The only connection I can discern between Nino and Dean Martin is that they had a good friend in a Sinatra-like character. But the real-life Dean Martin got to the big-time through his partnership with Jerry Lewis, not through the Sinatra connection, which came later. Also, while Martin put on a drunk-character, he really wasn't a lush. He wasn't a party animal, either--he was famous for leaving his own parties to hit the sack at 10 p.m.