Dean Martin As Super Spy Matt Helm

Matt Helm is a fictional character created by American author Donald Hamilton. Helm, a U.S. government counter-agent, a man whose primary job is to kill or nullify enemy agents (not a spy or secret agent in the ordinary sense of the term as used in most spy thrillers), appeared in 27 adventure/suspense novels by Hamilton, first published in 1960, and the character was later adapted into film, television and other media.

In 1965, Columbia Pictures acquired the film rights to eight Matt Helm novels. They were made to star Dean Martin, who played the part with his own persona of a fun-loving, easygoing, wisecracking playboy with plenty of references to singing and alcohol consumption.

Martin was not the original choice for the lead. Producer Irwin Allen said, “We had wanted Paul Newman or one of the good stars, but no one would go up against Sean Connery. Nobody wants to go up against a successful series.”

Martin appeared as Helm in four films: “The Silencers” (1966), “Murderers’ Row” (1966), “The Ambushers” (1967), and “The Wrecking Crew” (1969). A fifth film was planned, based upon the novel “The Ravagers,” but Martin declined the opportunity to play the role once more, even though the title of the film was announced at the end of “The Wrecking Crew.” H/T>