Don Ameche

Don Ameche, originally named Dominic Felix Amici, was a prominent American actor, comedian, and vaudevillian, born on May 31, 1908, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He began his career in college productions, repertory theatre, and vaudeville before achieving fame as a major radio star in the early 1930s, ultimately leading to a movie contract with 20th Century Fox in 1935.

Throughout the 1950s, Ameche expanded his repertoire to include Broadway and television, notably hosting NBC's International Showtime from 1961 to 1965. His later years saw a career resurgence marked by his role as a villain in the film Trading Places (1983). He received critical acclaim, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Cocoon (1985) and the Volpi Cup for Best Actor for Things Change (1988).

Ameche was the second of eight children in a family with mixed heritage; his father, Felice Amici, was an Italian immigrant, while his mother, Barbara Etta Hertel, had Scottish, Irish, and German roots. He was educated at several institutions including Marquette University, Loras College, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where his cousin Alan Ameche notably won the Heisman Trophy in 1954.

Ameche's journey began at the University of Wisconsin, where his talent in college dramatics caught the attention of a friend, leading him to substitute for a missing lead actor in a stock company production of "Excess Baggage." This experience sparked his interest in acting, resulting in a juvenile lead role in "Jerry For Short" in New York and a subsequent tour in vaudeville with entertainer Texas Guinan, although he was later dropped from the act for being "too stiff."

In 1930, Ameche transitioned to a radio career in Chicago, starting with the program "Empire Builders" and soon becoming the leading man on notable shows such as the dramatic anthology "First Nighter" and the pioneering soap opera "Betty and Bob." His work in Chicago laid the groundwork for his future success in Hollywood, where he was brought in by 20th Century Fox producer Darryl Zanuck. Ameche quickly became known for his romantic lead roles alongside many of the era's top female stars.

His film career flourished in 1939, as he starred in the comedy "Midnight," and portrayed Alexander Graham Bell in "The Story of Alexander Graham Bell," a role that popularized the term "ameche" as slang for a telephone. This connection was so strong that by 1940, the film "Go West" referenced Ameche in a comedic dialogue regarding the invention of the telephone. His romantic trajectory continued as he starred alongside Alice Faye in "Hollywood Cavalcade," and further showcased his range by playing historical figures like Stephen Foster in "Swanee River" and Lillian Russell in the biopic of the same name. Ameche also made significant contributions to the musical genre with films like "Down Argentine Way" and "Moon Over Miami," the former of which advanced the careers of Betty Grable and Carmen Miranda. His popularity peaked in 1940, when he was ranked as the 21st most popular star in Hollywood, solidifying his status in the entertainment industry.

Don Ameche, a distinguished performer, gained fame in the late 1940s as a key participant in the radio comedy series The Bickersons, alongside Frances Langford. This popular show, which depicted the tumultuous relationship of a married couple, began its run on NBC in 1946 before moving to CBS the following year. Ameche’s early career included hosting his own show, The Old Gold Don Ameche Show, on NBC Red in the early 1940s. In 1950, he transitioned to television as the star of Holiday Hotel on ABC-TV.

Throughout his career, Ameche released numerous singles and albums, notably two that charted with Langford: The Bickersons (1962) and The Bickersons Fight Back (1962), which reached No. 76 and No. 109 on Billboard's Top LPs, respectively. From the 1930s until 1970, he appeared regularly in films before shifting focus to television and stage performances. His cinematic comeback occurred with Trading Places (1983), where he was cast after the director sought an actor from his era who had predominantly non-villainous roles. This resurgence led to subsequent film roles including Cocoon (1985), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and other notable films such as Harry and the Hendersons (1987) and Coming to America (1988).

Ameche received acclaim for his performance in Things Change (1988), with The New York Times praising his comedic timing. His later credits included an appearance in The Golden Girls (1990), and he lent his voice to the character Shadow in Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993). His final film was Corrina, Corrina (1994), released posthumously.

In addition to his entertainment career, Ameche co-owned the Los Angeles Dons football team from 1946 to 1949, contributing significantly to its establishment and serving as team president. He had a complicated personal life; he was married to Honore Prendergast from 1932 until her death in 1986, although they were separated at that time. Together, they had six children. Ameche was a Roman Catholic and a Republican, publicly supporting Thomas Dewey during the 1944 presidential election.

Don Ameche passed away on December 6, 1993, from prostate cancer at his son Richard's home in Scottsdale, Arizona, at the age of 85. He was cremated, and his ashes were interred at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Asbury, Iowa.