Don Ameche

Don Ameche (May 31, 1908 – December 6, 1993) was an American actor.

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Born Dominic Felix Amici to an Italian family in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Ameche began his career in vaudeville with Texas Guinan until Guinan dropped him from the act, dismissing him as "too stiff".

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He made his film debut in 1935 and by the late thirties had established himself as a leading actor in Hollywood. He appeared successfully in such films as Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938), as Alexander Graham Bell in The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939), and Heaven Can Wait (1943).

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He was so associated with his role as Bell that for a time, "Ameche" was slang for telephone. By the end of the decade his films had lost appeal, and he turned to radio where he achieved great success during the fifties playing opposite Frances Langford in The Bickersons.

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He was married to Honore Prendergast from 1932 to 1986 when she died and was the father of 6 children; his late younger brother Jim Ameche was also an actor.

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For three decades he was virtually absent from films, until he was cast alongside fellow veteran actor Ralph Bellamy in the film Trading Places in 1983. The actors played rich brothers intent on ruining an innocent man for the sake of a bet and the film's great success, and their acclaimed comedic performances, brought them both back into the limelight.

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Ameche's next role, in Cocoon (1985), won him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He continued working for the rest of his life (including a role in the sequel, '). His final scenes for the film Corrina, Corrina (1994) were completed only days before his death in Scottsdale, Arizona from prostate cancer.

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For his contribution to radio, Don Ameche has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6313 Hollywood Blvd. and a second star at 6101 Hollywood Blvd. for his contribution to the television industry.

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May 31: May 31 is the 151st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (152nd in leap years), with 214 days remaining, as the last day of May....

1908: 1908 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar)....

December 6: December 6 is the 340th day (341st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 25 days remaining....

Don Ameche related Images and Photos (experimental)

Don Ameche	Swanee River Don Ameche Andrea Leeds Al Jolson on Midget Window Card 1939	Josette Robert Young Simone Simon Don Ameche on Midget Window Card 1938	Down Argentine Way Betty Grable Don Ameche Carmen Miranda 1940
Happy Landing Cesar Romero Sonja Henie Don Ameche Ethel Merman 1938	The Story of Alexander Graham Bell Don Ameche Loretta Young 1939	The Three Musketeers the Ritz Brothers Don Ameche Gloria Stuart Pauline Moore 1939	Ladies in Love Janet Gaynor Constance Bennett Loretta Young Don Ameche Simone Simon 1936
In Old Chicago Alice Brady Tyrone Power Alice Faye Don Ameche 1937	Don Juan (1926) (DVD)	Don Adams	Don Knotts