Don Ameche

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

Related Topics:
May 31 - 1908 - December 6 - 1993

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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".

Related Topics:
Italian - Kenosha - Wisconsin - Vaudeville - Texas Guinan

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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).

Related Topics:
1935 - Hollywood - Alexander's Ragtime Band - 1938 - Alexander Graham Bell - 1939 - 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.

Related Topics:
Telephone - Radio - Frances Langford - 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.

Related Topics:
Ralph Bellamy - Trading Places - 1983

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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.

Related Topics:
Cocoon - 1985 - Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor - 1994 - Scottsdale, Arizona - 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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