DA
Don Ameche
Actor, Director
Born May 31, 1908Died December 6, 1993 (85 years)
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.
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
Filmography
| 2009 | Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing · as (archive Footage) |
| 2000 | Twentieth Century Fox: The Blockbuster Years · as Arthur Selwyn |
| 2000 | |
| 1994 | Corrina, Corrina · as Grandpa Harry |
| 1993 | Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey · as Shadow (voice) |
| 1992 | Sunstroke · as Jake |
| 1992 | Folks! · as Harry Aldrich |
| 1991 | Our Shining Moment · as John 'papa' Mcguire Sr. |
| 1991 | Oscar · as Father Clemente |
| 1990 | Oddball Hall · as G. Paul Siebriese |
| 1988 | Cocoon: The Return · as Art Selwyn |
| 1988 | Things Change · as Gino |
| 1988 | Coming to America · as Mortimer Duke / Homeless Man #2 (uncredited) |
| 1987 | Harry and the Hendersons · as Dr. Wallace Wrightwood |
| 1987 | Pals · as Fern Stobbs |
| 1986 | A Masterpiece of Murder · as Frank Aherne |
| 1985 | The Golden Girls (TV Series) · as Brother Martin |
| 1985 | Cocoon · as Arthur Selwyn |
| 1983 | Mr Smith (TV Series) · as Dr. Breckenridge |
| 1983 | Trading Places · as Mortimer Duke |
| 1977 | The Love Boat (TV Series) · as Hollis Witkin |
| 1977 | Fantasy Island (TV Series) · as Ferrini |
| 1976 | Quincy, M.E. (TV Series) · as Harry Whitehead |
| 1976 | Good Heavens (TV Series) |
| 1975 | Ellery Queen (TV Series) · as Dr. Norman Marsh |
| 1972 | Gidget Gets Married · as Otis Ramsey |
| 1971 | Columbo (TV Series) · as Frank Simpson |
| 1971 | Alias Smith and Jones (TV Series) |
| 1970 | Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came · as Col. Flanders |
| 1970 | The Boatniks · as Commander Taylor |
| 1970 | McCloud (TV Series) |
| 1968 | Julia (TV Series) · as Dr. Foster Prestwick |
| 1968 | Shadow Over Elveron · as Justin Travers |
| 1966 | Picture Mommy Dead · as Edward Shelley |
| 1963 | Petticoat Junction (TV Series) · as Uncle George |
| 1963 | Burke's Law (TV Series) · as Whitman Saunders |
| 1963 | The Greatest Show on Earth (TV Series) · as Collie Mccullough |
| 1961 | A Fever in the Blood · as Senator Alex S. Simon |
| 1957 | The DuPont Show of the Month (TV Series) · as Harry Graves |
| 1954 | Climax! (TV Series) · as Sam Waterman |
| 1951 | Goodyear Television Playhouse (TV Series) · as Burnham Wicks |
| 1949 | Family Theatre (TV Series) · as Leader Of Rosary |
| 1949 | Slightly French · as John Gayle |
| 1948 | The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1948 | Sleep, My Love · as Richard W. Courtland |
| 1947 | That's My Man · as Joe Grange |
| 1946 | So Goes My Love · as Hiram Stephen Maxim |
| 1945 | Guest Wife · as Joseph Jefferson 'joe' Parker |
| 1944 | Greenwich Village · as Kenneth Harvey |
| 1944 | Wing and a Prayer · as Bingo Harper |
| 1943 | Happy Land · as Lew Marsh |
| 1943 | Heaven Can Wait · as Henry Van Cleve |
| 1943 | Something to Shout About · as Ken Douglas |
| 1942 | The Magnificent Dope · as Dwight Dawson |
| 1942 | Girl Trouble · as Pedro Sullivan |
| 1941 | Confirm or Deny · as 'mitch' Mitchell |
| 1941 | The Feminine Touch · as John Hathaway |
| 1941 | Kiss the Boys Goodbye · as Lloyd Lloyd |
| 1941 | Moon Over Miami · as Phil O'neil (credits) / Phil 'mac' Mcneil |
| 1941 | That Night in Rio · as Larry Martin / Baron Manuel Duarte |
| 1940 | Down Argentine Way · as Ricardo Quintana |
| 1940 | Four Sons · as Chris Bern |
| 1940 | Lillian Russell · as Edward Solomon |
| 1939 | Swanee River · as Stephen Foster |
| 1939 | Hollywood Cavalcade · as Mike Connors |
| 1939 | Land of Liberty · as Alexander Graham Bell (archive Footage) |
| 1939 | The Story of Alexander Graham Bell · as Alexander Graham Bell |
| 1939 | Midnight · as Tibor Czerny |
| 1939 | The Three Musketeers · as D'artagnan |
| 1938 | Alexander's Ragtime Band · as Charlie Dwyer |
| 1938 | Gateway · as Dick Court |
| 1938 | Josette · as David Brassard Jr. |
| 1938 | In Old Chicago · as Jack O'leary |
| 1938 | Happy Landing · as Jimmy Hall |
| 1937 | Love Under Fire · as Tracy Egan |
| 1937 | You Can't Have Everything · as George Macrae |
| 1937 | Fifty Roads to Town · as Peter Nostrand |
| 1937 | Love Is News · as Martin J. Canavan |
| 1936 | One in a Million · as Bob Harris |
| 1936 | Ladies in Love · as Dr. Rudi Imre |
| 1936 | Ramona · as Alessandro |
| 1935 | Dante's Inferno · as Man In Stoke-Hold |
| 1935 | Clive of India · as Prisoner In The Black Hole |