Don Ameche

Acting

Born May 31, 1908 — Died December 6, 1993 Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA

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.

Movies(68)

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing

(archive footage)

2009

Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults

Self (archiveFootage)

1997

The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender

Self (archive footage)

1997

Corrina, Corrina

Grandpa Harry

1994

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

Shadow (voice)

1993

Sunstroke

Jake

1992

Folks!

Harry Aldrich

1992

Our Shining Moment

John 'Papa' McGuire Sr.

1991

Oscar

Father Clemente

1991

Oddball Hall

G. Paul Siebriese

1990

Things Change

Gino

1988

Cocoon: The Return

Art Selwyn

1988

Coming to America

Mortimer Duke / Homeless Man #2 (uncredited)

1988

Harry and the Hendersons

Dr. Wallace Wrightwood

1987

Pals

Art Riddle

1987

A Masterpiece of Murder

Frank Aherne

1986

Cocoon

Arthur Selwyn

1985

Trading Places

Mortimer Duke

1983

Night of 100 Stars

Self

1982

The Chinese Typewriter

Armand Beller

1979

Gidget Gets Married

Otis Ramsey

1972

Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?

Col. Flanders

1970

The Boatniks

Commander Taylor

1970

Shadow Over Elveron

Justin Travers

1968

Rings Around the World

Host/Ringmaster

1967

Picture Mommy Dead

Edward Shelley

1966

A Fever in the Blood

Senator Alex S. Simon

1961

Slightly French

John Gayle

1949

Sleep, My Love

Richard W. Courtland

1948

That's My Man

Joe Grange

1947

So Goes My Love

Hiram Stephen Maxim

1946

Guest Wife

Joseph Jefferson 'Joe' Parker

1945

It's in the Bag!

Don Ameche

1945

Greenwich Village

Kenneth Harvey

1944

Wing and a Prayer

Bingo Harper

1944

Happy Land

Lew Marsh

1943

Heaven Can Wait

Henry Van Cleve

1943

Something to Shout About

Ken Douglas

1943

Girl Trouble

Pedro Sullivan

1942

The Magnificent Dope

Dwight Dawson

1942

Confirm or Deny

'Mitch' Mitchell

1941

The Feminine Touch

John Hathaway

1941

Kiss the Boys Goodbye

Lloyd Lloyd

1941

Moon Over Miami

Phil O'Neil (Credits) / Phil 'Mac' McNeil

1941

That Night in Rio

Larry Martin / Baron Manuel Duarte

1941

Down Argentine Way

Ricardo Quintana

1940

Four Sons

Chris Bern

1940

Lillian Russell

Edward Solomon

1940

Swanee River

Stephen Foster

1939

Hollywood Cavalcade

Mike Connors

1939

Land of Liberty

Alexander Graham Bell (archive footage)

1939

Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8

Don Ameche

1939

The Story of Alexander Graham Bell

Alexander Graham Bell

1939

Midnight

Tibor Czerny

1939

The Three Musketeers

D'Artagnan

1939

Gateway

Dick Court

1938

Josette

David Brassard Jr.

1938

Alexander's Ragtime Band

Charlie Dwyer

1938

In Old Chicago

Jack O'Leary

1938

Happy Landing

Jimmy Hall

1938

Love Under Fire

Tracy Egan

1937

You Can't Have Everything

George Macrae

1937

Fifty Roads to Town

Peter Nostrand

1937

Love Is News

Martin J. Canavan

1937

One in a Million

Bob Harris

1937

Ladies in Love

Dr. Rudi Imre

1936

Ramona

Alessandro

1936

Sins of Man

Karl Freyman / Mario Signarelli

1936

Don Ameche

TV Shows(23)

Movies(68)