Ross Martin Biography

Born in Grodek, Poland, Ross Martin grew up on New York City's Lower EastSide. He spoke Yiddish, Polish, and Russian before even learning English andlater added French, Spanish, and Italian to his amazing repertoire.Despite academic training (and receiving honors in) business, instruction,and law, M. Martin chose a career of acting. His first film was the GeorgePal production Conquest of Space (1955). Soon after, he caught the eye ofBlake Edwards who cast him in a number of widely varied roles, culminatingwith a fantastic part in The Great Race (1965).Ross somehow managed a series in between, the short-lived "Mr. Lucky"(1959). With the release of The Great Race (1965), CBS cast him in what wasto become his most famous part, Secret Service agent Artemus Gordon in "TheWild Wild West" (1965), opposite Robert Conrad. Perhaps the show'scancellation in 1969 was for the best - he suffered a near-fatal heartattack in 1968.Afraid to take the risk of having a lead actor with a heart condition, thenetworks snubbed him with regards to a lead role, yet he appeared as a gueststar in an amazing number of programs, not all dramatic masterpieces. YetRoss loved to act, and took every role which came his way. Ross Martincollapsed while playing tennis, the heart condition finally taking its tollon July 3rd, 1981.