Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin's brawl nearly kills a millionaire
- On June 8, 1966, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin were celebrating Dean's birthday at the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills.
- An argument escalated, leading Sinatra to throw a telephone at a man named Weisman, who was knocked out cold.
- The brawl threatened the careers of Sinatra and Martin, revealing the precarious nature of their celebrity status.
In 1966, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin were at the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills, California, to celebrate Dean's 49th birthday. During the night, Sinatra became embroiled in a heated exchange with a man named Weisman. The confrontation escalated when Sinatra allegedly hurled a telephone at Weisman, resulting in a near-fatal injury. Witnesses at the scene reportedly tried to separate the two, but the situation quickly deteriorated into a brawl. As tensions rose, Martin attempted to de-escalate the situation by urging Sinatra to leave. However, the damage was done; Weisman was knocked out cold, leading to serious concerns about his well-being. Following the incident, Sinatra fled to Los Angeles, where he was filled with anxiety over the potential consequences of his actions. This altercation placed immense pressure on both Sinatra and Martin, who were at the height of their fame at the time. Rumors circulated that Sinatra's close friend and bodyguard, Jilly Rizzo, might have been responsible for the significant blow to Weisman, adding another layer of mystery to the event. In the aftermath, there was fear that Weisman’s family might pursue legal action against Sinatra, which could have jeopardized the careers of both stars. Ultimately, the incident highlighted the volatile nature of celebrity life and the thin line between fame and scandal. Years later, the story remained an intriguing, if somewhat murky, chapter in the lives of two of America’s most beloved entertainers.