Don Ameche Net Worth

Don Ameche's Quotes

• [on Darryl F. Zanuck] Zanuck never did anything but be nice to me. Oh yeah, maybe he chased Alice Faye around, but a lot of people chased Alice Faye around.

Interesting Facts about Don Ameche

1. Brother of Jim Ameche.
2. Interred at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery (formerly St. Philomina's), Dubuque, IA (grave unmarked).
3. Became a father for the first time at age 25 when his wife Honore gave birth to their son Dominic Felix Ameche--aka Don Ameche Jr. on October 3, 1933.
4. Portrayed Alexander Graham Bell in The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939) in 1939. In 1957 his brother, Jim Ameche, portrayed Bell in The Story of Mankind (1957).
5. Inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1992.
6. He became a major star on radio. His teaming with Frances Langford as "The Bickersons" is regarded as classic comedy on radio. "The Bickersons" were revived for a series or record albums.
7. Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald S. Smith, pg. 51-53 (article titled "The Bickersons"). New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
8. Attended Loras College in Dubuque, IA.
9. Calling the telephone the "Don Ameche" became popular American slang in the 1930s and '40s due to his role as Alexander Graham Bell.
10. Became a father for the second time at age 27 when his wife Honore gave birth to their son Ronald Ameche on December 30, 1935. He died on January 2, 2001 in Iowa, aged 65.
11. Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 3, 1991-1993, pages 11-13. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2001.
12. His father was an Italian immigrant. His mother had German, English, Irish and Scottish ancestry. Americans pronounced his last name incorrectly in Italian ("Ah-mee-see"). So he changed it from "Amici" (correctly pronounced "Ah-mee-chee") into "Ameche", in order to keep the original Italian pronunciation.
13. Awarded two Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6101 Hollywood Blvd. and for Radio at 6313 Hollywood Blvd.
14. In The French Connection (1971), a Mafia figure is followed to New York City building in which "the actor, Don Ameche, lives".
15. Ameche's salary, which was $34,499 in 1936 and $51,833 in 1937, grew to $147,824 in 1940.
16. When his children's names are all expressed as nicknames, they rhyme: Ronnie, Donnie, Tommie, Lonnie, Bonnie and Connie.
17. Was a member of the Catholic group The Christophers.
18. He worked with Tyrone Power in Ladies in Love (1936), In Old Chicago (1938), Love Is News (1937) and Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938) and with his son Tyrone Power Jr. in Cocoon (1985) and Cocoon: The Return (1988).
19. He died only eight days before his A Genius in the Family (1946) co-star Myrna Loy.
20. He made only five films from 1949 to 1983.