Known For
Acting
Known Credits
94
Gender
Male
Birthday
May 31, 1908 (118 years old)
Place of Birth
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.
| 2009 | Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singingas (archive footage) | |
| 1997 | Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaultsas Self (archiveFootage) | |
| 1997 | The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavenderas Self (archive footage) | |
| 1994 | Corrina, Corrinaas Grandpa Harry | |
| 1993 | Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journeyas Shadow (voice) | |
| 1992 | Sunstrokeas Jake | |
| 1992 | Folks!as Harry Aldrich | |
| 1991 | Our Shining Momentas John 'Papa' McGuire Sr. | |
| 1991 | Oscaras Father Clemente | |
| 1990 | Oddball Hallas G. Paul Siebriese | |
| 1988 | Things Changeas Gino | |
| 1988 | Cocoon: The Returnas Art Selwyn | |
| 1988 | Coming to Americaas Mortimer Duke / Homeless Man #2 (uncredited) | |
| 1987 | Harry and the Hendersonsas Dr. Wallace Wrightwood | |
| 1987 | Palsas Art Riddle | |
| 1986 | A Masterpiece of Murderas Frank Aherne | |
| 1985 | The Golden Girlsas Brother Martin | |
| 1985 | Cocoonas Arthur Selwyn | |
| 1983 | Trading Placesas Mortimer Duke | |
| 1982 | Night of 100 Starsas Self | |
| 1979 | The Chinese Typewriteras Armand Beller | |
| 1978 | The Kennedy Center Honorsas Self | |
| 1977 | The Love Boatas Henry Dobson | |
| 1977 | The Love Boatas Hollis Witkin | |
| 1977 | The Love Boatas Stewart Coolidge | |
| 1976 | Quincy, M.E.as Harry Whitehead | |
| 1976 | Good Heavensas | |
| 1975 | Ellery Queenas Dr. Norman Marsh | |
| 1973 | The American Film Institute Salute to ...as Self | |
| 1972 | Gidget Gets Marriedas Otis Ramsey | |
| 1971 | Columboas Frank Simpson | |
| 1971 | Alias Smith and Jonesas | |
| 1970 | Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?as Col. Flanders | |
| 1970 | The Boatniksas Commander Taylor | |
| 1970 | McCloudas | |
| 1968 | Shadow Over Elveronas Justin Travers | |
| 1967 | Rings Around the Worldas Host/Ringmaster | |
| 1966 | Picture Mommy Deadas Edward Shelley | |
| 1963 | Petticoat Junctionas Uncle George | |
| 1963 | Burke's Lawas Whitman Saunders | |
| 1963 | The Greatest Show on Earthas Collie McCullough | |
| 1962 | The Merv Griffin Showas Self | |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self | |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Showas Self | |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Showas Self - Co-Host | |
| 1961 | A Fever in the Bloodas Senator Alex S. Simon | |
| 1957 | DuPont Show of the Monthas Harry Graves | |
| 1957 | The Lux Showas Self | |
| 1957 | Tonight Starring Jack Paaras Self | |
| 1954 | Climax!as Sam Waterman | |
| 1953 | Coke Time with Eddie Fisheras | |
| 1950 | What's My Line?as Self | |
| 1949 | Slightly Frenchas John Gayle | |
| 1948 | The Ed Sullivan Showas Self | |
| 1948 | Sleep, My Loveas Richard W. Courtland | |
| 1947 | That's My Manas Joe Grange | |
| 1946 | So Goes My Loveas Hiram Stephen Maxim | |
| 1945 | Guest Wifeas Joseph Jefferson 'Joe' Parker | |
| 1945 | It's in the Bag!as Don Ameche | |
| 1944 | Greenwich Villageas Kenneth Harvey | |
| 1944 | Wing and a Prayeras Bingo Harper | |
| 1943 | Happy Landas Lew Marsh | |
| 1943 | Heaven Can Waitas Henry Van Cleve | |
| 1943 | Something to Shout Aboutas Ken Douglas | |
| 1942 | Girl Troubleas Pedro Sullivan | |
| 1942 | The Magnificent Dopeas Dwight Dawson | |
| 1941 | Confirm or Denyas 'Mitch' Mitchell | |
| 1941 | The Feminine Touchas John Hathaway | |
| 1941 | Kiss the Boys Goodbyeas Lloyd Lloyd | |
| 1941 | Moon Over Miamias Phil O'Neil (Credits) / Phil 'Mac' McNeil | |
| 1941 | That Night in Rioas Larry Martin / Baron Manuel Duarte | |
| 1940 | Down Argentine Wayas Ricardo Quintana | |
| 1940 | Four Sonsas Chris Bern | |
| 1940 | Lillian Russellas Edward Solomon | |
| 1939 | Swanee Riveras Stephen Foster | |
| 1939 | Hollywood Cavalcadeas Mike Connors | |
| 1939 | Land of Libertyas Alexander Graham Bell (archive footage) | |
| 1939 | Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8as Don Ameche | |
| 1939 | The Story of Alexander Graham Bellas Alexander Graham Bell | |
| 1939 | Midnightas Tibor Czerny | |
| 1939 | The Three Musketeersas D'Artagnan | |
| 1938 | Gatewayas Dick Court | |
| 1938 | Josetteas David Brassard Jr. | |
| 1938 | Alexander's Ragtime Bandas Charlie Dwyer | |
| 1938 | In Old Chicagoas Jack O'Leary | |
| 1938 | Happy Landingas Jimmy Hall | |
| 1937 | Love Under Fireas Tracy Egan | |
| 1937 | You Can't Have Everythingas George Macrae | |
| 1937 | Fifty Roads to Townas Peter Nostrand | |
| 1937 | Love Is Newsas Martin J. Canavan | |
| 1937 | One in a Millionas Bob Harris | |
| 1936 | Ladies in Loveas Dr. Rudi Imre | |
| 1936 | Ramonaas Alessandro | |
| 1936 | Sins of Manas Karl Freyman / Mario Signarelli |
| 1968 | Julia...Director |