CINEFILER

Don Ameche

Born
May 31, 1908
Died
December 6, 1993
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
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.
Academy Awards
Best Supporting Actor
Known For
Coming to America
(1988)
Mortimer Duke / Homeless Man #2 (uncredited)
Trading Places
(1983)
Mortimer Duke
Harry and the Hendersons
(1987)
Dr. Wallace Wrightwood
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
(1993)
Shadow (voice)
Cocoon
(1985)
Arthur Selwyn
Midnight
(1939)
Tibor Czerny
Oscar
(1991)
Father Clemente
Cocoon: The Return
(1988)
Art Selwyn
Heaven Can Wait
(1943)
Henry Van Cleve
Corrina, Corrina
(1994)
Grandpa Harry
Sleep, My Love
(1948)
Richard W. Courtland
Alexander's Ragtime Band
(1938)
Charlie Dwyer
Happy Landing
(1938)
Jimmy Hall
In Old Chicago
(1938)
Jack O'Leary
Full Filmography
Acting
Ramona
(1936)
Alessandro
Ladies In Love
(1936)
Dr. Rudi Imre
Sins of Man
(1936)
Karl Freyman / Mario Signarelli
Love Is News
(1937)
Martin J. Canavan
One in a Million
(1937)
Bob Harris
Love Under Fire
(1937)
Tracy Egan
You Can't Have Everything
(1937)
George Macrae
Fifty Roads to Town
(1937)
Peter Nostrand
Happy Landing
(1938)
Jimmy Hall
Alexander's Ragtime Band
(1938)
Charlie Dwyer
In Old Chicago
(1938)
Jack O'Leary
Josette
(1938)
David Brassard Jr.
Gateway
(1938)
Dick Court
Midnight
(1939)
Tibor Czerny
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell
(1939)
Alexander Graham Bell
Hollywood Cavalcade
(1939)
Mike Connors
The Three Musketeers
(1939)
D'Artagnan
Swanee River
(1939)
Stephen Foster
Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8
(1939)
Don Ameche
Land of Liberty
(1939)
Alexander Graham Bell (archive footage)
Down Argentine Way
(1940)
Ricardo Quintana
Four Sons
(1940)
Chris Bern
Lillian Russell
(1940)
Edward Solomon
Moon Over Miami
(1941)
Phil O'Neil (Credits) / Phil 'Mac' McNeil
That Night in Rio
(1941)
Larry Martin / Baron Manuel Duarte
Confirm or Deny
(1941)
'Mitch' Mitchell
The Feminine Touch
(1941)
John Hathaway
Kiss the Boys Goodbye
(1941)
Lloyd Lloyd
The Magnificent Dope
(1942)
Dwight Dawson
Girl Trouble
(1942)
Pedro Sullivan
Heaven Can Wait
(1943)
Henry Van Cleve
Something to Shout About
(1943)
Ken Douglas
Happy Land
(1943)
Lew Marsh
Wing and a Prayer
(1944)
Bingo Harper
Greenwich Village
(1944)
Kenneth Harvey
Guest Wife
(1945)
Joseph Jefferson 'Joe' Parker
It's in the Bag!
(1945)
Don Ameche
So Goes My Love
(1946)
Hiram Stephen Maxim
That's My Man
(1947)
Joe Grange
Sleep, My Love
(1948)
Richard W. Courtland
Slightly French
(1949)
John Gayle
A Fever in the Blood
(1961)
Senator Alex S. Simon
Picture Mommy Dead
(1966)
Edward Shelley
Rings Around the World
(1967)
Host/Ringmaster
Shadow Over Elveron
(1968)
Justin Travers
The Boatniks
(1970)
Commander Taylor
Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?
(1970)
Col. Flanders
Gidget Gets Married
(1972)
Otis Ramsey
Night of 100 Stars
(1982)
Self
Trading Places
(1983)
Mortimer Duke
Cocoon
(1985)
Arthur Selwyn
A Masterpiece of Murder
(1986)
Frank Aherne
Harry and the Hendersons
(1987)
Dr. Wallace Wrightwood
Pals
(1987)
Fern Stobbs
Cocoon: The Return
(1988)
Art Selwyn
Things Change
(1988)
Gino
Coming to America
(1988)
Mortimer Duke / Homeless Man #2 (uncredited)
Oddball Hall
(1990)
G. Paul Siebriese
Oscar
(1991)
Father Clemente
Folks!
(1992)
Harry Aldrich
Sunstroke
(1992)
Jake
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
(1993)
Shadow (voice)
Corrina, Corrina
(1994)
Grandpa Harry
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
(1997)
Self (archive footage)
Data provided by TMDB