Three years later, it was over. And then she did something almost no one does. She walked away and stayed away.
She came back into view just once, in 1995, at Dean Martin’s funeral. She stood beside Jeanne, the wife who came before her.
In this article, we will look at her early life, how the two met, that huge wedding, the divorce, her daughter, and where she went. Let’s begin.
Who Is Catherine Hawn?
Catherine Hawn is best known as Dean Martin’s third wife. They were married from 1973 to 1976.
Her full name is Catherine Mae Hawn. Most people who knew her called her Cathy.
So why do people still search for her? Because Dean Martin remains a legend. Fans get curious about the women in his life.
Before the marriage, she lived a normal American life. She had a job, not a spotlight. That is worth remembering.
Her time in the public eye was short. Roughly three years, and then silence.
And here is the honest part. Very little is truly known about her. She never told her story, so much of what floats around online is guesswork.
Her Early Life Before Fame
Catherine Hawn was born on November 30, 1947. That makes her 78 today.
One source lists her birthplace as Steubenville, Ohio. Another simply says it does not know. So treat Ohio as reported, not confirmed.
But if it is true, it is a neat detail. Steubenville, Ohio, is Dean Martin’s hometown too.
Two people from the same small Ohio city, meeting years later in California. That is a nice thread, even if we can’t tie it tight.
Beyond that, the page is blank. We don’t know her parents. We don’t know her schooling. We don’t know her faith.
She never discussed any of it. And honestly, those blank spaces are part of her story. She kept her life to herself from the start.
Her Job at the Beverly Hills Salon
Before the fame, Catherine Hawn had a regular job. She worked as a front-desk receptionist.
The place was the Gene Shacove hair salon in Beverly Hills. The time was the early 1970s.
That world was more interesting than it sounds. Beverly Hills salons back then were where stars got their hair done. Famous faces came through the door all week.
So her ordinary job put her near extraordinary people. She greeted them, booked them, and sent them on their way.
One quick correction is worth making. Some sites list her profession as a “public and television personality.” That is not right.
She was a receptionist who later appeared on one talk show as someone’s wife. That is a job, not a career in the spotlight.
How She Met Dean Martin
So how does a salon receptionist end up marrying Dean Martin? Through a friend, as it turns out.
A family friend named Frank Calcagnini set the two of them up on a date.
This detail comes from a good source, which is rare here. It appears in That’s Amore: A Son Remembers Dean Martin, a memoir by Dean’s eldest son, Ricci Martin.
Why does that matter? Because a family memoir beats a copy-paste bio site every time. It is the closest thing we have to a firsthand account.
By all accounts, they clicked right away. The romance took off quickly.
And it moved fast. They met, they fell for each other, and soon they were planning a wedding. A very big one.
Their Big Wedding in 1973
The wedding took place on April 25, 1973. And it was quite a show.
Dean reportedly spent somewhere between $50,000 and $100,000 on it. That was a huge sum at the time.
What would that be today? Roughly $350,000 to $600,000 once you adjust for inflation. On one day.
So what did the money buy? Lilacs, flown in all the way from France. And 22 cages of white doves.
The guest list matched the flowers. Frank Sinatra was there, along with other big names from that world.
No wonder it became the talk of the town. A salon receptionist and a superstar, married in a room full of legends. People had never seen anything quite like it.
Her Life After the Wedding
After the wedding, Catherine Hawn stepped into public view. Briefly.
She appeared on The Merv Griffin Show. Her episode aired on November 23, 1973.
If the name is new to you, it was a popular American talk show. Merv Griffin hosted, and stars came on to chat.
She was introduced as Mrs. Dean Martin. Not as herself, but as his wife.
And that was mostly it. One talk show, a few events, and some photos on her husband’s arm.
Some people would have built a whole career from that opening. Catherine Hawn did not. She never chased more, and looking back, that seems to have been on purpose.
Catherine Hawn’s Daughter, Sasha
Catherine Hawn has a daughter named Sasha. That part everyone agrees on.
After that, things get murky. The two main sources say completely different things.
One claims Sasha was Dean and Catherine’s child together. The other says Sasha came from a previous relationship, and that Dean chose to adopt her.
We lean toward the second version, because it comes from the better-sourced article. But we won’t pretend it is settled.
Why flag this instead of just picking one? Because getting a child’s parentage wrong is a serious error. If you see this stated flatly elsewhere, be careful.
As for Sasha herself, she has reportedly appeared in films. That puts her in good company. Dean’s daughter Claudia also acted, and his son Craig worked as a television producer.
Why Did Catherine Hawn and Dean Martin Divorce?
By 1976, the marriage was over. It had lasted about three years.
So what went wrong? Here is the honest answer. Nobody knows.
Neither Dean nor Catherine ever made the reason public. No statement, no tell-all, nothing.
There is one popular guess. Some suggest Dean still carried feelings for his second wife, Jeanne Biegger.
But let’s be clear. That is speculation, not fact. It gets repeated online, and repetition does not make it true.
What we can say is simpler. Short Hollywood marriages were common then, and this one was Dean’s third. Beyond that, the details belong to two people who chose not to share them.
Who Was Her Ex-Husband, Dean Martin?
Let’s talk about the man at the center of this. Dean Martin was an American singer, actor, comedian, and television star.
He was born in Steubenville, Ohio. That is the same city listed as Catherine’s reported birthplace, which makes for a nice coincidence.
His TV work made him a household face. The Dean Martin Variety Show ran for years and pulled in huge audiences.
He also ran with the most famous circle in showbiz. He was close to Frank Sinatra, part of the group people called the Rat Pack.
He married three times. Before Catherine came his first wife, and then Jeanne Biegger, his second.
Dean died in 1995. At the time of his death, his net worth was reported at around $30 million.
What Happened to Catherine Hawn After the Divorce?
Here is where her story turns unusual. After the divorce, Catherine Hawn simply stepped away.
She chose privacy, and she meant it. There are no known relationships since. No interviews. No public life at all.
She had one known return. In 1995, she attended Dean Martin’s funeral.
And there is a detail there that sticks with you. She stood alongside Jeanne, his second wife. Two former wives, side by side, saying goodbye to the same man.
After that, nothing. No public sightings, no statements, no trace.
Think about how rare that is. She had a door open to fame and quietly closed it.
Is Catherine Hawn Related to Goldie Hawn?
This one comes up a lot, so let’s clear it up. No, they are not related.
Why do people ask? The surname, plain and simple. Two women named Hawn, both linked to Hollywood in the 1970s.
But Hawn is not a rare name. Sharing it means nothing.
Goldie Hawn is a completely different story. She is a celebrated actress who built her own legacy.
She won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for Cactus Flower.
So one became famous through her own work. The other became known through a marriage, then left. Their paths never crossed.
What Is Catherine Hawn’s Net Worth?
Let’s be straight about this one. Nobody knows Catherine Hawn’s net worth.
You will see numbers online anyway. There are rumors she received substantial alimony and support after the divorce.
But notice the word: rumors. No records, no filings, no confirmation. Just talk.
The figure people do report is Dean’s. Around $30 million at his death, per Celebrity Net Worth. Even that is an estimate.
Do you see the pattern? Her “net worth” is really just a guess built from his fame.
She never discussed her money. So any number you see is invented. The truth is simply that we do not know.
Where Is Catherine Hawn Today?
So where is she in 2026? Honestly, we do not know that either.
She would be 78 now. There have been no public appearances in decades.
No social media. No statements. No interviews. Nothing.
What does that silence tell us? Probably that it was a choice, and a firm one. She stopped being a public figure in 1976 and never went back.
That deserves respect. She is not a celebrity avoiding cameras for effect. She is a private person living a private life.
And that is worth saying plainly. The kindest thing anyone can do with her story is tell the known parts, and leave the rest alone.
Interesting Facts About Catherine Hawn
- Catherine Hawn worked as a receptionist at a Beverly Hills hair salon before becoming Dean Martin’s wife.
- She met Dean Martin through a family friend, Frank Calcagnini, who introduced the couple.
- Catherine married Dean Martin on April 25, 1973, in one of Hollywood’s most talked-about weddings.
- Their wedding reportedly featured 22 cages of white doves and lilacs flown in from France.
- Legendary singer Frank Sinatra was among the famous guests at the ceremony.
- Catherine appeared on The Merv Griffin Show shortly after her wedding but never pursued a television career.
- She was Dean Martin’s third wife, and their marriage lasted about three years.
- Catherine has a daughter named Sasha, although sources disagree about whether Dean Martin was her biological or adoptive father.
- After divorcing Dean Martin in 1976, she completely stepped away from public life and has never given a known interview.
Bottom Line
Her story has a remarkable shape. A salon front desk in Beverly Hills, then a wedding with doves, French lilacs, and Frank Sinatra. Then a divorce, then silence.
We learned about her 1947 birth, her reported Ohio roots, the friend who set her up with Dean, and her daughter Sasha.
We also handled the shaky parts honestly. The divorce reason is unknown. Her net worth is unknown. Sasha’s parentage is disputed.
But that funeral moment lingers, doesn’t it? Two former wives, standing together in 1995, closing a chapter.
Catherine Hawn had every chance to stay famous. She said no thanks. Thanks for reading along.
(FAQ)
Who is Catherine Hawn?
She is the third wife of legendary entertainer Dean Martin. They married in 1973 and divorced in 1976. Before that, she worked as a receptionist in Beverly Hills.
How did Catherine Hawn meet Dean Martin?
A family friend named Frank Calcagnini set them up on a date. The detail comes from Ricci Martin’s memoir about his father.
How long were Catherine Hawn and Dean Martin married?
About three years. They wed on April 25, 1973, and divorced in 1976.
Why did Catherine Hawn and Dean Martin divorce?
No reason was ever made public. Some speculate Dean still had feelings for his second wife, Jeanne, but that is a guess, not a fact.
Does Catherine Hawn have children?
She has a daughter named Sasha. Sources disagree on whether Sasha was Dean’s biological child or his adopted daughter from Catherine’s earlier relationship.
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