| Don Ameche Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 10½ in |
| Weight | 71 kg |
| Date of Birth | May 31, 1908 |
| Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
| Date of Death | December 6, 1993 |
Don Ameche was an American actor, comedian, and vaudevillian who is best remembered for his performance as Mortimer Duke in Trading Places (1983) and Art Selwyn in Cocoon (1985), the latter of which earned him the ‘Best Supporting Actor’ Oscar in 1986. His other notable films include The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939), Hollywood Cavalcade (1939), Down Argentine Way (1940), Things Change (1988), Swanee River (1939), Lillian Russell (1940), Greenwich Village (1944), etc.
Born Name
Dominic Felix Amici
Nick Name
Don, The Latin Lover
Age
He was born on May 31, 1908.
Died
He passed away from prostate cancer on December 6, 1993, at the age of 85 years in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Sun Sign
Gemini
Born Place
Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States
Nationality
Occupation
Actor, Comedian, Vaudevillian
Family
- Father – Felice Amici (Bartender)
- Mother – Barbara Etta Hertel
- Siblings – Umberto ‘Bert’ Amici (Brother), James ‘Jim’ Amici (Younger Brother) (Actor), Louis Amici (Brother), Elizabeth Amici (Sister), Catherine Amici (Sister), Mary Amici (Sister), Anna Amici (Sister)
Net Worth
At the time of his death, Don Ameche’s net worth was $10 million according to CelebrityNetWorth.com.
Build
Slim
Height
5 ft 10½ in or 179 cm
Weight
71 kg or 156.5 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
Don Ameche had dated –
- Honore Prendergast (1932-1986) – The Heaven Can Wait (1943) actor was happily married to Honore Prendergast from November 26, 1932, until her death on September 5, 1986. They raised 6 children together – sons Don Ameche Jr. (b. October 3, 1933), Ronald Ameche (b. December 30, 1935), Thomas Ameche (b. July 20, 1939), Lawrence Ameche (b. July 20, 1940), and daughters Constance Ameche (b. February 22, 1948), and Barbara Ameche (b. March 13, 1945).
Race / Ethnicity
White
He had Italian ancestry on his father’s side and was of English, German, Scottish, and Irish descent on his mother’s side.
Hair Color
Dark Brown
However, his hair had turned ‘Gray’ by the time of his death.
Eye Color
Hazel
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Authoritative yet soothing voice
- Thin mustache
- Widow’s peak
Religion
Roman Catholicism
Don Ameche Facts
- Two of his films, Midnight (1939) and Down Argentine Way (1940) have been included in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress due to their ‘cultural, historical or aesthetical significance’.
- Among his most prominent roles was playing the titular character in The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939). The massive success of the film gave rise to the juvenile American slang ‘Don Ameche’ meant to describe the telephone during the 1940s.
- He was considered for the role of Don Vito Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola‘s masterpiece The Godfather (1972) before Marlon Brando stepped in and made it his own.
- Both Don and his brother Jim essayed the role of Alexander Graham Bell in movies. Don appeared in The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939) and Jim in The Story of Mankind (1957).
- His last name ‘Amici’ was of Italian origin and pronounced as ‘Ah-mee-chee’. However, Americans used to incorrectly pronounce it as ‘Ah-mee-see’. Therefore, he decided to spell his last name as ‘Ameche’ to make it sound more like its correct pronunciation.
Featured Image by NBC Television / Wikimedia / Public Domain
