Don Ameche

Don Ameche

Deceased · Born: May 31, 1908 · Died: Dec 6, 1993

Personal Details

BornMay 31, 1908 Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA
Parents
  • Felice Amici
  • Barbara Etta Hertel
Relatives
  • Jim Ameche (Sibling)

Biography

Dominic Felix Amici, better known by his stage name Don Ameche, was a multifaceted and extremely well-liked American film actor, renowned for his captivating performances in the 1930s and 1940s, often portraying the charismatic, mustachioed leading man with ease. In addition to his illustrious film career, he also enjoyed immense popularity as a radio master of ceremonies during this period.

As his cinematic popularity began to wane in the 1950s, Ameche continued to hone his craft in the world of theater and television, ensuring that his passion for acting remained unwavering. However, it was not until the 1980s that his film career experienced a remarkable resurgence, courtesy of his outstanding performances in notable films such as Trading Places (1983) and Cocoon (1985),in which he brought to life the character of an aging millionaire and a rejuvenated oldster, respectively.

Born Dominic Felix Amici on June 31, 1908, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Barbara Edda (Hertel) and Felice Amici, a bartender, Ameche's early life was marked by a strong foundation in the arts, laying the groundwork for his future success in the entertainment industry.

Career

1994
Corrina, Corrina
Corrina, Corrina as Grandpa Harry
1992
Folks!
Folks! as Harry Aldrich
1991
Oscar
Oscar as Father Clemente
1990
Oddball Hall
Oddball Hall as G. Paul Siebriese
1988
Coming to America
Coming to America as Mortimer Duke / Homeless Man #2 (uncredited)
1987
Pals
Pals as Fern Stobbs
Harry and the Hendersons
Harry and the Hendersons as Dr. Wallace Wrightwood
1986
1985
Cocoon
Cocoon as Arthur Selwyn
1983
Trading Places
Trading Places as Mortimer Duke
1979
The Chinese Typewriter
The Chinese Typewriter as Armand Beller
1972
Gidget Gets Married
Gidget Gets Married as Otis Ramsey
1970
The Boatniks
The Boatniks as Commander Taylor
1968
Shadow Over Elveron
Shadow Over Elveron as Justin Travers
1967
Rings Around the World
Rings Around the World as Host/Ringmaster
1966
Picture Mommy Dead
Picture Mommy Dead as Edward Shelley
1961
A Fever in the Blood
A Fever in the Blood as Senator Alex S. Simon
1949
Slightly French
Slightly French as John Gayle
1948
Sleep, My Love
Sleep, My Love as Richard W. Courtland
1947
That's My Man
That's My Man as Joe Grange
1946
So Goes My Love
So Goes My Love as Hiram Stephen Maxim
1945
Guest Wife
Guest Wife as Joseph Jefferson 'Joe' Parker
It's in the Bag!
It's in the Bag! as Don Ameche
1944
Wing and a Prayer
Wing and a Prayer as Bingo Harper
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village as Kenneth Harvey
1943
Heaven Can Wait
Heaven Can Wait as Henry Van Cleve
Happy Land
Happy Land as Lew Marsh
1942
Girl Trouble
Girl Trouble as Pedro Sullivan
The Magnificent Dope
The Magnificent Dope as Dwight Dawson
1941
Moon Over Miami
Moon Over Miami as Phil O'Neil (Credits) / Phil 'Mac' McNeil
The Feminine Touch
The Feminine Touch as John Hathaway
Confirm or Deny
Confirm or Deny as 'Mitch' Mitchell
That Night in Rio
That Night in Rio as Larry Martin / Baron Manuel Duarte
1940
Four Sons
Four Sons as Chris Bern
Down Argentine Way
Down Argentine Way as Ricardo Quintana
Lillian Russell
Lillian Russell as Edward Solomon
1939
Swanee River
Swanee River as Stephen Foster
Hollywood Cavalcade
Hollywood Cavalcade as Mike Connors
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell as Alexander Graham Bell
Midnight
Midnight as Tibor Czerny
1938
Happy Landing
Happy Landing as Jimmy Hall
Josette
Josette as David Brassard Jr.
In Old Chicago
In Old Chicago as Jack O'Leary
Gateway
Gateway as Dick Court
1937
Love Under Fire
Love Under Fire as Tracy Egan
One in a Million
One in a Million as Bob Harris
Love Is News
Love Is News as Martin J. Canavan
1936
Ladies in Love
Ladies in Love as Dr. Rudi Imre
Ramona
Ramona as Alessandro
Sins of Man
Sins of Man as Karl Freyman / Mario Signarelli