Don Ameche backdrop
ACTING . Acting . 85 years (deceased) . Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA

Don Ameche_

OSCAR WINNER Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA

"Born — Died "

Born Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA
Birthday
85
Lived
50
Credits
Actor
Known For
0.8
Popularity
57 yrs
Career
Updated Feb 20, 2026

Details

Known For
Actor
Occupations
Film actor, Stage actor, Television actor, Film director, Actor
Birthday
(Sunday)
Birthplace
Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA
Nationality
Citizenship
United States
Political Party
California Republican Party
Languages
English
Children
6 children
Sibling
Jim Ameche
Education
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Zodiac Sign
♊ Gemini
Chinese Zodiac
猴 Monkey
Name Origin
English < Latin < Ancient Greek < Proto-Indo-European (*dʰenh₂-)
Popularity
Tier B -- 39,586 Wikipedia views/month

DROPTHE_ GOSSIP

Frequent co-star
Appeared in 8 films with John Carradine
John Carradine →
Career
Career spanning 57 years (1935-1992)
Birthday twin
Shares a birthday (May 31) with Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood →
Screen debut
First screen credit at age 26
Year context
Born in 1908 -- Ford Model T introduced; Theodore Roosevelt was US president
Year 1908 →

DROPTHE GOOD_

15
Notable
out of 100
Most people on Earth score 0. Only those with measurable positive impact appear on this scale.
Human Impact
0
Innovation
0
Giving
0
Sustainability
100
Cultural Uplift
51
Public Vote
Be the first to vote
How is this calculated?

Filmography (50)

Folks!
Folks!
1992 / Film
Film
Oscar
Oscar
1991 / Film
Film
Our Shining Moment
Our Shining Moment
1991 / Film
Film
Oddball Hall
Oddball Hall
1990 / Film
Film
Coming to America
Coming to America
1988 / Film
Film
Cocoon: The Return
Cocoon: The Return
1988 / Film
Film
Things Change
Things Change
1988 / Film
Film
Cocoon
Cocoon
1985 / Film
Arthur Selwyn
Trading Places
Trading Places
1983 / Film
Mortimer Duke
The Boatniks
The Boatniks
1970 / Film
Film

AWARDS (4)

B
Volpi Cup for Best Actor
1988
WON
G
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
1986
WON
G
Academy Awards
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
1986
WON
B
star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
1960
WON

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 whe

Connections (1)

Frequently Asked Questions

How old was Don Ameche?
Don Ameche was born on and passed away on at the age of 85.
Where was Don Ameche born?
Don Ameche was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA.
What movies or shows has Don Ameche been in?
Don Ameche has 50 credits in our database. Notable titles include Folks! (1992), Oscar (1991), Our Shining Moment (1991), Oddball Hall (1990), Coming to America (1988).
What is Don Ameche known for?
Don Ameche is primarily known as an actor. Don Ameche born Dominic Felix Amici May 31, 1908 – December 6, 1993) was a versatile and popular American film actor in the 1930s and…
Where can I find more information about Don Ameche?
You can find more about Don Ameche on IMDB, TMDB, Wikidata. Their full profile and filmography is available on this page.
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