David Sedaris

November 21, 2014, 5:31 pm

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Birth Name: David Raymond Sedaris

Place of Birth: Binghamton, New York

Date of Birth: December 26, 1956

Ethnicity: Greek, English, evidently a very small amount of Middle Eastern and Ashkenazi Jewish

David Sedaris is an American comedian, author, and radio contributor. His sister is actress/comedian Amy Sedaris.

His father is of Greek descent. His mother, whose family has lived in the United States since the 1600s, had English ancestry.

DNA tests undertaken, and displayed, on the television series Finding Your Roots, with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2014) stated that David has approximately 2% Ashkenazi Jewish, as well as a small amount of “Middle Eastern” (the specifics were left vague), ancestry. It is not clear which parent these purported lineages originate from.

David’s paternal grandparents were Harry Sedaris (the son of Elias Sedaris) and Deamando T.

David’s maternal grandparents were Ray Leonard (the son of Frank Leonard and Hattie) and Elizabeth H.

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Sara Gilbert

November 22, 2014, 2:48 am

≫ Next: Art Garfunkel

≪ Previous: David Sedaris

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Birth Name: Sara Rebecca Abeles

Place of Birth: Santa Monica, California

Date of Birth: January 29, 1975

Eye Color: Green

Hair Type/Color: Brown

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Family info: Sara Gilbert is an actress most commonly known for the shows Roseanne and The Big Bang Theory. She is the daughter of Harold Abeles and Barbara Cowan who are both Jewish.

Sara’s maternal grandparents were Harry Crane and ? Grandis (the daughter of Morris Grandes and Rebecca).

Source: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004960/bio
http://www.interfaithfamily.com/

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Art Garfunkel

November 23, 2014, 4:26 am

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Birth Name: Arthur Ira Garfunkel

Place of Birth: Forest Hills, Queens, New York City

Date of Birth: November 5, 1941

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Art Garfunkel is an American singer, poet, and actor. His paternal grandparents were Romanian Jews. His maternal grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Poland/Russia.

Art’s paternal grandparents were Julius B. Garfunkel and Molly. Julius and Molly were Romanian Jewish immigrants.

Art’s maternal grandparents were Morris Pearlman (the son of Jacob Pearlman and Lena Kidin/Kerden) and Becky. Morris was born in Warsaw, Poland. Becky was born in either Poland or Russia.

Source: Genealogy of Art Garfunkel – http://www.geni.com

Art’s father on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Art’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

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Gene Wilder

November 23, 2014, 4:45 am

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≪ Previous: Art Garfunkel

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Birth Name: Jerome Silberman

Place of Birth: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Date of Birth: June 11, 1933

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Gene Wilder is an American actor. His father was a Russian Jewish immigrant. His mother was born in Illinois, to Russian Jewish parents.

Gene’s paternal grandparents were Hyman Silberman and Sarah R.

Gene’s maternal grandparents were Lewis Baer and Libbe.

Source: Gene’s parents on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

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Kevin Pollak

November 23, 2014, 6:07 pm

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Birth Name: Kevin Elliot Pollak

Place of Birth: San Francisco, California, U.S.

Date of Birth: October 30, 1957

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Kevin Pollak is an American actor and stand-up comedian.

His parents are both Jewish. He is the son of Elaine (Klein) and Robert “Bobby” Pollak.

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Tony Kushner

November 25, 2014, 3:44 am

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Birth Name: Anthony Robert Kushner

Place of Birth: Manhattan, NY

Date of Birth: July 16, 1956

Eye Color: Brown

Hair Type/Color: Brown

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Family info: Tony Kushner is an American playwright and screenwriter. He is the son of William and Sylvia Kushner.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/notes/92nd-street-y/tony-kushner-on-being-a-jewish-writer/10151256488188022

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Gilda Radner

November 25, 2014, 9:42 pm

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≪ Previous: Tony Kushner

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Birth Name: Gilda Susan Radner

Date of Birth: June 28, 1946

Place of Birth: Detroit, Michigan

Date of Death: May 20, 1989

Place of Death: Los Angeles, California

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Gilda Radner was an American comedian and actress. She was married to actor Gene Wilder.

Her father, whose surname was originally “Retkowsky”, was of Russian Jewish descent. Her mother was of Polish Jewish descent.

Gilda’s paternal grandparents were George Retkowsky and Mattie. George and Mattie were Russian Jewish immigrants.

Gilda’s maternal grandparents were Alfred Dworkin and Goldie. Alfred and Goldie were Polish Jewish immigrants.

Sources: Gilda’s father on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Gilda’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

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Troye Sivan

November 25, 2014, 9:44 pm

≫ Next: Carol Kane

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Birth Name: Troye Sivan Mellet

Place of Birth: Johannesburg, South Africa

Date of Birth: 5 June, 1995

Ethnicity:
*Ashkenazi Jewish (father)
*English (mother; who converted to Judaism)

Troye Sivan is an Australian singer and actor.

His father is from an Ashkenazi Jewish family (from Lithuania). His mother, who has English ancestry, converted to Judaism. Troye was raised Jewish.

Troye’s paternal grandparents are Kenneth “Kenny” Charles Mellet and Baske/Bessie Zeligson (the daughter of Aizer Zeligson and Chaya Gafanovitch). Chaya was born in Lithuania.

Troye’s maternal grandparents are ? Haverly and ? Marlen.

Source: Genealogy of Troye Sivan (focusing on his father’s side) – http://www.geni.com

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Carol Kane

November 27, 2014, 6:57 pm

≫ Next: Carole King

≪ Previous: Troye Sivan

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Birth Name: Carolyn Laurie Kane

Place of Birth: Cleveland, Ohio

Date of Birth: June 18, 1952

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Carol Kane is an American actress.

Carol’s paternal grandparents were Abraham J. Kane (the son of Juda Kane and Fannie Bojka) and Anna Solomon/Soloman (the daughter of Morris Solomon and Ethel Povenbrar). Abraham was a Russian Jewish immigrant. Anna was born in Ohio, to Polish Jewish parents.

Carol’s maternal grandparents were Joseph Lawrence Fetterman (the son of Samuel Fetterman and Esther Bauer/Byer) and Cecile Gretchen Fell (the daughter of Osias Fell and Sally). Joseph was a Russian Jewish immigrant. Cecile was an Austrian Jewish immigrant, born in Vienna.

Sources: Carol’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Carol’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Carol’s maternal grandfather, Joseph Lawrence Fetterman, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

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Carole King

November 27, 2014, 9:55 pm

≫ Next: Jake Cherry

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Birth Name: Carol Joan Klein

Place of Birth: Manhattan, New York

Date of Birth: February 9, 1942

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Carole King is a Grammy Award-winning American singer and songwriter. She is the daughter of Eugenia (Cammer) and Sidney N. Klein, who were both Jewish (their families were from Poland and Belarus).

Carole’s paternal grandparents were David Klein (originally Gleiman, the son of Herszek Gleiman and Dwojra Both) and Molly Malke Taule. David was born in Warsaw, Poland. Molly was born in Zamość, Poland.

Carole’s maternal grandparents were Israel B. Cammer (the son of Rubin Cammer and Matel Mos) and Scheine “Sarah” Besmosgin (the daughter of Itzak Besmosgin/Bezmozgin and Riva Leah). Israel’s family was from Poland. Scheine was born in Mahilyow, Belarus.

Sources: http://www.blackcollegian.com

Genealogy of Carole King – http://www.geni.com

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Jake Cherry

November 30, 2014, 2:51 am

≫ Next: Alan Dershowitz

≪ Previous: Carole King

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Birth Name: Jacob Cherry

Place of Birth: New Jersey

Date of Birth: September 15, 1996

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Jake Cherry is an American actor. His parents are both Jewish.

Jake’s paternal grandparents are Norman Cherry and Barbara.

Jake’s maternal grandparents are Burton Wolpin (the son of Samuel Wolpin and Fanny) and Roselea Kushner (the daughter of Ben Kushner and Ethel Kolb). Samuel and Fanny were both born in New York, and both of their own parents were from Russia. Ben was born in Russia. Roselea was born in New York, to a family from Romania.

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Alan Dershowitz

November 30, 2014, 5:35 am

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Birth Name: Alan Morton Dershowitz

Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York

Date of Birth: September 1, 1938

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Alan Dershowitz is an American lawyer, author, and political commentator. He is the son of Clair (Ringel) and Harry Dershowitz. He is of Polish Jewish descent.

Alan’s paternal grandparents were Yekusiel Yehuda (Louis Alexander) Dershowitz (the son of Zachariah Derschowitz and Lena Bender) and Eidel “Ida” Maultasch (the daughter of Alter Yitschok Maultasch and Rochma Bleema Steinhardt). Zachariah was born in Pilzno, Poland.

Alan’s maternal grandparents were Naftali Ringel and Blima Newman. Naftali was born in Przemyśl, Poland. Blima was born in Cieszanów, Poland.

Source: Genealogy of Alan Dershowitz – http://www.geni.com

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Austin Abrams

December 1, 2014, 6:39 am

≫ Next: Sofia Black D’Elia

≪ Previous: Alan Dershowitz

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Place of Birth: Sarasota, Florida

Date of Birth: September 2, 1996

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Austin Abrams is an American actor. His father is Jewish. It is not clear if his mother is Jewish too.

Austin’s paternal grandparents are David Abrams and Eleanor Sigelbaum (the daughter of Stanley Sigelbaum and Clara Kravitz). Clara was born in Pennsylvania, to parents from Russia, Max Kravitz and Bessie Strauss.

Source: Genealogy of Austin’s father (focusing on his own mother’s side) – http://www.geni.com

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Sofia Black D’Elia

December 1, 2014, 8:55 pm

≫ Next: Sam Lerner

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Place of Birth: Clifton, New Jersey

Date of Birth: December 24, 1991

Ethnicity:
*Italian (father)
*Ashkenazi Jewish (mother)

Sofia Black D’Elia is an American actress. Her father is of Italian descent and her mother is of Russian Jewish ancestry.

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Sam Lerner

December 1, 2014, 8:56 pm

≫ Next: Naomi Grossman

≪ Previous: Sofia Black D’Elia

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Birth Name: Samuel Bryce Lerner

Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California

Date of Birth: September 27, 1992

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Sam Lerner is an American actor. He is the son of Patricia (Klein) and actor Ken Lerner. His uncle is actor Michael Lerner.

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Naomi Grossman

December 10, 2014, 6:09 am

≫ Next: Bob Balaban

≪ Previous: Sam Lerner

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Place of Birth: Denver, Colorado

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish (paternal grandfather), German, English, Scottish, Norwegian

Naomi Grossman is an American comedian and actress.

Naomi’s paternal grandfather was Jewish (with Lithuanian Jewish ancestry). The rest of Naomi’s ancestry is German, English, Scottish, and Norwegian.

Naomi’s paternal grandparents were Theodor Grossman (the son of Abraham Joseph Grossman and Jeannette Sachs) and Ruth E. Swab (the daughter of Samuel Martin Swab and Runeor Genevieve Jones). Abraham was a Lithuanian Jewish immigrant. Jeannette was also Jewish. Samuel had German ancestry. Runeor had English and Scottish ancestry.

Naomi’s maternal grandparents were Isaac Frederick Hudson (the son of Frederick Edward Hudson and Georgia Barrett) and Harriet Nelle Olson (the daughter of Martin Gustave Olson and Edith Hulda Wright). Martin’s parents, Gabriel Olson and Else Matthea Wilson, were Norwegian.

Sources: Genealogy of Naomi’s father (focusing on his own mother’s side) – http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com

Naomi’s paternal grandmother, Ruth E. Swab, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of Naomi’s maternal grandmother, Nelle Olson – http://boards.ancestry.com

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Bob Balaban

December 19, 2014, 6:58 pm

≫ Next: Brent Spiner

≪ Previous: Naomi Grossman

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Birth Name: Robert Elmer Balaban

Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois

Date of Birth: August 16, 1945

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Bob Balaban is an American actor. He is the son of Eleonore Ruth (Pottasch), an actress under the name Eleanor Barry, and of Elmer Balaban, a cable television pioneer. His uncles founded the Balaban and Katz Theatre circuit and one of them, Barney Balaban, was the head of Paramount Pictures.

Bob’s paternal grandparents were Israel “Isy” Balaban and Augusta “Goldie” Manderbursky/Bursky. Israel and Augusta were Russian Jewish immigrants.

Bob’s maternal grandparents were Ludwig Pottasch and Belle Blumenfeld (the daughter of David Blumenfeld and Mattie/Meta Sonnenshein). Ludwig was a Jewish immigrant from Leipzig, Germany. Belle was born in Illinois, to a Russian Jewish father and a Romanian Jewish mother.

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Brent Spiner

December 19, 2014, 7:07 pm

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≪ Previous: Bob Balaban

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Birth Name: Brent Jay Spiner

Place of Birth: Houston, Texas

Date of Birth: February 2, 1949

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Brent Spiner is an American actor.

Brent’s paternal grandparents were David Spiner and Lena/Minnie Goldmilzc/Goldmintz. David was an Austrian Jewish immigrant. Lena was a Hungarian Jewish immigrant.

Brent’s maternal grandparents were Sam Schwartz and Eva Reba/Reva Lensky (the daughter of Benjamin Lensky and Sarah Kocherovsky). Sam and Eva were both Russian Jewish immigrants.

Source: Brent’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

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Kevin Sussman

December 20, 2014, 10:24 pm

≫ Next: Josh Radnor

≪ Previous: Brent Spiner

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Birth Name: Kevin Sussman

Place of Birth: Staten Island, New York City, NY

Date of Birth: December 4, 1970

Eye Color: Brown

Hair Type/Color: Brown

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Family info: Kevin Sussman is an actor most commonly known for The Big Bang Theory.

Source: http://www.in.com/kevin-sussman/biography-334908.html

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/Kevin-Sussman/biography/

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Josh Radnor

December 22, 2014, 10:41 pm

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Birth Name: Joshua Thomas Radnor

Place of Birth: Columbus, Ohio

Date of Birth: July 29, 1974

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish, as well as approximately 1/8th Irish, 1/8th possibly English

Josh Radnor is an American actor, director, and writer.

Josh’s paternal grandfather, who had Irish and probably English ancestry, likely converted to Judaism. Josh’s three other grandparents were of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.

Josh was raised in Conservative Judaism, and attended an Orthodox Jewish school.

Josh’s paternal grandfather was Robert Radnor (born Clarence Rumbles, the son of Charles Rumbles and Mabel O’Donnell). Robert was born in Ohio. Charles was the son of Benjamin Rumbles and Martha Thomas, and probably had English ancestry. Mabel was the daughter of John O’Donnell and Mary or Betty Ryan, Canadians of Irish descent. Robert Radnor was likely adopted by his stepfather, George Radnor, and took on his surname; George was born in England, to Jewish parents, Max Radnor and Leah Fleeter.

Josh’s paternal grandmother was Rose Chester (born Rose Chenchinsky, the daughter of David Chenchinsky and Toba/Toby Woslow). Rose was born in Ohio, to Polish Jewish parents.

Josh’s maternal grandparents were Charles B. Hirsch and Rose Altschuler.

Sources: Josh’s paternal grandfather, Robert Radnor, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Josh’s paternal grandmother, Rose Chenchinsky, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

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