Don Ameche
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
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
94
Gender
Male
Birthday
1908-05-31 (116 years old)
Place of Birth
Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA
Acting

1997

The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender as Self (archive footage)

1994

Corrina, Corrina as Grandpa Harry

1992

Folks! as Harry Aldrich

1992

Sunstroke as Jake

1991

Oscar as Father Clemente

1990

Oddball Hall as G. Paul Siebriese

1988

Coming to America as Mortimer Duke / Homeless Man #2 (uncredited)

1988

Cocoon: The Return as Art Selwyn

1988

Things Change as Gino

1987

Harry and the Hendersons as Dr. Wallace Wrightwood

1987

Pals as Fern Stobbs

1986

A Masterpiece of Murder as Frank Aherne

1985

The Golden Girls as Brother Martin

1985

Cocoon as Arthur Selwyn

1983

Trading Places as Mortimer Duke

1982

Night of 100 Stars as Self

1979

The Chinese Typewriter as Armand Beller

1977

The Love Boat as Stewart Coolidge

1977

The Love Boat as Henry Dobson

1977

The Love Boat as Hollis Witkin

1976

Quincy, M.E. as Harry Whitehead

1976

Good Heavens as Not available

1975

Ellery Queen as Dr. Norman Marsh

1972

Gidget Gets Married as Otis Ramsey

1971

Columbo as Frank Simpson

1971

Alias Smith and Jones as Not available

1970

McCloud as Not available

1970

The Boatniks as Commander Taylor

1968

Shadow Over Elveron as Justin Travers

1967

Rings Around the World as Host/Ringmaster

1966

Picture Mommy Dead as Edward Shelley

1963

Petticoat Junction as Uncle George

1963

Burke's Law as Whitman Saunders

1963

The Greatest Show on Earth as Collie McCullough

1961

The Mike Douglas Show as Self - Co-Host

1961

A Fever in the Blood as Senator Alex S. Simon

1957

The Lux Show as Self

1957

DuPont Show of the Month as Harry Graves

1954

Climax! as Sam Waterman

1953

Coke Time with Eddie Fisher as Not available

1950

What's My Line? as Self

1950

What's My Line? as Self - Panelist

1949

Slightly French as John Gayle

1948

Sleep, My Love as Richard W. Courtland

1947

That's My Man as Joe Grange

1946

So Goes My Love as Hiram Stephen Maxim

1945

Guest Wife as Joseph Jefferson 'Joe' Parker

1945

It's in the Bag! as Don Ameche

1944

Wing and a Prayer as Bingo Harper

1944

Greenwich Village as Kenneth Harvey

1943

Heaven Can Wait as Henry Van Cleve

1943

Happy Land as Lew Marsh

1943

Something to Shout About as Ken Douglas

1942

Girl Trouble as Pedro Sullivan

1942

The Magnificent Dope as Dwight Dawson

1941

That Night in Rio as Larry Martin / Baron Manuel Duarte

1941

Moon Over Miami as Phil O'Neil (Credits) / Phil 'Mac' McNeil

1941

The Feminine Touch as John Hathaway

1941

Kiss the Boys Goodbye as Lloyd Lloyd

1941

Confirm or Deny as 'Mitch' Mitchell

1940

Down Argentine Way as Ricardo Quintana

1940

Lillian Russell as Edward Solomon

1940

Four Sons as Chris Bern

1939

Midnight as Tibor Czerny

1939

Swanee River as Stephen Foster

1939

The Story of Alexander Graham Bell as Alexander Graham Bell

1939

Hollywood Cavalcade as Mike Connors

1939

The Three Musketeers as D'Artagnan

1939

Land of Liberty as Alexander Graham Bell (archive footage)

1938

Gateway as Dick Court

1938

In Old Chicago as Jack O'Leary

1938

Josette as David Brassard Jr.

1938

Alexander's Ragtime Band as Charlie Dwyer

1938

Happy Landing as Jimmy Hall

1937

Fifty Roads to Town as Peter Nostrand

1937

You Can't Have Everything as George Macrae

1937

Love Is News as Martin J. Canavan

1937

One in a Million as Bob Harris

1937

Love Under Fire as Tracy Egan

1936

Sins of Man as Karl Freyman / Mario Signarelli

1936

Ramona as Alessandro

1936

Ladies In Love as Dr. Rudi Imre
Crew

1968

Julia Director