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