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Don Ameche

Don Ameche

Actor · Died December 6, 1993, aged 85 · Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA

Don Ameche (born Dominic Felix Amici; May 31, 1908 – December 6, 1993) was an American actor and radio entertainer whose career spanned over six decades. Known for his charming, dapper presence and signature mustache, Ameche became one of 20th Century Fox's premier leading men throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to an Italian immigrant father and a mother of European descent, he adapted his family's surname from "Amici" to "Ameche" to preserve its original Italian pronunciation in the United States. He began his entertainment career in vaudeville and radio, where he achieved nationwide fame as the host of popular broadcasts like The Chase and Sanborn Hour. He transitioned to film in 1935, starring in a string of successful musical comedies and dramas, most notably Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938), The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939), and Ernst Lubitsch’s classic comedy Heaven Can Wait (1943). As film roles slowed in the 1950s, Ameche worked extensively in live theatre and television. His screen career experienced a celebrated renaissance in the 1980s, beginning with his role as the scheming commodities broker Mortimer Duke in Trading Places (1983). Two years later, he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of a revitalized retiree in Ron Howard’s Cocoon (1985). In his final years, Ameche introduced himself to a new generation of filmgoers providing the warm, patriarchal voice of Shadow the Golden Retriever in Disney's Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993), before completing his final screen appearance in Corrina, Corrina (1994). Ameche was married to Honore Prendergast from 1932 until her death in 1986; the couple had six children. Ameche died of prostate cancer in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 1993 at the age of 85.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 31, 1908
Died
December 6, 1993 (aged 85)
From
Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
41 on MovieCove · 81 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 13% in 30 days

What are Don Ameche's films like?

Across their 35 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy22 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
42%
Self
16%
Morality
14%
Society
11%
Power
8%
Survival
7%
Ideas
2%
Romantic love15 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition7 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 35 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 27 · Serious 6 · Dark 2

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 14 · Stylized 19 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 20 · Charged 12 · Intense 3

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 23 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 4

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 15 · Funny 13

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 18 · Relentless 4

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 27 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 35 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

28 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 12 of 28 analyzed roles.

Hero
12 of 28
Ally
5 of 28
Shapeshifter
3 of 28
Trickster
2 of 28
Shadow
2 of 28
Mentor
2 of 28
Threshold guardian
1 of 28
Herald
1 of 28
Show the 28 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
21
Warm
17
Romantic
11
Tense
8
Absurd
8
Other
25

How their films linger

Feel-good24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy24
  • Bittersweet10
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Don Ameche's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 41 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Pluto TV (4).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Don Ameche's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

81 credits, 41 with a MovieCove page; 12 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing(2009)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • 20th Century Fox: The Blockbuster Years(2000)

    as Arthur Selwyn

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Corrina, Corrina(1994)

    as Grandpa Harry

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey(1993)

    as Shadow (voice)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Sunstroke(1992)

    as Jake

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Folks!(1992)

    as Harry Aldrich

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Our Shining Moment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as John 'Papa' McGuire Sr.

  • Oscar(1991)

    as Father Clemente

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Oddball Hall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as G. Paul Siebriese

  • Things Change(1988)

    as Gino

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Cocoon: The Return(1988)

    as Art Selwyn

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Coming to America(1988)

    as Mortimer Duke / Homeless Man #2 (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Harry and the Hendersons(1987)

    as Dr. Wallace Wrightwood

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Pals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Art Riddle

  • A Masterpiece of Murder(1986)

    as Frank Aherne

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Golden Girls(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Brother Martin

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Cocoon(1985)

    as Arthur Selwyn

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Trading Places(1983)

    as Mortimer Duke

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Chinese Typewriter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Armand Beller

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Henry Dobson · as Hollis Witkin · as Stewart Coolidge

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Quincy, M.E. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Whitehead

  • Good Heavens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ellery Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Norman Marsh

  • Gidget Gets Married (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Otis Ramsey

  • Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Simpson

  • Alias Smith and Jones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came(1970)

    as Col. Flanders

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Boatniks(1970)

    as Commander Taylor

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • McCloud(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Julia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Shadow Over Elveron (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Justin Travers

  • Rings Around the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Host/Ringmaster

  • Picture Mommy Dead(1966)

    as Edward Shelley

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Petticoat Junction(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Uncle George

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Burke's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Whitman Saunders

  • The Greatest Show on Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Collie McCullough

  • A Fever in the Blood(1961)

    as Senator Alex S. Simon

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • DuPont Show of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Graves

  • Climax! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Waterman

  • Coke Time with Eddie Fisher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Slightly French (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as John Gayle

  • Sleep, My Love(1948)

    as Richard W. Courtland

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • That's My Man(1947)

    as Joe Grange

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • So Goes My Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Hiram Stephen Maxim

  • Guest Wife(1945)

    as Joseph Jefferson 'Joe' Parker

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • It's in the Bag!(1945)

    as Don Ameche

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Greenwich Village(1944)

    as Kenneth Harvey

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Wing and a Prayer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Bingo Harper

  • Happy Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Lew Marsh

  • Heaven Can Wait(1943)

    as Henry Van Cleve

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Something to Shout About(1943)

    as Ken Douglas

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Girl Trouble(1942)

    as Pedro Sullivan

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Magnificent Dope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Dwight Dawson

  • Confirm or Deny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as 'Mitch' Mitchell

  • The Feminine Touch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as John Hathaway

  • Kiss the Boys Goodbye(1941)

    as Lloyd Lloyd

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Moon Over Miami (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Phil O'Neil (Credits) / Phil 'Mac' McNeil

  • That Night in Rio(1941)

    as Larry Martin / Baron Manuel Duarte

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Down Argentine Way(1940)

    as Ricardo Quintana

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Four Sons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Chris Bern

  • Lillian Russell(1940)

    as Edward Solomon

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Swanee River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Stephen Foster

  • Hollywood Cavalcade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Mike Connors

  • Land of Liberty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Alexander Graham Bell (archive footage)

  • Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Don Ameche

  • The Story of Alexander Graham Bell(1939)

    as Alexander Graham Bell

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Midnight(1939)

    as Tibor Czerny

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Three Musketeers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as D'Artagnan

  • Gateway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Dick Court

  • Josette (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as David Brassard Jr.

  • Alexander's Ragtime Band(1938)

    as Charlie Dwyer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • In Old Chicago(1938)

    as Jack O'Leary

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Happy Landing(1938)

    as Jimmy Hall

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Love Under Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Tracy Egan

  • You Can't Have Everything(1937)

    as George Macrae

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Fifty Roads to Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Peter Nostrand

  • Love Is News(1937)

    as Martin J. Canavan

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • One in a Million (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Bob Harris

  • Ladies in Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Dr. Rudi Imre

  • Ramona (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Alessandro

  • Sins of Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Karl Freyman / Mario Signarelli

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 80 titles from 1936 to 2009; peak year 1987.

Biggest box office

Trading Places (1983)

$90M worldwide

Highest rated

Midnight (1939)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Trading Places (1983)

Film career

19362009

Peak 1987 · their film career is on the way up. Top draw in 8 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting79 of 80: 79 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score60thDirecting1 of 80: 1 only directing, 0 with another role

By decade

1930s20 · acting1940s21 · acting1950s3 · acting1960s8 · 7 acting · 1 crew1970s11 · acting1980s9 · acting1990s7 · acting2000s1 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 25% of 16 roles
384888

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Don Ameche's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 62nd percentile, the median of all 37; across their 35 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 59th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Approval · how many liked their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Reach · how many have seen their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Midcredits score across 41 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th17
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

21 of their 41 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser21
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · actor

20th Century Fox: The Blockbuster Years (2000)

94th percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Midnight (1939)

Midcredits 96th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 32 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 45. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Don Ameche's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 32 · mildMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 27 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 52 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 17 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 31 · mildMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Don Ameche work with?

People who share at least 2 of Don Ameche's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Darryl F. Zanuck shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles