Don Ameche (/??mi?t?i/; May 31, 1908 – December 6, 1993) was an American actor, voice artist, and comedian, with a career spanning almost 60 years.After touring in vaudeville, he featured in many biographical films, including The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939). He continued to appear on Broadway, as well as on radio and TV, where he was host and commentator for International Showtime, covering circus and ice-shows all over Europe. Ameche remained married to his wife Honore for fifty-four years, and they had six children.
| Full Name | Don Ameche |
| Net Worth | $5 Million |
| Date Of Birth | May 31, 1908 |
| Died | December 6, 1993, Scottsdale, Arizona, United States |
| Place Of Birth | Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA |
| Height | 1.79 m |
| Occupation | Actor, voice artist, and comedian |
| Profession | TV Personality, Actor, Radio personality |
| Education | Marquette University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Loras College |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Honore Prendergast |
| Children | Connie Ameche, Dominic Ameche, Ronald Ameche, Lonnie Ameche, Thomas Ameche, Bonnie Ameche |
| Parents | Barbara Etta Amici, Felice Amici |
| Siblings | Jim Ameche, Jane Ameche, Elizabeth Ameche, Ann Ameche, Louis Ameche, Catherine Ameche, Umberto Ameche |
| Nicknames | Ameche, Don, Don Ameche |
| IMDB | |
| Awards | Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Volpi Cup for Best Actor |
| Movies | Trading Places, Cocoon, Heaven Can Wait, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, Cocoon: The Return, Coming to America, Harry and the Hendersons, Down Argentine Way, Folks!, That Night in Rio, Oscar, Corrina, Corrina, In Old Chicago, Moon Over Miami, Things Change, Alexander's Ragtime Band, The Stor... |
| TV Shows | Coke Time with Eddie Fisher, Holiday Hotel, Take a Chance |
| Star Sign | Gemini |
| # | Fact |
|---|
| 1 | Attended Hollywood for Dewey Rally on Oct. 18, 1944. Other attendees included: Randolph Scott, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Ginger Rogers, and Barbra Stanwyck. |
| 2 | Although he played Tod Andrews' father in Heaven Can Wait (1943), he was only six years his senior in real life. |
| 3 | He was considered for the role of Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather (1972) before Marlon Brando was cast. He was later mentioned by name in The Godfather: Part III (1990) when Joey Zasa (Joe Mantegna said, "We got Don Ameche, who played the guy that invented the telephone," a reference to his role as Alexander Graham Bell in The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939). |
| 4 | Had not acted for 13 years when he was cast in Trading Places (1983). The role revitalized his career and he acted consistently until only a month before his passing. |
| 5 | He frequently apologized to his Trading Places (1983) co-star Eddie Murphy for the racist statements that his character made in the film. |
| 6 | Made only five films from 1949 to 1983. |
| 7 | He died only eight days before his So Goes My Love (1946) co-star Myrna Loy. |
| 8 | He worked with Tyrone Power in Ladies in Love (1936), In Old Chicago (1937), Love Is News (1937) and Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938) and with his son Tyrone Power Jr. in Cocoon (1985) and Cocoon: The Return (1988). |
| 9 | He was a Republican who attended the Hollywood for Dewey Rally in 1944. Also a member of the Catholic group, the Christophers. |
| 10 | When his children's names are all expressed as nicknames, they rhyme, Ronnie, Donnie, Tommie, Lonnie, Bonnie, and Connie. |
| 11 | Ameche's salary, which was $34,499 in 1936 and $51,833 in 1937, grew to $147,824 in 1940. |
| 12 | In The French Connection (1971), a mafia figure is followed to a NYC building in which "the actor, Don Ameche, lives". |
| 13 | He was awarded two Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6101 Hollywood Boulevard and for Radio at 6313 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. |
| 14 | 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. |
| 15 | Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 3, 1991-1993, pages 11-13. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2001. |
| 16 | Father of Don Ameche Jr.. |
| 17 | Calling the telephone the "Don Ameche" became popular American Slang in the 1930s and '40s due to his role as Alexander Graham Bell |
| 18 | Attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa |
| 19 | Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald S. Smith, pg. 51-53 (article titled "The Bickersons"). New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387 |
| 20 | He became a major star on radio. His teaming with Frances Langford as "The Bickersons" is regarded as classic comedy on radio. "The Bickersons" were revived for a series or record albums. |
| 21 | Inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1992. |
| 22 | Portrayed Alexander Graham Bell in The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939) in 1939. In 1957, his brother, Jim Ameche, portrayed Bell in The Story of Mankind (1957). |
| 23 | Father of six children: Ronald, Dominic Jr., Thomas, Lonnie, Bonnie and Connie. |
| 24 | Interred at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery (formerly St. Philomina's), Dubuque, Iowa. (Grave unmarked). |
| 25 | Brother of actor Jim Ameche. |
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|
| Corrina, Corrina | 1994 | | Grandpa Harry |
| Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey | 1993 | | Shadow (voice) |
| Sunstroke | 1992 | TV Movie | Jake |
| Folks! | 1992 | | Harry Aldrich |
| Pros and Cons | 1991 | TV Series | |
| Our Shining Moment | 1991 | TV Movie | John 'Papa' McGuire Sr. |
| Oscar | 1991 | | Father Clemente |
| The Golden Girls | 1990 | TV Series | Brother Martin |
| Oddball Hall | 1990 | | G. Paul Siebriese |
| Cocoon: The Return | 1988 | | Art Selwyn |
| Things Change | 1988 | | Gino |
| Coming to America | 1988 | | Mortimer Duke |
| Harry and the Hendersons | 1987 | | Dr. Wallace Wrightwood |
| Pals | 1987 | TV Movie | Art Riddle |
| A Masterpiece of Murder | 1986 | TV Movie | Frank Aherne |
| Cocoon | 1985 | | Art Selwyn |
| Not in Front of the Kids | 1984 | TV Movie | Ben Rosen |
| The Love Boat | 1979-1984 | TV Series | Stewart Coolidge / Hollis Witkin / Henry Dobson |
| Mr. Smith | 1983 | TV Series | Dr. Breckenridge |
| Trading Places | 1983 | | Mortimer Duke |
| Fantasy Island | 1980 | TV Series | Ferini |
| The Chinese Typewriter | 1979 | TV Movie | Armand Beller |
| Quincy M.E. | 1979 | TV Series | Harry Whitehead |
| Good Heavens | 1976 | TV Series | Clay |
| Ellery Queen | 1975 | TV Series | Dr. Norman Marsh |
| McCloud | 1975 | TV Series | Rene Jauvert |
| Gidget Gets Married | 1972 | TV Movie | Otis Ramsey |
| Alias Smith and Jones | 1971 | TV Series | Diamond Jim Guffy |
| Columbo | 1971 | TV Series | Frank Simpson |
| Shepherd's Flock | 1971 | TV Movie | Dr. Hewitt |
| Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? | 1970 | | Col. Flanders |
| The Boatniks | 1970 | | Commander Taylor |
| Julia | 1969-1970 | TV Series | Dr. Foster Prestwick |
| Petticoat Junction | 1970 | TV Series | Uncle George |
| Shadow Over Elveron | 1968 | TV Movie | Justin Pettit |
| Picture Mommy Dead | 1966 | | Edward Shelley |
| The Christophers | 1963-1964 | TV Series | |
| Burke's Law | 1964 | TV Series | Whitman Saunders |
| The Greatest Show on Earth | 1964 | TV Series | Collie McCullough |
| A Fever in the Blood | 1961 | | Senator Alex S. Simon |
| Climax! | 1958 | TV Series | Sam Waterman |
| The DuPont Show of the Month | 1957 | TV Series | Harry Graves |
| Goodyear Playhouse | 1957 | TV Series | Burnham Wicks |
| Saturday Spectacular: High Button Shoes | 1956 | TV Movie | Henry Longstreet (uncredited) |
| Fire One | 1954 | TV Movie | Commander Cannon |
| Phantom Caravan | 1954 | | Lawrence Evans |
| Family Theatre | 1953 | TV Series | Leader of Rosary |
| The Frances Langford-Don Ameche Show | 1951 | TV Series | Co-host (1951-52) |
| Don Ameche's Musical Playhouse | 1950 | TV Series | Host (1950-1951) |
| The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre | 1949 | TV Series | |
| Slightly French | 1949 | | John Gayle |
| Sleep, My Love | 1948 | | Richard W. Courtland |
| That's My Man | 1947 | | Joe Grange |
| So Goes My Love | 1946 | | Hiram Stephen Maxim |
| Guest Wife | 1945 | | Joseph Jefferson 'Joe' Parker |
| It's in the Bag! | 1945 | | Don Ameche |
| Greenwich Village | 1944 | | Kenneth Harvey |
| Wing and a Prayer | 1944 | | Flight Cmdr. Bingo Harper |
| Happy Land | 1943 | | Lew Marsh |
| Heaven Can Wait | 1943 | | Henry Van Cleve |
| Something to Shout About | 1943 | | Ken Douglas |
| Girl Trouble | 1942 | | Pedro Sullivan |
| The Magnificent Dope | 1942 | | Dwight Dawson |
| Confirm or Deny | 1941 | | 'Mitch' Mitchell |
| The Feminine Touch | 1941 | | John Hathaway |
| Kiss the Boys Goodbye | 1941 | | Lloyd Lloyd |
| Moon Over Miami | 1941 | | Phil O'Neil (Credits) |
| That Night in Rio | 1941 | | Larry Martin / Baron Duarte |
| Down Argentine Way | 1940 | | Ricardo Quintana |
| Four Sons | 1940 | | Chris |
| Lillian Russell | 1940 | | Edward Solomon |
| Swanee River | 1939 | | Stephen Foster |
| Hollywood Cavalcade | 1939 | | Michael Linnett Connors |
| The Story of Alexander Graham Bell | 1939 | | Alexander Graham Bell |
| Midnight | 1939 | | Tibor Czerny |
| The Three Musketeers | 1939 | | D'Artagnan |
| Gateway | 1938 | | Dick Court |
| Josette | 1938 | | David Brassard Jr. |
| Alexander's Ragtime Band | 1938 | | Charlie Dwyer |
| Happy Landing | 1938 | | Jimmy Hall |
| In Old Chicago | 1937 | | Jack O'Leary |
| Love Under Fire | 1937 | | Tracy Egan |
| You Can't Have Everything | 1937 | | George Macrae |
| Fifty Roads to Town | 1937 | | Peter Nostrand |
| Love Is News | 1937 | | Martin J. Canavan |
| One in a Million | 1936 | | Bob Harris |
| Ladies in Love | 1936 | | Dr. Rudi Imre |
| Ramona | 1936 | | Alessandro |
| Sins of Man | 1936 | | Karl Freyman / Mario Signarelli |
| Dante's Inferno | 1935 | | Man in Stoke-Hold (uncredited) |
| Clive of India | 1935 | | Prisoner in the Black Hole (unconfirmed, uncredited) |
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|
| Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults | 1997 | TV Movie documentary performer: "Easter Parade" uncredited, "Some Sunny Day" | |
| Cocoon | 1985 | performer: "I'm in the Mood for Love", "Some Enchanted Evening" | |
| Beloved Infidel | 1959 | performer: "Boa Noite Good-Night" - uncredited | |
| The DuPont Show of the Month | 1957 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
| Slightly French | 1949 | performer: "Let's Fall in Love" | |
| It's in the Bag! | 1945 | performer: "The Curse of an Aching Heart" 1913 - uncredited | |
| Greenwich Village | 1944 | performer: "Swingin' Down the Lane", "When You Wore a Tulip and I Wore a Big Red Rose" - uncredited | |
| Something to Shout About | 1943 | performer: "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" | |
| The Magnificent Dope | 1942 | performer: "Shortnin' Bread" - uncredited | |
| Kiss the Boys Goodbye | 1941 | "Find Yourself a Melody" / performer: "I'll Never Let a Day Pass By" | |
| Moon Over Miami | 1941 | "You Started Something" 1941 / performer: "I've Got You All To Myself" 1941, "Loveliness and Love" 1941 | |
| That Night in Rio | 1941 | performer: "Chica Chica Boom Chic", "The Conference", "They Met in Rio A Midnight Serenade", "Boa Noite Good-Night" - uncredited | |
| Down Argentine Way | 1940 | performer: "Down Argentina Way" 1940, "Two Dreams Met" 1940 - uncredited | |
| Lillian Russell | 1940 | performer: "Adored One" 1940, "Blue Lovebird" 1940, "After the Ball" 1892 uncredited | |
| The Three Musketeers | 1939 | "My Lady" 1939, uncredited / performer: "Song of the Musketeers" 1939, "My Lady" 1939, "Voila" 1939 - uncredited | |
| Alexander's Ragtime Band | 1938 | performer: "Alexander's Ragtime Band" 1911, "Now It Can Be Told" 1938, "Easter Parade" 1933, "Some Sunny Day" 1922 - uncredited | |
| Happy Landing | 1938 | performer: "A Gypsy Told Me" | |
| In Old Chicago | 1937 | performer: "Sweet Genevieve" 1869, "The Irish Washerwoman" - uncredited | |
| You Can't Have Everything | 1937 | "Afraid to Dream" 1937, "Please Pardon Us, We're in Love" 1937, uncredited / performer: "Afraid to Dream" 1937 - uncredited | |
| One in a Million | 1936 | performer: "Who's Afraid of Love?" 1936 | |
| Ramona | 1936 | lyrics: "How the Rabbit Lost His Tail" 1936 - uncredited | |
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|
| Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8 | 1939 | Documentary short | Himself |
| One on One with John Tesh | 1992 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Reflections on the Silver Screen | 1991 | TV Series | Himself |
| The 8th Annual American Cinema Awards | 1991 | TV Special | Himself |
| The 47th Annual Golden Globe Awards | 1990 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter: Best Motion Picture Drama |
| The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts | 1989 | TV Special | Himself |
| CBS This Morning | 1988 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Talking Pictures | 1988 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts | 1987 | TV Special documentary | Himself |
| The 59th Annual Academy Awards | 1987 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter: Best Actress in a Supporting Role |
| AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Billy Wilder | 1986 | TV Special documentary | Himself |
| Late Night with David Letterman | 1986 | TV Series | Himself |
| The 58th Annual Academy Awards | 1986 | TV Special | Himself - Winner: Best Actor in a Supporting Role |
| The 12th Annual People's Choice Awards | 1986 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter: Favourite New Television Comedy Program |
| The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts | 1985 | TV Special | Himself |
| This Is Your Life | 1984 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Hour Magazine | 1982 | TV Series | Himself |
| Night of 100 Stars | 1982 | TV Special | Himself |
| The Bob Braun Show | 1972 | TV Series | Himself - Actor |
| The Mike Douglas Show | 1963-1970 | TV Series | Himself - Co-Host / Himself - Actor |
| The David Frost Show | 1970 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The Ed Sullivan Show | 1957-1967 | TV Series | Henry Orient / Himself |
| The Hollywood Palace | 1967 | TV Series | Himself |
| Rings Around the World | 1966 | Documentary | Host / Ringmaster |
| International Showtime | 1961-1965 | TV Series | Himself - Host |
| The Match Game | 1964 | TV Series | Himself - Team Captain |
| The Price Is Right | 1964 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Jack Paar Tonight Show | 1962 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The Tonight Show | 1962 | TV Series | Himself - Actor |
| I've Got a Secret | 1956-1962 | TV Series | Himself - Panelist / Himself - Guest |
| Password All-Stars | 1961 | TV Series | Himself - Celebrity Contestant |
| To Tell the Truth | 1957-1961 | TV Series | Himself - Panelist |
| Our American Heritage | 1961 | TV Series | Himself - Narrator |
| The Frances Langford Show | 1960 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The Pat Boone-Chevy Showroom | 1958 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Lux Show | 1958 | TV Series | Himself |
| Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium | 1958 | TV Series | Himself |
| General Motors 50th Anniversary Show | 1957 | TV Movie | Himself |
| The Polly Bergen Show | 1957 | TV Series | Himself |
| What's My Line? | 1953-1957 | TV Series | Himself - Panelist / Himself |
| The Arthur Murray Party | 1957 | TV Series | Himself |
| A Welcome Guest in the House | 1957 | Documentary short | Narrator (voice) |
| Person to Person | 1956 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Texaco Star Theatre | 1949-1954 | TV Series | Himself - Actor |
| Coke Time | 1953 | TV Series | Himself - Announcer |
| The Saturday Night Revue | 1953 | TV Series | Himself |
| Screen Snapshots 5852: Hollywood Night at '21' Club | 1952 | Documentary short | Himself - Celebration Guest |
| The Frank Sinatra Show | 1951 | TV Series | Himself - Sketch Actor |
| All Star Revue | 1951 | TV Series | Himself - Guest Actor |
| Take a Chance | 1950 | TV Series | Host |
| Don Ameche's Musical Playhouse | 1950 | TV Series | Himself - Host |
| The Saturday Night Revue with Jack Carter | 1950 | TV Series | Himself |
| Week End in Hollywood | 1947 | Documentary short | Himself |
| Rough But Hopeful | 1946 | Short | Himself |
Jessica Burns 
$5 Million
