy Over Fame
After the divorce, Catherine made a remarkable choice. She stepped away from Hollywood completely. No book deals. No interviews. No attempts to leverage her connection to Dean for opportunities.
She focused on raising Sasha away from media attention. While many celebrity ex-spouses stay in the public eye, Catherine prioritized normalcy for her daughter. This decision reflected her values and her desire to protect her family.
Dean married briefly a fourth time but spent his final years single. Catherine embraced independence and built a private life separate from entertainment.
The Last Public Appearance
Catherine maintained her silence for nearly two decades. Her last known public appearance came on December 25, 1995, at Dean Martin’s funeral. She attended quietly, mourning privately rather than seeking media attention.
The funeral brought together Dean’s ex-wives and family. Catherine’s presence showed she held no bitterness about their past. She paid her respects and then disappeared again.
Where Is Catherine Hawn Today?
As of 2025, Catherine is 77 years old and still living a private life in the United States. No social media accounts exist in her name. She gives no interviews. She attends no Hollywood events.
Her whereabouts remain unknown to the public. This isn’t an accident—it’s a deliberate choice. In an era where everyone seeks attention online, Catherine’s sustained privacy feels almost impossible. Yet she’s managed it for nearly 50 years.
Catherine Hawn’s Legacy
What Her Story Teaches Us
Catherine Hawn’s life offers valuable lessons about fame, privacy, and personal choices. She experienced Hollywood glamour but chose substance over spotlight. She could have written books or given interviews but valued privacy more than profit.
Her story reminds us that you can have a connection to fame without letting it define you. You can experience extraordinary moments and then return to ordinary life. This perspective feels especially relevant today when everyone with a camera phone seeks their 15 minutes.
Setting Herself Apart
Most celebrity ex-spouses follow a predictable pattern. They write memoirs. They appear on reality shows. They build careers around their famous connections. Catherine rejected this entirely.
She never exploited her marriage to Dean for financial gain beyond any divorce settlement she received. Her net worth is estimated around $2 million, primarily from her brief marriage. But she earned that through the marriage itself, not through capitalizing on Dean’s name afterward.
Respect for Her Choices
Catherine’s sustained privacy deserves respect. She owes the public nothing. Her three years with Dean Martin were just that—three years. She’s lived 49 years since then, building a life on her own terms.
The lack of information about her current life isn’t a failure of research. It’s a success story of someone who set boundaries and maintained them despite tremendous curiosity about her life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Catherine Hawn still alive?
Yes. Catherine Hawn is 77 years old as of 2025 and living privately in the United States.
Was Catherine Hawn related to Goldie Hawn?
No. Despite sharing the same last name, Catherine Hawn and actress Goldie Hawn are not related.
Did Catherine Hawn have children with Dean Martin?
No. Catherine brought daughter Sasha from a previous relationship, whom Dean adopted during their marriage.
Why did Catherine Hawn and Dean Martin divorce?
They cited irreconcilable differences. Reports suggest the age gap and Dean’s lingering feelings for his second wife contributed.
What does Catherine Hawn do now?
Her current activities are unknown. She has maintained complete privacy since 1995.
Conclusion
Catherine Hawn married one of the 20th century’s greatest entertainers. She experienced wealth, glamour, and Hollywood’s finest moments. Then she walked away and never looked back.
Her story stands out in an age of oversharing and constant self-promotion. She proved you can touch fame without letting it consume you. She showed that privacy, once lost, can be reclaimed if you’re committed enough.
Most importantly, Catherine Hawn reminds us that there’s dignity in choosing your own path. Whether that path leads to stardom or away from it matters less than making the choice consciously and living with it authentically. In that sense, her story is less about Dean Martin and more about a woman who knew exactly what she wanted: a private life, on her own terms.
