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Don Ameche

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
94

Gender
Male

Birthday
May 31, 1908 (118 years old)

Place of Birth
Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA

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

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

Production

1968Julia...Director