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.
Attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 3, 1991-1993, pages 11-13. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2001.
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
Brother of actor Jim Ameche.
Calling the telephone the "Don Ameche" became popular American Slang in the 1930s and '40s due to his role as Alexander Graham Bell
Father of Don Ameche Jr..
Father of six children: Ronald, Dominic, Thomas, Lonnie, Bonnie and Connie.
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.
He was awarded two Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6101 Hollywood Boulevard and for Radio at 6313 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
In The French Connection (1971), a mafia figure is followed to a NYC building in which "the actor, Don Ameche, lives".
Inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1992.
Interred at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery (formerly St. Philomina's), Dubuque, Iowa. (Grave unmarked).
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).