Don Ameche

Known for ActingBorn 1908-05-31Died 1993-12-06Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA

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.Read more

Movies & web series

A Masterpiece of Murder

Fifty Roads to Town

Oddball Hall

Coke Time with Eddie Fisher

Land of Liberty

Sins of Man

Our Shining Moment

Columbo

Girl Trouble

Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults

The Golden Girls

Quincy, M.E.

Ellery Queen

The Kennedy Center Honors

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Greatest Show on Earth

Tonight Starring Jack Paar

Trading Places

Slightly French

DuPont Show of the Month

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

McCloud

So Goes My Love

Midnight

The Chinese Typewriter

Coming to America

Good Heavens

Gateway

The Magnificent Dope

Alias Smith and Jones

Corrina, Corrina

Josette

Night of 100 Stars

Happy Land

What's My Line?

Cocoon

Four Sons

Swanee River

One in a Million

Cocoon: The Return

The Ed Sullivan Show

Heaven Can Wait

Oscar

Shadow Over Elveron

The Merv Griffin Show

A Fever in the Blood

Alexander's Ragtime Band

Wing and a Prayer