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. T…
Movies & TV Shows
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Coming to America (1988) — Mortimer Duke / Homeless Man #2 (uncredited)
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Trading Places (1983) — Mortimer Duke
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Cocoon (1985) — Arthur Selwyn
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Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993) — Shadow (voice)
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Cocoon: The Return (1988) — Art Selwyn
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Columbo (1971) — Frank Simpson
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Harry and the Hendersons (1987) — Dr. Wallace Wrightwood
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Oscar (1991) — Father Clemente
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Corrina, Corrina (1994) — Grandpa Harry
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The Golden Girls (1985) — Brother Martin
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Heaven Can Wait (1943) — Henry Van Cleve
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The Love Boat (1977) — Stewart Coolidge
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Quincy, M.E. (1976) — Harry Whitehead
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Midnight (1939) — Tibor Czerny
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The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) — Self
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Things Change (1988) — Gino
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Sleep, My Love (1948) — Richard W. Courtland
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McCloud (1970)
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In Old Chicago (1938) — Jack O'Leary
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Ellery Queen (1975) — Dr. Norman Marsh
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Petticoat Junction (1963) — Uncle George
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Folks! (1992) — Harry Aldrich
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Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938) — Charlie Dwyer
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Alias Smith and Jones (1971)
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The Boatniks (1970) — Commander Taylor
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Down Argentine Way (1940) — Ricardo Quintana
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What's My Line? (1950) — Self
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The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) — Self
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That Night in Rio (1941) — Larry Martin / Baron Manuel Duarte
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The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939) — Alexander Graham Bell
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Moon Over Miami (1941) — Phil O'Neil (Credits) / Phil 'Mac' McNeil
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Picture Mommy Dead (1966) — Edward Shelley
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The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender (1997) — Self (archive footage)
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Wing and a Prayer (1944) — Bingo Harper
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Guest Wife (1945) — Joseph Jefferson 'Joe' Parker
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Lillian Russell (1940) — Edward Solomon
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The Magnificent Dope (1942) — Dwight Dawson
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Burke's Law (1963) — Whitman Saunders
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Climax! (1954) — Sam Waterman
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Love Is News (1937) — Martin J. Canavan