Don Ameche | Wisconsin Historical Society

Historical Essay

Ameche, Don 1908 - 1993

Actor and Academy Award Winner

Don Ameche | Wisconsin Historical Society
Dictionary of Wisconsin History. Dictionary of Wisconsin History.Publicity photograph of Don Ameche in character as D'Artagnan in 1938's The Three Musketeers. He has long hair, a thin mustache and goatee. The costume includes a large white collar. View the original here

Don Ameche was born in Kenosha, WI in 1908 and attended Marquette University and UW. His stage debut was in 1928 with the Al Jackson Stock Company in Madison.

His films include: "Swanee River," "Clive of India," "Sins of Man," "Ramona," "One in a Million," "Ladies in Love," "You Can't Have Everything," "Love Under Fire," "Love is News," "Fifty Roads to Town," "Fifty Races to Town," "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "Josette," "In Old Chicago," "Happy Landing," "Gateway," "The Three Musketeers," "The Story of Alexander Graham Bell," "Midnight," "Hollywood Cavalcade," "Lillian Russell," "Four Sons," "Down Argentine Way," "The Night in Rio," "Moon Over Miami," "Kiss the Boys Goodbye," "The Feminine Touch," "Confirm or Deny," "The Magnificent Dope," "Girl Troubles," "Something to Shout About," "Heaven Can Wait," "Happy Land," "Wing and a Prayer," "Greenwich Village," "It's in the Bag," "Guest Wife," "That's My Man," "So Goes My Love," "Sleep, My Love," "Slightly French," "Phantom Caravan," "Fire One, A Fever in the Blood," "Rings Around the World," "Picture Mommy Dead," "Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?," "The Beatniks," "Trading Places," "Cocoon," "Harry and the Hendersons," "Things Change," "Coming to America," "Cocoon: The Return," "Oddball Hall," "Oscar," "Folks!," "Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey," "Corrina, Corrina."


His work in television series include: "Take a Chance," "Star Time," "Holiday Hotel," "Don Ameche's Musical Playhouse," "The Frances Langford-Don Ameche Show," "Coke Time with Eddie Fisher," "The Jack Carson Show," "The Don Ameche Theater," "International Showtime."
Also episodic appearances on "Too Young to Go Steady," "The Love Boat," "Fantasy Island," "The Golden Girls."

Ameche's achievements include the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1986's "Cocoon" and the award for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival in 1988. 

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