Don Amici (full name Dominic Felix Amici) is an American theater, film and television actor. In 1986 he won the Oscar for Best Actor in the film Cocoon. In 1988 he received an award at the Venice Film Festival for his role in the film Everything Changes.
For the first time on the screen, the actor appeared in 1936 in the film "Sins of Man". He soon became one of the most popular performers and won recognition from the public and filmmakers.
In the creative biography of Amichi, there are more than a hundred roles in television and film projects. He has repeatedly participated in the Oscars, People's Choice Awards, Golden Globes, popular shows and documentaries.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the actor continued to constantly appear in new projects, despite his age. He said more than once that thanks to an active lifestyle and constant ten-kilometer walks, he feels great.
Amichi passed away in the winter of 1993. He was 85 years old.
Amichi has 2 named stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: 6101 for her contribution to the development of television and 6313 for her work on the radio.
Biography facts
Dominic Felix was born in the spring of 1908 in the United States. His father emigrated to America from Italy. Mom had German, English, Scottish and Irish roots.
The family brought up 8 children. Four boys: Umberto, James, Louis, Dominic. And four girls: Elizabeth, Ekaterina, Maria and Anna.
After completing his primary education, Don entered Loras College. He then studied at Marquette University and later at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
During his school years, Amichi did not plan to become an actor. He was going to study at the Faculty of Law, but, gradually carried away by the stage, he decided to pursue a creative career.
After graduating from university, Don performed on the theater stage, worked on the radio, and in 1935 he came to the cinema.
Film career
A full-fledged film debut took place in Dona in 1936 in the drama directed by O. Brower and G. Ratov "Sins of Man", where he played one of the main roles. Up to this point, he twice appeared on the screen in the films "Cleve from India" and "Dante's Inferno", but his name was not even indicated in the credits.
In the next film directed by Henry King "Ramona", the actor appeared in the form of Allesandro. The script was based on the novel of the same name by Helen Hunt Jackson. This was already the third adaptation of the book, but for the first time the film was released on screens with sound.
The picture tells the story of a girl who was taken in by a Spanish family from California. She befriended a boy from a wealthy family named Philippe. A few years later, the girl was sent to a monastery for education. When she returns to her family, Philippe, seeing her, realizes that he has fallen in love. But the young man's mother opposes their relationship. She does not want her son to build a relationship with a rootless woman.
In 1937, the actor starred in Tay Garnett's comedy melodrama Love Is News. The film begins with reporter Steve Leighton getting on the plane carrying the heiress of a million dollar fortune, Tony Gateson. Steve has to interview Tony and find out the details of her breakup with her fiancé. To do this, he introduces himself as a police officer and easily finds himself next to Tony. The girl, having learned that Steve deceived her, decides to take revenge on him. She declares in the press that the young man is her new chosen one.
In Henry King's In Old Chicago, Don appeared as Jack O'Leary. The script for the film was written by S. Levien and L. Trotti. The plot was based on the story of Niven Bush about the great Chicago fire of 1871.
The film was nominated for an Oscar 6 times. The project received 2 awards in the categories Best Supporting Actress and Best Assistant Director.
At the peak of his popularity in the 1930-1950s, the actor starred in the projects: "Successful Landing", "Ragtime Band Alexander", "Three Musketeers", "Midnight. You Can't Command Your Heart”,“Hollywood Cavalcade”,“Four Sons”,“Moon over Miami”,“Feminine Approach”,“Heaven Can Wait”,“Happy Land”,“Coming Wife”,“Sleep, My Love”,“City Toast”,“Climax”.
He became a real star of comedies, dramas and musicals. In the 1950s, the actor returned to the theater scene, played a lot on Broadway and became the host of the popular show "International Showtime" on NBC.
Since 1970, Amichi continued to work actively in the cinema. Among his works, it is worth noting roles in the films: "Columbo: Relevant Evidence", "McCloud", "Nicknames Smith and Jones", "Gidget Getting Married", "Ellery Queen", "Good Heaven", "Fantasy Island", "Chinese Typewriter, Boat of Love, Trading Places, Golden Girls, Masterpiece Murder, Harry and the Hendersons, Journey to America, Everything Changes, Oscar, Ancestors.
In 1986, starring in the fantastic drama "Cocoon" directed by Ron Howard, the actor deservedly received the main award of the American Film Academy "Oscar" in the category "Best Supporting Actor".
The last time Amichi appeared on the screen was in 1994 as Harry's grandfather in the comedy melodrama Corrina, Corrina.
Personal life
Don has lived all his life with his beloved woman. In 1932 he married Honore Prendergast. In this union, six children were born.
Amichi's wife died several years earlier than her husband. She passed away in September 1986.
The actor passed away in December 1993 at the age of 85. The cause of death was prostate cancer. His body was cremated and his ashes were buried in Asbury, Iowa, at the Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.
