Don Ameche

Don Ameche

1908-05-31 – 1993-12-06 (age 85) Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA
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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.

Photos

Known For

Trading Places
Trading Places

1983

as Mortimer Duke

Coming to America
Coming to America

1988

as Mortimer Duke / Homeless Man #2 (uncredited)

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
Cocoon
Cocoon

1985

as Arthur Selwyn

Oscar
Oscar

1991

as Father Clemente

Harry and the Hendersons
Harry and the Hendersons

1987

as Dr. Wallace Wrightwood

Corrina, Corrina
Corrina, Corrina

1994

as Grandpa Harry

Cocoon: The Return
Cocoon: The Return

1988

as Art Selwyn

Heaven Can Wait
Heaven Can Wait

1943

as Henry Van Cleve

Folks!
Folks!

1992

as Harry Aldrich

Lillian Russell
Lillian Russell

1940

as Edward Solomon

The Boatniks
The Boatniks

1970

as Commander Taylor

Night of 100 Stars
You Can't Have Everything
You Can't Have Everything

1937

as George Macrae

Happy Land
Happy Land

1943

as Lew Marsh

Pals
Pals

1987

as Art Riddle

The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender

1997

as Self (archive footage)

Hollywood Cavalcade
Hollywood Cavalcade

1939

as Mike Connors

Alexander's Ragtime Band
Alexander's Ragtime Band

1938

as Charlie Dwyer

Sleep, My Love
Sleep, My Love

1948

as Richard W. Courtland