Don Ameche
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.
Acted in
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing
2009
as (archive footage)
Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults
1997
as Self (archiveFootage)
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
1997
as Self (archive footage)
Corrina, Corrina
1994
as Grandpa Harry
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
1993
as Shadow (voice)
Sunstroke
1992
as Jake
Folks!
1992
as Harry Aldrich
Oscar
1991
as Father Clemente
Oddball Hall
1990
as G. Paul Siebriese
Things Change
1988
as Gino
Cocoon: The Return
1988
as Art Selwyn
Coming to America
1988
as Mortimer Duke / Homeless Man #2 (uncredited)
Harry and the Hendersons
1987
as Dr. Wallace Wrightwood
Pals
1987
as Fern Stobbs
A Masterpiece of Murder
1986
as Frank Aherne
The Golden Girls
1985
as Brother Martin
Cocoon
1985
as Arthur Selwyn
Trading Places
1983
as Mortimer Duke
Night of 100 Stars
1982
as Self
The Chinese Typewriter
1979
as Armand Beller
The Love Boat
1977
as Stewart Coolidge
The Love Boat
1977
as Henry Dobson
The Love Boat
1977
as Hollis Witkin
Quincy, M.E.
1976
as Harry Whitehead
Good Heavens
1976
Ellery Queen
1975
as Dr. Norman Marsh
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
1973
as Self
Gidget Gets Married
1972
as Otis Ramsey
Columbo
1971
as Frank Simpson
Alias Smith and Jones
1971
Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?
1970
as Col. Flanders
The Boatniks
1970
as Commander Taylor
McCloud
1970
Shadow Over Elveron
1968
as Justin Travers
Rings Around the World
1967
as Host/Ringmaster
Picture Mommy Dead
1966
as Edward Shelley
Petticoat Junction
1963
as Uncle George
Burke's Law
1963
as Whitman Saunders
The Greatest Show on Earth
1963
as Collie McCullough
A Fever in the Blood
1961
as Senator Alex S. Simon
DuPont Show of the Month
1957
as Harry Graves
The Lux Show
1957
as Self
Climax!
1954
as Sam Waterman
Coke Time with Eddie Fisher
1953
What's My Line?
1950
as Self - Mystery Guest
What's My Line?
1950
as Self - Panelist
Slightly French
1949
as John Gayle
Sleep, My Love
1948
as Richard W. Courtland
That's My Man
1947
as Joe Grange
So Goes My Love
1946
as Hiram Stephen Maxim
Guest Wife
1945
as Joseph Jefferson 'Joe' Parker
It's in the Bag!
1945
as Don Ameche
Greenwich Village
1944
as Kenneth Harvey
Wing and a Prayer
1944
as Bingo Harper
Happy Land
1943
as Lew Marsh
Heaven Can Wait
1943
as Henry Van Cleve
Something to Shout About
1943
as Ken Douglas
Girl Trouble
1942
as Pedro Sullivan
The Magnificent Dope
1942
as Dwight Dawson
Confirm or Deny
1941
as 'Mitch' Mitchell
The Feminine Touch
1941
as John Hathaway
Kiss the Boys Goodbye
1941
as Lloyd Lloyd
Moon Over Miami
1941
as Phil O'Neil (Credits) / Phil 'Mac' McNeil
That Night in Rio
1941
as Larry Martin / Baron Manuel Duarte
Down Argentine Way
1940
as Ricardo Quintana
Four Sons
1940
as Chris Bern
Lillian Russell
1940
as Edward Solomon
Swanee River
1939
as Stephen Foster
Hollywood Cavalcade
1939
as Mike Connors
Land of Liberty
1939
as Alexander Graham Bell (archive footage)
Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8
1939
as Don Ameche
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell
1939
as Alexander Graham Bell
Midnight
1939
as Tibor Czerny
The Three Musketeers
1939
as D'Artagnan
Gateway
1938
as Dick Court
Josette
1938
as David Brassard Jr.
Alexander's Ragtime Band
1938
as Charlie Dwyer
In Old Chicago
1938
as Jack O'Leary
Happy Landing
1938
as Jimmy Hall
Love Under Fire
1937
as Tracy Egan
You Can't Have Everything
1937
as George Macrae
Fifty Roads to Town
1937
as Peter Nostrand
Love Is News
1937
as Martin J. Canavan
One in a Million
1937
as Bob Harris
Ladies In Love
1936
as Dr. Rudi Imre
Ramona
1936
as Alessandro
Sins of Man
1936
as Karl Freyman / Mario Signarelli