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.
Filmography
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing
as (archive footage)
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing
as (archive footage)
Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults
as Self (archiveFootage)
Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults
as Self (archiveFootage)
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
as Self (archive footage)
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
as Self (archive footage)
Corrina, Corrina
as Grandpa Harry
Corrina, Corrina
as Grandpa Harry
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
as Shadow (voice)
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
as Shadow (voice)
Sunstroke
as Jake
Sunstroke
as Jake
Folks!
as Harry Aldrich
Folks!
as Harry Aldrich
Oscar
as Father Clemente
Oscar
as Father Clemente
Oddball Hall
as G. Paul Siebriese
Oddball Hall
as G. Paul Siebriese
Things Change
as Gino
Things Change
as Gino
Cocoon: The Return
as Art Selwyn
Cocoon: The Return
as Art Selwyn
Coming to America
as Mortimer Duke / Homeless Man #2 (uncredited)
Coming to America
as Mortimer Duke / Homeless Man #2 (uncredited)
Harry and the Hendersons
as Dr. Wallace Wrightwood
Harry and the Hendersons
as Dr. Wallace Wrightwood
Pals
as Art Riddle
Pals
as Art Riddle
A Masterpiece of Murder
as Frank Aherne
A Masterpiece of Murder
as Frank Aherne
Cocoon
as Arthur Selwyn
Cocoon
as Arthur Selwyn
Trading Places
as Mortimer Duke
Trading Places
as Mortimer Duke
Night of 100 Stars
as Self
Night of 100 Stars
as Self
The Chinese Typewriter
as Armand Beller
The Chinese Typewriter
as Armand Beller
Gidget Gets Married
as Otis Ramsey
Gidget Gets Married
as Otis Ramsey
Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?
as Col. Flanders
Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?
as Col. Flanders
The Boatniks
as Commander Taylor
The Boatniks
as Commander Taylor
Shadow Over Elveron
as Justin Travers
Shadow Over Elveron
as Justin Travers
Rings Around the World
as Host/Ringmaster
Rings Around the World
as Host/Ringmaster
Picture Mommy Dead
as Edward Shelley
Picture Mommy Dead
as Edward Shelley
A Fever in the Blood
as Senator Alex S. Simon
A Fever in the Blood
as Senator Alex S. Simon
Slightly French
as John Gayle
Slightly French
as John Gayle
Sleep, My Love
as Richard W. Courtland
Sleep, My Love
as Richard W. Courtland
That's My Man
as Joe Grange
That's My Man
as Joe Grange
So Goes My Love
as Hiram Stephen Maxim
So Goes My Love
as Hiram Stephen Maxim
It's in the Bag!
as Don Ameche
It's in the Bag!
as Don Ameche
Greenwich Village
as Kenneth Harvey
Greenwich Village
as Kenneth Harvey
Wing and a Prayer
as Bingo Harper
Wing and a Prayer
as Bingo Harper
Happy Land
as Lew Marsh
Happy Land
as Lew Marsh
Heaven Can Wait
as Henry Van Cleve
Heaven Can Wait
as Henry Van Cleve
Something to Shout About
as Ken Douglas
Something to Shout About
as Ken Douglas
Girl Trouble
as Pedro Sullivan
Girl Trouble
as Pedro Sullivan
The Magnificent Dope
as Dwight Dawson
The Magnificent Dope
as Dwight Dawson
Confirm or Deny
as 'Mitch' Mitchell
Confirm or Deny
as 'Mitch' Mitchell
The Feminine Touch
as John Hathaway
The Feminine Touch
as John Hathaway
Kiss the Boys Goodbye
as Lloyd Lloyd
Kiss the Boys Goodbye
as Lloyd Lloyd
Moon Over Miami
as Phil O'Neil (Credits) / Phil 'Mac' McNeil
Moon Over Miami
as Phil O'Neil (Credits) / Phil 'Mac' McNeil
That Night in Rio
as Larry Martin / Baron Manuel Duarte
That Night in Rio
as Larry Martin / Baron Manuel Duarte
Down Argentine Way
as Ricardo Quintana
Down Argentine Way
as Ricardo Quintana
Four Sons
as Chris Bern
Four Sons
as Chris Bern
Lillian Russell
as Edward Solomon
Lillian Russell
as Edward Solomon
Swanee River
as Stephen Foster
Swanee River
as Stephen Foster
Hollywood Cavalcade
as Mike Connors
Hollywood Cavalcade
as Mike Connors
Land of Liberty
as Alexander Graham Bell (archive footage)
Land of Liberty
as Alexander Graham Bell (archive footage)
Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8
as Don Ameche
Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8
as Don Ameche
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell
as Alexander Graham Bell
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell
as Alexander Graham Bell
Midnight
as Tibor Czerny
Midnight
as Tibor Czerny
The Three Musketeers
as D'Artagnan
The Three Musketeers
as D'Artagnan
Gateway
as Dick Court
Gateway
as Dick Court
Josette
as David Brassard Jr.
Josette
as David Brassard Jr.
Alexander's Ragtime Band
as Charlie Dwyer
Alexander's Ragtime Band
as Charlie Dwyer
In Old Chicago
as Jack O'Leary
In Old Chicago
as Jack O'Leary
Happy Landing
as Jimmy Hall
Happy Landing
as Jimmy Hall
Love Under Fire
as Tracy Egan
Love Under Fire
as Tracy Egan
You Can't Have Everything
as George Macrae
You Can't Have Everything
as George Macrae
Fifty Roads to Town
as Peter Nostrand
Fifty Roads to Town
as Peter Nostrand
Love Is News
as Martin J. Canavan
Love Is News
as Martin J. Canavan
One in a Million
as Bob Harris
One in a Million
as Bob Harris
Ladies in Love
as Dr. Rudi Imre
Ladies in Love
as Dr. Rudi Imre
Ramona
as Alessandro
Ramona
as Alessandro
Sins of Man
as Karl Freyman / Mario Signarelli
Sins of Man
as Karl Freyman / Mario Signarelli