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Don Ameche

Don Ameche

Birthday: 1908-05-31 | Place of Birth: Kenosha, 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.

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Known For

Acting

Year
Title

Role

1997
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender

as    Self (archive footage)

1994
Corrina, Corrina

as    Grandpa Harry

1993
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

as    Shadow (voice)

1992
Folks!

as    Harry Aldrich

1992
Sunstroke

as    Jake

1988
Cocoon: The Return

as    Art Selwyn

1988
Things Change

as    Gino

1987
Harry and the Hendersons

as    Dr. Wallace Wrightwood

1987
Pals

as    Fern Stobbs

1986
A Masterpiece of Murder

as    Frank Aherne

1985
Cocoon

as    Arthur Selwyn

1983
Trading Places

as    Mortimer Duke

1982
Night of 100 Stars

as    Self

1979
The Chinese Typewriter

as    Armand Beller

1972
Gidget Gets Married

as    Otis Ramsey

1971
Suitable for Framing

as    Frank Simpson

1970
1970
The Boatniks

as    Commander Taylor

1968
Shadow Over Elveron

as    Justin Travers

1967
Rings Around the World

as    Host/Ringmaster

1966
Picture Mommy Dead

as    Edward Shelley

1949
Slightly French

as    John Gayle

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
It's in the Bag!

as    Don Ameche