Don Ameche
Known for

Acting

Credits

93

Gender

Man

Birthday

31 May 1908

Day of death

6 Dec 1993 (85)

Place of birth

Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA

Also known as
Дон Амичи
Dominic Felix Amici

Don Ameche

Biography

Don Ameche born Dominic Felix Amici May 31, 1908 – December 6, 1993) was a versatile and popular American film actor in the 1930s and '40s, usually as the dapper, mustached leading man. He was also popular as a radio master of ceremonies during this time. As his film popularity waned in the 1950s, he continued working in theater and some TV. His film career surged in a comeback in the 1980s with fine work as an aging millionaire in Trading Places (1983) and a rejuvenated oldster in Cocoon (1985). Don Ameche was an Academy Award winning American actor. Ameche, standing in at a height of 5' 11" (1.8 m) was born May 31, 1908 (Gemini) in Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA as Dominic Felix Amici to mother, Barbara Edda (Hertel) and father, Felice Amici, a bartender. Has a younger brother Jim Ameche. His father was an Italian immigrant. His mother had German, English, Irish and Scottish ancestry. Americans pronounced his last name incorrectly in Italian ("Ah-mee-see"). So he changed it from "Amici" (correctly pronounced "Ah-mee-chee") into "Ameche", in order to keep the original Italian pronunciation. He had the nickname "The Latin Lover". Married Honore Prendergast on the 6th of December 1932. They had 6 children together. Became a father for the first time at age 25 when his wife Honore gave birth to their son Dominic Felix Ameche--aka Don Ameche Jr. on October 3, 1933. Became a father for the second time at age 27 when his wife Honore gave birth to their son Ronald Ameche on December 30, 1935. He died on January 2, 2001 in Iowa, aged 65. Became a father for the third time at age 31 when his wife Honore gave birth to their son Thomas Anthony Ameche on July 20, 1939. Became a father for the fourth time at age 32 when his wife Honore gave birth to their son Lawrence Michael Ameche on July 20, 1940. Became a father for the fifth time at age 36 when his wife Honore gave birth to their daughter Barbara Balinda Ameche on March 13, 1945. Became a father for the sixth time at age 39 when his wife Honore gave birth to their daughter Constance Victoria Ameche on February 22, 1948. His wife of 54 years, died on the 5th of September 1986. He died on December 6, 1993 at the age of 85 in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA from prostate cancer.

Known for
Acting roles
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
1997The Silver Screen: Color Me LavenderSelf (archive footage)
1997Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film VaultsSelf (archiveFootage)
1994Corrina, CorrinaGrandpa Harry
1993Homeward Bound: The Incredible JourneyShadow (voice)
1992Folks!Harry Aldrich
1992SunstrokeJake
1991OscarFather Clemente
1990Oddball HallG. Paul Siebriese
1988Coming to AmericaMortimer Duke / Homeless Man #2 (uncredited)
1988Cocoon: The ReturnArt Selwyn
1988Things ChangeGino
1987Harry and the HendersonsDr. Wallace Wrightwood
1987PalsFern Stobbs
1986A Masterpiece of MurderFrank Aherne
1985CocoonArthur Selwyn
1985The Golden GirlsBrother Martin
1983Trading PlacesMortimer Duke
1982Night of 100 StarsSelf
1977The Love BoatStewart Coolidge
1977The Love BoatHenry Dobson
1977The Love BoatHollis Witkin
1976Quincy, M.E.Harry Whitehead
1976Good Heavens
1975Ellery QueenDr. Norman Marsh
1973The American Film Institute Salute to ...Self
1972Gidget Gets MarriedOtis Ramsey
1971ColumboFrank Simpson
1971Alias Smith and Jones
1970McCloud
1970The BoatniksCommander Taylor
1970Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?Col. Flanders
1968Shadow Over ElveronJustin Travers
1967Rings Around the WorldHost/Ringmaster
1966Picture Mommy DeadEdward Shelley
1963Petticoat JunctionUncle George
1963Burke's LawWhitman Saunders
1963The Greatest Show on EarthCollie McCullough
1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf
1962The Merv Griffin ShowSelf
1961The Mike Douglas ShowSelf - Co-Host
1961The Mike Douglas ShowSelf
1961A Fever in the BloodSenator Alex S. Simon
1957Tonight Starring Jack PaarSelf
1957The Lux ShowSelf
1957DuPont Show of the MonthHarry Graves
1954Climax!Sam Waterman
1953Coke Time with Eddie Fisher
1950What's My Line?Self - Mystery Guest
1950What's My Line?Self - Panelist
1949Slightly FrenchJohn Gayle
1948Sleep, My LoveRichard W. Courtland
1948The Ed Sullivan ShowSelf
1948The Ed Sullivan ShowHenry Orient
1947That's My ManJoe Grange
1946So Goes My LoveHiram Stephen Maxim
1945Guest WifeJoseph Jefferson 'Joe' Parker
1945It's in the Bag!Don Ameche
1944Wing and a PrayerBingo Harper
1944Greenwich VillageKenneth Harvey
1943Heaven Can WaitHenry Van Cleve
1943Something to Shout AboutKen Douglas
1943Happy LandLew Marsh
1942The Magnificent DopeDwight Dawson
1942Girl TroublePedro Sullivan
1941That Night in RioLarry Martin / Baron Manuel Duarte
1941Moon Over MiamiPhil O'Neil (Credits) / Phil 'Mac' McNeil
1941The Feminine TouchJohn Hathaway
1941Confirm or Deny'Mitch' Mitchell
1941Kiss the Boys GoodbyeLloyd Lloyd
1940Down Argentine WayRicardo Quintana
1940Lillian RussellEdward Solomon
1940Four SonsChris Bern
1939MidnightTibor Czerny
1939The Story of Alexander Graham BellAlexander Graham Bell
1939The Three MusketeersD'Artagnan
1939Hollywood CavalcadeMike Connors
1939Swanee RiverStephen Foster
1939Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8Don Ameche
1939Land of LibertyAlexander Graham Bell (archive footage)
1938In Old ChicagoJack O'Leary
1938Alexander's Ragtime BandCharlie Dwyer
1938Happy LandingJimmy Hall
1938JosetteDavid Brassard Jr.
1938GatewayDick Court
1937Love Is NewsMartin J. Canavan
1937One in a MillionBob Harris
1937You Can't Have EverythingGeorge Macrae
1937Love Under FireTracy Egan
1937Fifty Roads to TownPeter Nostrand
1936RamonaAlessandro
1936Ladies In LoveDr. Rudi Imre
1936Sins of ManKarl Freyman / Mario Signarelli
Credits
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
1968JuliaDirector