Meet Elizabeth Anne McDonald Who Was Dean Martin’s First Spouse

Elizabeth Anne McDonald was the first spouse of Dean Martin, an American actor, singer, and comedian famous as the King of Cool. Elizabeth and Dean married in 1941 and divorced in 1950 after welcoming four children. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Anne McDonald was born on July 14, 1922, and died on July 11, 1989, at the age of 66 years.

Elizabeth Anne McDonald gained the public’s attention after she married Dean Martin, who began making a name for himself in the 1930s. However, after they called it quits on their marriage, Dean Martin’s first wife lived away from the spotlight. This notwithstanding, her name keeps popping up whenever Dean is mentioned and here is all to be learned about her.

Summary of Elizabeth Anne McDonald’s Bio

• Full name: Elizabeth Anne McDonald
• Nickname: Betty
• Gender: Female
• Date of birth: July 14, 1922
• Date of birth: July 11, 1989
• Ethnicity: White
• Nationality: American
• Zodiac Sign: Cancer
• Sexual Orientation: Straight
• Religion: Christianity
• Marital Status: Divorced
• Elizabeth Anne McDonald’s ex-Husband: Dean Martin
• Elizabeth Anne McDonald’s Children: Craig Martin, Claudia Martin, Barbara Gail Martin, and Deana Martin
• Elizabeth Anne McDonald’s Parents: William McDonald (father) and Gertrude Louise O’Neill (mother)
• Siblings: Four sisters
• Elizabeth Anne McDonald’s Height in Inches: 5 feet 3 inches
• Elizabeth Anne McDonald’s Height in Centimetres: 160.02 cm
• Famous for: being the first wife of Dean Martin

Who is Dean Martin’s First Spouse?

Dean Martin’s first spouse is Elizabeth Anne McDonald. She was born on July 14, 1922, in Ridley Park, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. She is an American national born under the Cancer birth sign and she’s of White ethnicity.

Elizabeth was born to William McDonald (father) and Gertrude Louise O’Neill (mother). She had four sisters whose identities and occupations have remained under wraps. She was raised alongside her sisters in a strong Christian home and she reportedly spent her childhood in Swarthmore and relocated when she reached the age of 18. However, further information on where she spent the rest of her years before she rose to the limelight is not known.

Elizabeth attended eminent schools within the United States, but the name of the school she attended for her elementary education has remained vague. She attended Swarthmore High School and graduated in 1940; however, there is no further information on the college or university that she attended.

Meanwhile, during her time in high school, Elizabeth was a remarkable athlete. She played  hockey and lacrosse and was so good at them that she was eventually made the team’s captain in her senior year.

How Long Did Elizabeth Anne McDonald’s Marriage to Dean Martin Last?

Elizabeth Anne McDonald’s marriage to Dean Martin lasted just eight years. The ex-couple got married in 1941 and pulled the string on their union in 1949. Meanwhile, the couple never revealed how or when they met each other; however, according to some sources, they met in 1939.

Also, when they began dating is unknown, but it’s believed that they dated for some time before they got married in 1941. However, the type of wedding ceremony they had is not known., but following the fact that Dean had gained fame at the time, it is believed that they had an elaborate wedding.

Unfortunately, their marriage could not stand the test of time, as it came crashing down after they had welcomed four children together. The reason for their split is not known to date, as neither Elizabeth Anne McDonald nor Dean Martin decided to keep it private.

This notwithstanding, the public came up with what they felt were the reasons for the crash of the couple’s marriage. While some pinned it on Elizabeth Anne McDonald’s alcoholism, others pinned it on Dean Martin’s infidelities, but the couple did not react to any of the claims.

After their divorce, Dean Martin got full custody of all his children and still went on to remarry. He got married to Dorothy Jeanna Biegger in 1949 and divorced her in 1973 after welcoming three children with her. He later got married for the last time to Catherine Hawn in 1973 and divorced her in 1976.

Elizabeth Anne McDonald, on her part, lived in San Francisco and maintained a very low profile. There are no further details on whether she remarried or was in a relationship with anyone prior to her death.

Did Elizabeth Anne McDonald Have Any Children?

Elizabeth Anne McDonald welcomed four children with her ex-husband, Martin Dean, who are all doing well in their own right. Here is all about her children:

Craig Martin 

Craig Martin is the first child of the couple, whom they welcomed in 1942 in the United States. He joined his father in the entertainment industry and works as a producer and production manager. He is notable for some onscreen projects, including A Family Thing and Sha Na Na among others. Craig was once married to Carole Castello, but their marriage ended after she died in 1987.

Claudia Martin

Claudia Martin is the second child and first daughter of her parents and she was born in 1944. Just like her father, she pursued a career in the entertainment industry and is an actress known for appearing in various movies. Just like her parents, Claudia also had her fair share of rocky marriages and was involved in three failed marriages that produced four children. Unfortunately, she died on February 16, 2001, in Reno, Nevada, after losing the battle with cancer.

Barbara Gail Martin

Barbara Gail Martin is the third child of Elizabeth Anne McDonald and her ex-husband. She was born on April 11, 1945, in the United States. Just like her father, she is an actress and singer who is notable for Hollywood or Bust and The Dean Martin’s Summer Show. As a singer, she performed in various places like Las Vegas, as well as on TV shows. Barbara Gail is married to Paqual Polino, whom she wed in her father’s backyard in Bel Air.

Deana Martin

Deana Martin is the last child of Elizabeth Anne McDonald and Dean Martin. She was born on August 19, 1948, in Manhattan, United States. She also followed the family’s career trend and is an actress and singer. She trained at Darlington College of Arts in the United Kingdom. Deana is notable for starring in Strangers at Sunrise, The Dean Martin’s Summer Show, and for performing songs at events. The singer is married to John Griffeth, an executive producer since 1990.

Where Is Elizabeth Anne McDonald Now?

Though Elizabeth Anne McDonald lived away from the spotlight after she divorced Dean Martin, his fame still kept her in the limelight. While she lived in San Francisco, what she did for a living was not known. Unfortunately, she passed away on July 11, 1989, at the age of 66 years in San Francisco, California.

Elizabeth’s funeral was performed in California and her body was cremated, and the ashes  scattered in San Francisco Bay.