Don Ameche
Don Ameche | |
---|---|
Born | Dominic Felix Amici May 31, 1908 Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S. |
Died | December 6, 1993 Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. | (aged 85)
Resting place | Resurrection Cemetery Asbury, Iowa, U.S. |
Alma mater | Loras College Marquette University University of Wisconsin |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1928–1993 |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse |
Honore Prendergast
(m. 1932; died 1986) |
Children | 6 |
Relatives | Jim Ameche (brother) Alan Ameche (cousin) |
Don Ameche (
In the 1950s he worked on Broadway and in television, and was the host of NBC's International Showtime from 1961 to 1965. Returning to film work in his later years, Ameche enjoyed a fruitful revival of his career, beginning with his role as a villain in Trading Places (1983). He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Cocoon (1985).
Early life
Don Ameche was born as Dominic Felix Amici on May 31, 1908, in
Career
Ameche had done well in college dramatics at the
Ameche then moved to Chicago, where "he began a radio career in 1930 on Empire Builders, a program broadcast from the Merchandise Mart. By 1932, Ameche had become the leading man on two other Chicago-based programs: the dramatic anthology First Nighter, and Betty and Bob, the latter considered by many to be the forerunner of the soap-opera genre."[4]
Brought to Hollywood by 20th-Century Fox producer
Ameche was
Ameche did
Following his appearances as announcer and sketch participant on The Chase and Sanborn Hour, Ameche achieved memorable success during the late 1940s playing opposite Frances Langford in The Bickersons, the Philip Rapp radio comedy series about a combative married couple. It began on NBC in 1946, moving to CBS the following year. He also had his own program, The Old Gold Don Ameche Show, on NBC Red in the early 1940s.[12]
In 1950 Ameche became the star of Holiday Hotel, on ABC-TV.[13]
Ameche appeared regularly in films until 1970, as he shifted to television and the stage. He returned to films after thirteen years with Trading Places (1983), where he was cast when director John Landis had someone in mind from the 1930s and 1940s who had not played many villainous roles and came upon Ameche (after Ray Milland was passed over due to not being able to pass the insurance physical). After having to track him down in Santa Monica, California due to not being able to reach him through the Screen Actors Guild, who said that his royalty payments were going to his son in Arizona, Ameche took on the role. This started a comeback where Ameche would appear more regularly in films,[14] including Cocoon (1985, which earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor), Harry and the Hendersons (1987), Coming to America (1988), and Cocoon: The Return (1988).
He earned good reviews for the David Mamet and Shel Silverstein-penned
Personal life
From 1946 to 1949, together with other Los Angeles entertainment figures including Bing Crosby and Bob Hope, Ameche owned the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference, a rival to the National Football League.[16] He was instrumental in forming and leading the ownership group the year before play began[17] and initially served as team president.[18]
Ameche was married to Honore Prendergast from 1932 until her death in 1986.[19] They had six children.[19][20] One of their sons, Ron Ameche, owned a restaurant, "Ameche's Pumpernickel" in Coralville, Iowa. They had two daughters, Connie and Bonnie. Ameche's younger brother, Jim Ameche, also a well-known actor, died in 1983 at the age of 67.[21]
Ameche was
Death
On December 6, 1993, Ameche died at his son Don Jr.'s house in Scottsdale, Arizona, of prostate cancer[25]
at age 85.
Filmography
Film / TV
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1935 | Clive of India | Prisoner in the Black Hole | Uncredited |
1935 | Dante's Inferno | Man in Stoke-Hold | Uncredited |
1936 | Sins of Man | Karl Freyman / Mario Signarelli | |
1936 | Ramona | Alessandro | |
1936 | Ladies in Love | Dr. Rudi Imre | |
1936 | One in a Million | Bob Harris | |
1937 | Love Is News | Martin J. Canavan | |
1937 | Fifty Roads to Town | Peter Nostrand | |
1937 | You Can't Have Everything | George Macrae | |
1937 | Love Under Fire | Tracy Egan | |
1938 | In Old Chicago | Jack O'Leary | |
1938 | Happy Landing | Jimmy Hall | |
1938 | Alexander's Ragtime Band | Charlie Dwyer | |
1938 | Josette | David Brassard Jr. | |
1938 | Gateway | Dick Court | |
1939 | The Three Musketeers | D'Artagnan |
|
1939 | Midnight | Tibor Czerny | |
1939 | The Story of Alexander Graham Bell | Alexander Graham Bell | |
1939 | Hollywood Cavalcade | Michael Linnett 'Mike' Connors | |
1939 | Swanee River | Stephen Foster | |
1940 | Lillian Russell | Edward Solomon | |
1940 | Four Sons | Chris Bern | |
1940 | Down Argentine Way | Ricardo Quintana | |
1941 | That Night in Rio | Impersonator Larry Martin / Baron Manuel Duarte | |
1941 | Moon Over Miami | Phil O'Neil (Credits) / Phil 'Mac' McNeil (in Film) | |
1941 | Kiss the Boys Goodbye | Lloyd Lloyd | |
1941 | The Feminine Touch | Prof. John Hathaway | |
1941 | Confirm or Deny | 'Mitch' Mitchell | |
1942 | The Magnificent Dope | Dwight Dawson | |
1942 | Girl Trouble | Pedro Sullivan | |
1943 | Something to Shout About | Ken Douglas | |
1943 | Heaven Can Wait | Henry Van Cleve | |
1943 | Happy Land | Lew Marsh | |
1944 | Wing and a Prayer |
Flight Cmdr. Bingo Harper | |
1944 | Greenwich Village | Kenneth Harvey | |
1945 | It's in the Bag! |
as himself | (cameo appearance) |
1945 | Guest Wife | Joseph Jefferson 'Joe' Parker | |
1946 | So Goes My Love | Hiram Stephen Maxim | |
1947 | That's My Man | Joe Grange | |
1948 | Sleep, My Love | Richard W. Courtland | |
1949 | Slightly French | John Gayle | |
1954 | Phantom Caravan | Lawrence Evans | |
1961 | A Fever in the Blood | Senator Alex S. Simon | |
1966 | Rings Around the World | Himself | |
1966 | Picture Mommy Dead | Edward Shelley | |
1970 | The Boatniks | Commander Taylor | |
1970 | Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came | Col. Flanders | |
1971 | Columbo | Frank Simpson | Episode: "Suitable for Framing", Season 1 |
1983 | Trading Places | Mortimer Duke | |
1985 | Cocoon | Art Selwyn | Won Oscar for Best Supporting Actor |
1986 | A Masterpiece of Murder | Frank Aherne | TV movie |
1987 | Pals | Art Riddle / Arthur James Van Pelt | TV movie |
1987 | Harry and the Hendersons | Dr. Wallace Wrightwood | |
1988 | Coming to America | Mortimer Duke | Cameo[29][30][31] |
1988 | Things Change | Gino | |
1988 | Cocoon: The Return | Art Selwyn | |
1990 | Oddball Hall | G. Paul Siebriese | |
1990 | The Golden Girls | Brother Martin | Episode: "Once in St. Olaf" |
1991 | Oscar | Father Clemente | |
1992 | Folks! |
Harry Aldrich | |
1992 | Sunstroke | Jake | |
1993 | Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey | Shadow | Voice |
1994 | Corrina, Corrina | Grandpa Harry | Posthumous release |
Short subjects
- Screen Snapshots: Stars at the Tropical Ice Gardens (1939)
- Weekend in Hollywood (1947)
- Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Night at 21 Club (1952)
Stage work
- Hazel Flagg (1954)
- Silk Stockings (1955)
- Holiday for Lovers (1957)
- Goldilocks (1958)
- 13 Daughters (1961)
- How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1966)
- Henry, Sweet Henry (1967)
- The Moon Is Blue (1972)
- No, No, Nanette (1972)
- Never Get Smart with an Angel (1977)
- Mame (1978)
- Life with Father (1979)
- How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1981)
- Our Town (1989) (replacement for Spalding Gray)
Radio appearances
Year | Program | Episode/source |
---|---|---|
1940 | Lux Radio Theatre | Manhattan Melodrama[32] |
1947 | Family Theater | "Flight from Home"[33] |
See also
References
- ISBN 0-8379-0225-8.
- ISBN 9780810302358. Retrieved 16 December 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ Flint, Peter B. (1993-12-08). "Don Ameche Is Dead at 85; Oscar Winner for 'Cocoon'". The New York Times.
- ^ a b "Happeningsmag.com-Don Ameche - Actors - Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2012-04-06.
- ^ 1930 U.S. Federal Census; Kenosha, Kenosha, Wisconsin; Roll: 2577; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 0017; Image: 716.0; FHL microfilm: 2342311
- ^ "Ancestry.com". content.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2010-03-23.[permanent dead link]
- ISSN 0083-9833.
- ^ Palmer, R. Barton. "Don Ameche" in Thomas, Nicholas ed. International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, Vol. 3: Actors and Actresses, Detroit: St. James Press, 1992. p. 9.
- ^ Kilen, Mike. "Ameche's son in Iowa City recalls dad's legacy of joy". Iowa City Gazette. 8 December 1993.
- ^ "FILM WORLD". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 14 February 1941. p. 16. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
- ^ "Don Ameche's $246,677". Weekly Variety. 5 July 1944. p. 3.
- ^ "Friday's Highlights" (PDF). Radio and Television Mirror. Vol. 14, no. 3. July 1940. p. 52. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ^ "Packard Signs Ameche for Fall Show". Billboard. August 12, 1950. p. 11. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ "'80s heroes: John Landis". Empire. July 17, 2016.
- ^ Canby, Vincent. Things Change (1988) October 21, 1988 Review/Film; Mamet's Unwiseguys", New York Times movie review.
- ^ Crowe, Jerry (2006-09-13). "The Dons of L.A. Pro Sports". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
- ^ "AAFC Chronology" (PDF). Professional Football Researchers Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-08-17. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
- ^ "The Coffin Corner Vol. 25 No. 6: Welcome To L.A." (PDF). Professional Football Researchers Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-05-11. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
- ^ a b Oliver, Myrna (1993-12-08). "From the Archives: Don Ameche, Dapper Film Star, Dies at 85". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ Peter B. Flint (1993-12-08). "Don Ameche Is Dead at 85; Oscar Winner for 'Cocoon'". nytimes.com. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ AP (1993-12-08). "Jim Ameche Dies at 68; First 'Jack Armstrong'". nytimes.com. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ Ebert, Roger. "'Things Change' for Don Ameche". www.rogerebert.com. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
- ISBN 9781107650282.
- ^ Motion Picture and Television Magazine, November 1952, p. 34, Ideal Publishers
- ^ Henkel, John (December 1994). "Prostate Cancer: New Tests Create Treatment Dilemmas". FDA Consumer. BNET. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
- ^ Heise, Kenan (1993-12-08). "Oscar-winning Actor Don Ameche, 85". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
- ^ Flint, Peter B. (1993-12-08). "Don Ameche Is Dead at 85; Oscar Winner for 'Cocoon'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
- ISBN 9781476625997. Retrieved 16 December 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Coming to America Full Cast and Crew". Internet Movie Database.
- ^ "5 Best Cameos in Film History". What Culture Ltd. 27 March 2013.
- ^ Aquino, Tara (16 April 2016). "10 Royal Facts About 'Coming to America'". New York City: Mental Floss, Inc.
- ^ "Those Were the Days". Nostalgia Digest. Vol. 37, no. 1. Winter 2011. p. 32.
- ^ "Those Were the Days". Nostalgia Digest. Vol. 39, no. 1. Winter 2013. pp. 32–41.
Bibliography
- Ohmart, Ben (2007). Don Ameche: The Kenosha Comeback Kid. Albany: BearManor Media. OCLC 759626448.
External links
- Don Ameche at IMDb
- Don Ameche at the Internet Broadway Database
- Don Ameche at the TCM Movie Database
- Don Ameche at AllMovie