Don Ameche

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

94

Gender

Male

Birthday

1908-05-31

Day of death

1993-12-06 (85 years old)

Place of Birth

Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA

Don Ameche

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.

Known For

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • Columbo

    Columbo

  • The Love Boat

    The Love Boat

  • The Love Boat

    The Love Boat

  • The Love Boat

    The Love Boat

  • Quincy, M.E.

    Quincy, M.E.

  • The Merv Griffin Show

    The Merv Griffin Show

  • Climax!

    Climax!

  • The Golden Girls

    The Golden Girls

  • Petticoat Junction

    Petticoat Junction

  • What's My Line?

    What's My Line?

  • What's My Line?

    What's My Line?

  • McCloud

    McCloud

  • Burke's Law

    Burke's Law

  • The Ed Sullivan Show

    The Ed Sullivan Show

  • Tonight Starring Jack Paar

    Tonight Starring Jack Paar

  • Alias Smith and Jones

    Alias Smith and Jones

  • Trading Places

    Trading Places

  • Ellery Queen

    Ellery Queen

  • Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

    Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

  • Coming to America

    Coming to America

  • DuPont Show of the Month

    DuPont Show of the Month

  • Heaven Can Wait

    Heaven Can Wait

  • The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender

    The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender

  • Cocoon: The Return

    Cocoon: The Return

  • One in a Million

    One in a Million

  • The Greatest Show on Earth

    The Greatest Show on Earth

  • Oscar

    Oscar

  • Down Argentine Way

    Down Argentine Way

  • Things Change

    Things Change

  • The American Film Institute Salute to ...

    The American Film Institute Salute to ...

  • Cocoon

    Cocoon

  • Corrina, Corrina

    Corrina, Corrina

  • Hollywood Cavalcade

    Hollywood Cavalcade

  • Moon Over Miami

    Moon Over Miami

  • Wing and a Prayer

    Wing and a Prayer

  • Folks!

    Folks!

  • In Old Chicago

    In Old Chicago

  • The Lux Show

    The Lux Show

  • Good Heavens

    Good Heavens

  • Swanee River

    Swanee River

  • So Goes My Love

    So Goes My Love

  • The Boatniks

    The Boatniks

  • Harry and the Hendersons

    Harry and the Hendersons

  • Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8

    Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8

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

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

  • Midnight

    Midnight

  • Shadow Over Elveron

    Shadow Over Elveron

  • Slightly French

    Slightly French

  • The Three Musketeers

    The Three Musketeers

  • The Feminine Touch

    The Feminine Touch

  • Picture Mommy Dead

    Picture Mommy Dead

  • Sins of Man

    Sins of Man

  • Gateway

    Gateway

  • The Magnificent Dope

    The Magnificent Dope

  • Josette

    Josette

  • Love Under Fire

    Love Under Fire

  • That's My Man

    That's My Man

  • Alexander's Ragtime Band

    Alexander's Ragtime Band

  • Confirm or Deny

    Confirm or Deny

  • Night of 100 Stars

    Night of 100 Stars

  • Ramona

    Ramona

  • Pals

    Pals

  • A Fever in the Blood

    A Fever in the Blood

  • Happy Land

    Happy Land

  • Sleep, My Love

    Sleep, My Love

  • The Story of Alexander Graham Bell

    The Story of Alexander Graham Bell

  • Greenwich Village

    Greenwich Village

  • Fifty Roads to Town

    Fifty Roads to Town

  • Land of Liberty

    Land of Liberty

  • Kiss the Boys Goodbye

    Kiss the Boys Goodbye

  • Ladies in Love

    Ladies in Love

  • Gidget Gets Married

    Gidget Gets Married

  • Four Sons

    Four Sons

  • Happy Landing

    Happy Landing

  • Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?

    Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?

  • You Can't Have Everything

    You Can't Have Everything

  • It's in the Bag!

    It's in the Bag!

  • The Chinese Typewriter

    The Chinese Typewriter

  • Guest Wife

    Guest Wife

  • Something to Shout About

    Something to Shout About

  • Coke Time with Eddie Fisher

    Coke Time with Eddie Fisher

  • Love Is News

    Love Is News

  • Our Shining Moment

    Our Shining Moment

  • Sunstroke

    Sunstroke

  • A Masterpiece of Murder

    A Masterpiece of Murder

  • Lillian Russell

    Lillian Russell

  • Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing

    Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing

  • Oddball Hall

    Oddball Hall

  • That Night in Rio

    That Night in Rio

  • Girl Trouble

    Girl Trouble

  • Rings Around the World

    Rings Around the World