Don Ameche

Highest Rated: 92% Midnight (1939)
Lowest Rated: 0% Folks! (1992)
Birthday: May 31, 1908
Birthplace: Not Available

Though his popularity rose and fell during his long career, American actor Don Ameche, born Dominic Amici in Kenosha, WI, was one of Hollywood's most enduring stars. He began his acting career in college, where he had been studying law. He had a natural gift for acting and got his first professional opportunity when he filled in for a missing lead in the stock theater production of Excess Baggage. After that, he forewent his law career and became a full-time theatrical actor. He also worked briefly in vaudeville beside Texas Guinan. Following that he spent five years as a radio announcer. He made his screen debut in a feature short, Beauty at the World's Fair (1933). Following this, Ameche moved to Hollywood where he screen-tested with MGM; they rejected him. In 1935, he managed to obtain a small role in Clive of India and this resulted in his signing a seven-year contract with 20th Century Fox. Ameche, with his trim figure, pencil-thin mustache, and rich baritone voice was neither a conventionally handsome leading man nor the dashing hero type. Instead he embodied a wholesomeness and bland honesty that made him the ideal co-lead and foil for the more complex heroes. He played supporting roles for many years before he came into his own playing the leads in light romances and musicals such as Alexander's Rag Time Band (1938), where he demonstrated a real flair for romantic comedy. In 1939, Ameche played the title role in the classic biopic The Story of Alexander Graham Bell. The film was a tremendous success and for years afterward, fans quipped that it was he, not Bell who invented the telephone; for a time the telephone was even called an "ameche." He continued working steadily through the mid-'40s and then his film career ground to an abrupt halt. He returned to radio to play opposite Frances Langford in the long-running and popular series The Bickersons. During the 1950s he worked occasionally on television.He began appearing infrequently in low-budget films during the '60s and '70s, but did not make a comeback proper until 1983, when he was cast as a replacement for the ailing Ray Milland in the comedy Trading Places. The success of this film brought Ameche back in demand. In 1985, the aging actor received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his work as a retirement home Casanova in Cocoon. He followed up that role to even more acclaim in 1988's David Mamet-Shel Silverstein concoction Things Change, in which Ameche played the role of a impish shoemaker chosen to take the fall for a mob hit. Before his death in 1993, Ameche rounded out his career with brief but memorable performances in Oscar (1991) and Corrina, Corrina (1994).

Highest Rated Movies

Midnight
92%
Homeward Bound - The Incredible Journey
87%
Trading Places
87%
Heaven Can Wait
85%

Filmography

Movies

Rating	Title	Credit	Box Office	Year
No Score Yet	The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (The Modern Miracle)	Alexander Graham Bell	—	2000
No Score Yet	Hidden Hollywood: Treasures From The 20th Century Fox Vaults	Actor	—	1997
39%	Corrina, Corrina	Grandpa Harry	—	1994
87%	Homeward Bound - The Incredible Journey	Shadow	—	1993
0%	Folks!	Harry	—	1992
No Score Yet	Sunstroke	Jake	—	1992
12%	Oscar	Father Clemente	—	1991
No Score Yet	Oddball Hall	G. Paul Siebriese	—	1991
33%	Cocoon: The Return	Art Selwyn	—	1988
83%	Things Change	Gino	—	1988
67%	Coming to America	Mortimer Duke	—	1988
42%	Harry and the Hendersons	Dr. Wallace Wrightwood	—	1987
No Score Yet	Pals	Art Riddle	—	1987
77%	Cocoon	Art Selwyn	—	1985
87%	Trading Places	Mortimer Duke	—	1983
No Score Yet	Suitable for Framing	Actor	—	1971
No Score Yet	Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?	Col. Flanders	—	1970
No Score Yet	The Boatniks	Cmdr. Taylor	—	1970
No Score Yet	Rings Around the World	Actor	—	1967
No Score Yet	Picture Mommy Dead	Edward Shelley	—	1966
No Score Yet	Slightly French	John Gayle	—	1949
No Score Yet	Sleep, My Love	Richard Courtland	—	1947
No Score Yet	That's My Man	Joe Grange	—	1947
No Score Yet	So Goes My Love	Hiram Stephen Maxim	—	1946
No Score Yet	It's in the Bag	Guest Star	—	1945
No Score Yet	Guest Wife	Joe	—	1945
No Score Yet	Greenwich Village	Kenneth Harvey	—	1944
80%	Wing and a Prayer	Flight Cmdr. Bingo Harper	—	1944
No Score Yet	Happy Land	Lew Marsh	—	1943
85%	Heaven Can Wait	Henry Van Cleve	—	1943
No Score Yet	The Magnificent Dope	Dwight Dawson	—	1942
No Score Yet	The Feminine Touch	Prof. John Hathaway	—	1941
No Score Yet	Moon Over Miami	Phil O'Neil	—	1941
No Score Yet	That Night in Rio	Impersonator Larry Martin / Baron Manuel Duarte	—	1941
No Score Yet	Down Argentine Way	Ricardo Quintana	—	1940
No Score Yet	Lillian Russell	Edward Solomon	—	1940
No Score Yet	Hollywood Cavalcade	Mike Connors	—	1939
92%	Midnight	Tibor Czerny	—	1939
No Score Yet	The Three Musketeers	D'Artagnan	—	1939
No Score Yet	Land of Liberty	Actor	—	1939
80%	Alexander's Ragtime Band	Charlie Dwyer	—	1938
No Score Yet	Happy Landing	Jimmy Hall	—	1938
No Score Yet	Love Is News	Marty Canavan	—	1937
73%	In Old Chicago	Jack O'Leary	—	1937
No Score Yet	Fifty Roads to Town	Peter Nostrand	—	1937
No Score Yet	Ladies in Love	Dr. Rudi Imre	—	1936
No Score Yet	Sins of Man	Karl Freyman/Mario Signarelli	—	1936
No Score Yet	Ramona	Alessandro	—	1936
No Score Yet	One in a Million	Bob Harris	—	1936
No Score Yet	Dante's Inferno	Man in Stokehold	—	1935
No Score Yet	Clive of India	Black Hole of Calcutta Prisoner	—	1935

TV

Rating	Title	Credit	Year
No Score Yet	The Golden Girls 1985-1992		1990
No Score Yet	Quincy, M.E. 1976-1983	Harry Whitehead	1979
No Score Yet	Columbo 1968-2003	Frank Simpson	1971

QUOTES FROM Don Ameche CHARACTERS

Sassy--The Cat: Shadow is that people?
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: Yes Sassy I'm going to find them.
Chance--The Bulldog: What, no, no strangers Shadow they'll take us to the pound they'll lock us up we'll never come out again!
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: They're just looking for the little girl chance she needs us we have to help.
Chance--The Bulldog: Okay I just hope you know what you're doing I don't want to back there again ever.
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: Don't worry, Sassy you keep her warm I'll be right back.
Sassy--The Cat: Hurry Shadow!

Chance--The Bulldog: Ow ow! he bit me with his butt!
Chance--The Bulldog: Ow ow! He bit me with his butt!
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: Oh chance you really are a 'bull' dog aren't you?
Chance--The Bulldog: I was just curious!
Sassy--The Cat: Like my mother always said 'curiosity killed the dog'
Sassy--The Cat: Like my mother always said, "Curiosity killed the dog."
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: Sassy can you pull those things out?
Sassy--The Cat: I'll try.
Chance--The Bulldog: Ow Sassy you got my lip!
Sassy--The Cat: Relax I'm a professional!
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: They look like they're in deep.
Sassy--The Cat: Really deep.
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: Whatever you do don't lick yourself!
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: Whatever you do don't lick yourself!
Chance--The Bulldog: (To retreating porcupine ) Jerk!
Chance--The Bulldog: Jerk!

Horace Hunter: Dwight, this is terrible.
Dwight Dawson: Shhh - out in the hall.
Horace Hunter: I tell you he's sure to hear someone say something about you and Claire.
Dwight Dawson: We can't let him. We've got to keep everybody from talking.
Horace Hunter: Well my wife's here. She hasn't stopped talking in 20 years.
Dwight Dawson: Well we can't let them get started. We've got to keep them all occupied. We'll entertain them.
Horace Hunter: Want me to go home and get my mandolin?

Claire Harris: Happy birthday, Darling! [She kisses him enthusiastically]
Claire Harris: Happy birthday, Darling!
Dwight Dawson: You know, that makes being 33 worthwhile.
Claire Harris: How many?
Dwight Dawson: Well, that last kiss took 5 years off my life.

Shadow--The Golden Retriever: [seeing his owner] Peter.
Peter: SHADOW!
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: Oh, Peter. I've missed you so much. [both run towards each other] PETER! [they embrace]

Shadow--The Golden Retriever: ...a few wild dogs took it upon themselves to watch over man: to bark when he's in danger, to run and play with him when he's happy, to nuzzle him when he's lonely. That's why they call us man's best friend
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: A few wild dogs took it upon themselves to watch over man: to bark when he's in danger, to run and play with him when he's happy, to nuzzle him when he's lonely. That's why they call us man's best friend.

Father Clemente: By the way, congratulations on your daughter marrying Bruce Underwood!
Sofia Provolone: Umm I'm afraid there's been a change father she's now marrying a nice Italian boy, Anthony Rossano
Father Clemente: that's all for the better! nothing but a BIG Italian wedding Anthony Rossano
Angelo "Snaps" Provolone: Naw forget Anthony, she's not marrying him anymore
Sofia Provolone: WHAT!!
Father Clemente: Well that's a shame, but she's young, someday she'll find the right one
Angelo "Snaps" Provolone: She's found the right one
Sofia Provolone: WHO!!
Angelo "Snaps" Provolone: DR. Poole
Sofia Provolone: DR. POOLE?!!
Dr. Thornton Poole: HELLO!!
Angelo "Snaps" Provolone: Get back into the room!
Father Clemente: looks like a nice young man
Sofia Provolone: why is she marrying Dr. Poole, she barely knows him?
Angelo "Snaps" Provolone: she barely knew the chofer too
Sofia Provolone: Don't drag out Oscar in front of the father!
Father Clemente: Who's Oscar?
Sofia Provolone: Why isn't she marrying Anthony?!
Angelo "Snaps" Provolone: Because Anthony is marrying Theresa
Sofia Provolone: WHO"S THERESA?!!
Angelo "Snaps" Provolone: Look, it's really very simple but i ain't got time to explain, I've got to call Nora
Father Clemente: Whos Nora?
Sofia Provolone: our maid
Angelo "Snaps" Provolone: EX MAID!!
Sofia Provolone: Now You fire the maid!!
Angelo "Snaps" Provolone: no, she quit to marry Bruce Underwood!
Sofia Provolone: when did that happen?!!
Angelo "Snaps" Provolone: I DON"T KNOW!! Somewhere between my vest and my pants

Chance--The Bulldog: (Trying to catch fish in the river) There's one, no wait there's one! Shadow how did you get one of these?
Chance--The Bulldog: [trying to catch fish in the river] There's one, no wait there's one! Shadow how did you get one of these?
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: (Licking a fish) Sassy
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: [licking a fish] Sassy.
Chance--The Bulldog: Sassy come on help me out here I'm starving.
Sassy--The Cat: Say it first.
Chance--The Bulldog: What? Oh come on!
Sassy--The Cat: Say It!
Chance--The Bulldog: (Quietly) Cat's rule and dogs drool!
Chance--The Bulldog: [quietly] Cat's rule and dogs drool!
Sassy--The Cat: I can't hear you!
Chance--The Bulldog: Cat's rule and dogs drool you happy!
Sassy--The Cat: Thank you precious!
Chance--The Bulldog: You're welcome cupcake!

Sassy--The Cat: "MY BOYS MY BOYS!"
Sassy--The Cat: MY BOYS MY BOYS!
Chance--The Bulldog: Sassy! Sassy! Sa... Whoa Gopher hole!"
Chance--The Bulldog: Sassy! Sassy! Sa... Whoa Gopher hole!
Sassy--The Cat: "Chance Shadow, oh shadow I'd thought I never see you again!"
Sassy--The Cat: Chance Shadow, oh shadow I'd thought I never see you again!
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: "Sassy you're alive, I missed you so much!"
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: Sassy you're alive, I missed you so much!
Chance--The Bulldog: "Yeah me too."
Chance--The Bulldog: Yeah me too.
Sassy--The Cat: "Really?"
Sassy--The Cat: Really?
Chance--The Bulldog: "Well we could've used you around."
Chance--The Bulldog: Well we could've used you around.
Sassy--The Cat: "I missed you too Chance."
Sassy--The Cat: I missed you too Chance.
Chance--The Bulldog: "Hey can we go fishing now Sassy, huh can we?"
Chance--The Bulldog: Hey can we go fishing now Sassy, huh can we?
Sassy--The Cat: "Oh Chance you are hopeless but all right let's go fishing!"
Sassy--The Cat: Oh Chance you are hopeless but all right let's go fishing!
Chance--The Bulldog: "Yes FISH FISH FISH!"
Chance--The Bulldog: Yes FISH FISH FISH!

Chance--The Bulldog: "Look you pushed me this far now I'm pushing you the rest of the way you know there was times in the woods when things were really bad, but I always believed we'd make it because I thought you were too stubborn to quit. Well you're not gonna quit now now when we're this close, Now TRY AGAIN!"
Chance--The Bulldog: Look you pushed me this far now I'm pushing you the rest of the way you know there was times in the woods when things were really bad, but I always believed we'd make it because I thought you were too stubborn to quit. Well you're not gonna quit now now when we're this close, Now TRY AGAIN!
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: "You think it's easy for me to admit that I can't do it? I'm too old."
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: You think it's easy for me to admit that I can't do it? I'm too old.
Chance--The Bulldog: "That's not true there's nothing you can't do."
Chance--The Bulldog: That's not true there's nothing you can't do.
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: "I have nothing more to give Chance, and it's time for you to be on your own."
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: I have nothing more to give Chance, and it's time for you to be on your own.
Chance--The Bulldog: "But I want you with me, I love, you Shadow."
Chance--The Bulldog: But I want you with me, I love, you Shadow.
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: "You've learned everything you need Chance now all you have to learn is how to say good-bye."
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: You've learned everything you need Chance now all you have to learn is how to say good-bye.
Chance--The Bulldog: "I won't let you give up."
Chance--The Bulldog: I won't let you give up.

Shadow--The Golden Retriever: "I shouldn't of made her come."
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: I shouldn't of made her come.
Chance--The Bulldog: " It's not your fault, she wanted to come."
Chance--The Bulldog: It's not your fault, she wanted to come.
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: "But it's my responsibility. I had a responsibility to Sassy - to love her and protect her - the same as I have to you... and to Peter. And the same as you have to Jamie."
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: But it's my responsibility. I had a responsibility to Sassy - to love her and protect her - the same as I have to you... and to Peter. And the same as you have to Jamie.
Chance--The Bulldog: "But we didn't ask for this job."
Chance--The Bulldog: But we didn't ask for this job.
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: 'We didn't have to. It's built in. Has been ever since the dawn of time... when a few wild dogs took it upon themselves to watch over man, to bark when he's in danger, to run and play with him when he's happy, to nuzzle him when he's lonely. That's why they call us man's best friend."
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: We didn't have to. It's built in. Has been ever since the dawn of time... when a few wild dogs took it upon themselves to watch over man, to bark when he's in danger, to run and play with him when he's happy, to nuzzle him when he's lonely. That's why they call us man's best friend.
Chance--The Bulldog: (Narrating) "Looking at him that night, he seemed so wise... and ancient, like the first dog who ever walked the earth. I just hope that one day, I could be like him."
Chance--The Bulldog: [narrating] Looking at him that night, he seemed so wise... and ancient, like the first dog who ever walked the earth. I just hope that one day, I could be like him.

Mortimer Duke: Randolph! Randolph!
Randolph Duke: I"m still not talking to you Mortimer!
Mortimer Duke: Look!
Randolph Duke: Mortimer, we're back!
Mortimer Duke: Yeah!

Shadow--The Golden Retriever: Something is keeping Peter from coming to me, so i'v got to go to him.
Chance--The Bulldog: You guys kill me she locked the gate, remember?
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: I don't care about gates. I'm going home!

Peter: I'm gunna miss you so much.
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: I know, I know you're sad. I wish i knew why.
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: I know, I know you're sad. I wish I knew why.

Chance--The Bulldog: You where like Rin tin tin!
Shadow--The Golden Retriever: Like who?
Chance--The Bulldog: Rin tin tin don't you ever watch TV?
Chance--The Bulldog: Rin tin tin! Don't you ever watch TV?

Highest Rated Movies

Filmography

Movies

Rating

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Credit

BoxOffice

Year

TV

Rating

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Credit

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QUOTES FROM Don Ameche CHARACTERS

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