Place of Birth: Wilmington, Delaware, United States
Date of Death: December 17, 2016
Place of Death: Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
Henry Heimlich was an American thoracic surgeon and medical researcher. He is generally credited as the inventor of the Heimlich maneuver, a technique of abdominal thrusts for stopping choking.
Henry was the son of Mary (Epstein) and Pincus “Philip” Heimlich. He was married to Jane Murray, whose father was ballroom-dancing entrepreneur Arthur Murray (born Moses Teichman). He was a relative of actor Anson Williams (born Anson William Heimlich).
Henry’s paternal grandfather was Max Heimlich (the son of Natan Heimlich and Johanna “Hani” Pfirish/Pfirsich). Max was a Hungarian Jewish immigrant, from Pozsony (now Bratislava, Slovakia). Natan was the son of Mozes Henrik Heimlich and Szali Jara “Sara” Teitelbaum.
Henry’s paternal grandmother was Lottie Geiger (the daughter of Bernát Geiger and Rosi Weinberger). Lottie was a Hungarian Jewish immigrant, from Sátoraljaújhely, Zemplén (now part of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén). Bernát was the son of David Geiger and Mina Geiger. Rosi was the daughter of Pincus “Phillip” Weinberger and Sali Strausz.
Henry’s maternal grandparents were Louis Epstein and Celia Barovitskaya. Louis and Celia were Russian Jewish immigrants.
Sources: Genealogy of Henry Heimlich (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Ronan Farrow is an American activist, journalist, lawyer, and U.S. government advisor. He was the host of the show Ronan Farrow Daily from 2014 to 2015.
Ronan is the son of director, writer, and actor Woody Allen and actress Mia Farrow. His father is Ashkenazi Jewish (from a family from Russia, Lithuania, and Austria). His mother has English, Irish, and Scottish ancestry.
Ronan’s paternal grandfather was Martin Koenigsberg (the son of Isaac Koenigsberg and Jennie Copplin). Isaac and Jennie were Jewish immigrants, and were born in Russia. Isaac was the son of Schmuel/Samuel Koenigsberg and Bella. Martin also had Lithuanian Jewish ancestry.
Ronan’s paternal grandmother was Nettie Cherry (the daughter of Leon Cherry/Scherry and Sarah Hoff). Leon and Sarah were both Austrian Jewish immigrants.
Ronan’s maternal grandfather was John Farrow (John Villiers Farrow, the son of Joseph Farrow and Lucy Savage). John was an Australian director. Joseph was the son of English parents, James Farrow and Jane Maria Canham, with James being from County Norfolk and Jane being from West Lynn, Norfolk. Lucy was the daughter of George Savage, who was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, to English parents, from Buckinghamshire, and of Emily Piggott, who was English, from Manchester, Lancashire.
Ronan’s maternal grandmother was Maureen O’Sullivan (the daughter of Charles Joseph O’Sullivan and Evangeline Lovatt “Mary Eva” Frazer). Maureen was an Irish actress, born in Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland, and had Irish, Scottish, and English ancestry. Charles was born in Cork, County Cork, Ireland, the son of Daniel Vincent O’Sullivan and Mary Teresa “Minnie” Scannell. Evangeline was born in Tientsin, China, the daughter of John Lovat Frazer, who was from County Sligo, Ireland, and had Scottish ancestry, and of Mary Eva Kennett, who was from St. Marylebone, London, England.
In 2013, Ronan’s mother stated, perhaps not in total seriousness, that Ronan’s biological father could be singer Frank Sinatra, who was married to Mia many years before Ronan’s birth. For a number of reasons (see for example this and this), the idea appears to be unlikely.
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, United States
Date of Birth: September 8, 1961
Ethnicity:
*62.5% Jewish (Ashkenazi, some Sephardi)
*25% Afro-Jamaican
*12.5% Irish and Scottish
Gina Belafonte is an American actress and producer. She is the daughter of actress and costume designer Julie Robinson and singer and actor Harry Belafonte. Her half-sister is actress and model Shari Belafonte. Gina is married to actor Scott McCray, with whom she has a child.
Gina’s father is of one half Afro-Jamaican, one quarter Dutch Jewish, and one quarter Irish-Scottish, ancestry. Gina’s mother is Jewish, of Russian Jewish descent.
Gina’s paternal grandfather was Harold George Belanfanti/Bellanfanti. Harold was born in Jamaica, the son of a Dutch Jewish father and a black Jamaican mother.
Gina’s paternal grandmother was Melvine Love (the daughter of William Love and Sarah Jane Clarke). William was a black Jamaican. Sarah was white, of Irish and Scottish descent, and was the daughter of Henry Clarke and Alice “Elsie” Allen.
Gina’s maternal grandfather was George Robinson (the son of Alexander Robinson and Sonia). George was born in New York, to Russian Jewish parents. Alexander was the son of Leonid Seluba and Amelia. Sonia was the daughter of Sasha and Sophia.
Gina’s maternal grandmother was Clara Morrill/Morill (the daughter of Nathan Morell and Pauline). Clara was born in Rhode Island, to Russian Jewish parents. Nathan was the son of Dov-Berr Morell and Crainda. Pauline was the daughter of Abraham and Rebecca.
Eddie Fisher was an American singer and actor. He was the most successful pop singles artist of the first half of the 1950s.
Eddie was the son of Kate (Winokur) and Joseph P. Fisher, who were Russian Jewish immigrants. He was the father of actress and writer Carrie Fisher and filmmaker Todd Fisher (with his former wife, singer, actress, and humanitarian Debbie Reynolds), and actresses Joely Fisher and Tricia Leigh Fisher (with his former wife, singer and actress Connie Stevens). He was the grandfather of actress Billie Lourd.
Eddie’s paternal grandparents were David or Nathan Tisch/Fisher and Anna or Linnie.
Eddie’s maternal grandparents were Zelig/Selig Zadik Minniker/Winokur and Ida.
Don Rickles is an American comedian, actor, and voice actor.
Don is the son of Etta (Feldman) and Max Sidney Rickles. His father was a Russian Jewish immigrant. His mother was born in New York, to Austrian Jewish parents.
Don’s paternal grandparents were Joseph Rickles and Frances Richters.
Don’s maternal grandparents were Harry Feldman and Clara Landsberg (the daughter of David Landsberg).
Ethnicity:
*English, along with German, distant French Huguenot (father)
*Ashkenazi Jewish (mother)
Summer Phoenix is an American actress, model, and designer. She is the the sister of actors River Phoenix, Rain Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix, and Liberty Phoenix. Summer is married to actor Casey Affleck, with whom she has two children.
Summer is the daughter of Arlyn Phoenix (born Arlyn Dunetz), a social activist, and John Phoenix (born Johnny Lee Bottom). Summer’s mother is Jewish; half of her family are Russian Jews and the other half are Hungarian Jews. Summer’s father is of mostly English descent, along with at least 1/128th German, from his ancestor, Johan Jacob Peter Kimberlin, and French Huguenot roots from another, distant, ancestor, Francis Posey, from Cambray, France.
Summer was raised in Florida and California. At one point, before her birth, Summer’s parents joined the religious group Children of God, which they later left.
Summer’s paternal grandfather was Robert Merrill Bottom (the son of William Dell Bottom and Cordelia Pearl Matherly). Robert was born in Kentucky, as weere all of his grandparents. William was the son of Fidellar/Phidellar Sharp Bottom and Rachel Ann Bolling/Bowling. Cordelia was the daughter of David Houston Matherly and Sarah Frances Purdom.
Summer’s paternal grandmother was Beulah Ernestine Ingram (the daughter of Robert Lee Ingram and Mary Elizabeth Leach or Leidy). Beulah was born in Missouri, and Beulah’s grandparents were born in Tennessee (two), Illinois, and Iowa. Mary Elizabeth was the daughter of William John Leidy and Sarah Clarissa Dyer.
Summer’s maternal grandfather was Meyer Dunetz (the son of Samuel Dunetz and Libbe Grodenzik). Meyer was born in New York. Samuel and Libbe were Russian Jewish immigrants. Samuel was the son of Moses/Moshe Idel Dunetz and Shifra. Libbe was the daughter of Simon Gordon and Menucha.
Summer’s maternal grandmother was Margaret Lefkowitz (the daughter of Ignatz Lefkowitz and Mary Beck). Margaret was born in New York, the daughter of Hungarian Jewish immigrants. Ignatz was the son of Herman Lefkowitz and Rose Greenwald. Mary was the daughter of Ignatz Beck and Maly Frankel.
Lesley Stahl is an American television journalist. She was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, the daughter of Dorothy J. (Tishler) and Louis E. Stahl. She was raised in Swampscott, Massachusetts. Lesley is married to journalist and writer Aaron Latham. They have a daughter.
Lesley’s paternal grandparents were Harry Stahl and Esther. Harry and Esther were Polish Jews who moved to Boston in 1913.
Lesley’s maternal grandparents were Jacob Tishler and Tillie. Jacob and Tillie were Russian Jews who moved to Boston in 1911.
Place of Birth: Burbank, Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: October 29, 1967
Ethnicity:
*62.5% Ashkenazi Jewish
*25% Italian (including Sicilian)
*12.5% Irish
Joely Fisher is an American actress and singer. She is known for starring in two television series, Ellen and ‘Til Death.
Joely is the daughter of actors and singers Eddie Fisher and Connie Stevens. Her younger sister is actress Tricia Leigh Fisher. She is the half-sister of actress Carrie Fisher and TV and filmmaker Todd Fisher. Her niece is actress Billie Lourd.
Her father was born in Pennsylvania, to Russian Jewish parents. Her mother was born in New York. Joely’s maternal grandfather was of Italian (including Sicilian) ancestry, and Joely’s maternal grandmother was of Irish (from her own father) and Polish Jewish and German Jewish (from her own mother) descent.
Joely’s paternal grandparents were Joseph P. Fisher/Tisch (the son of David or Nathan Tisch/Fisher and Anna or Linnie) and Kate Winokur (the daughter of Zelig/Selig Zadik Minniker/Winokur and Ida).
Joely’s maternal grandfather was Peter Ingoglia, known as musician Teddy Stevens (the son of Charles Ingoglia and Concetta Katherine Coletti). Charles and Concetta were both born in Italy. The surname “Ingoglia” is usually Sicilian, from Palermo or Trapani. Concetta was the daughter of Jakob/Jacob Coletti.
Joely’s maternal grandmother was Eleanor McGinley, a singer (the daughter of Charles Jonathan McGinley and Sarah “Sadie” Asher). Charles was the son of Hugh McGinley and Mary Gilligan, who were Irish. Sarah was the daughter of Isidore Harry Asher, who was born in Pennsylvania, the son of Jewish immigrant parents from Poland and Germany, and of Esther/Ester “Essie” White, who was born in London, England, to Polish Jewish parents, Isaac White and Sarah Simon/Simons.
Ksenia Sobchak is a Russian television anchor, journalist, socialite, and actress. She is the daughter of Anatoly Sobchak and Lyudmila Narusova. She identifies herself as of Jewish heritage, but not religiously. She has Polish, Czech, Ukrainian, and Russian heritage on her father’s side and Russian and Jewish on her mother’s side.
James McBride is an American writer and musician. He was born in New York City, New York, U.S..
His father, Andrew Dennis McBride, was an African-American reverend. His mother, Ruchel Dwajra Zylska (later changed to Rachel Deborah Shilsky and Ruth McBride Jordan), was born near Gdańsk, Poland to a Jewish family.
His maternal grandparents were Hudis and Fishel Shilsky. They were born in Poland and Russia, respectively.
His paternal grandparents were Nash McBride (the son of Andrew McBride and Rosa) and Etta Patterson (the daughter of Dennis Patterson and Jennie Townsend). Jennie’s parents were Adam Townsend and Ellen (McRae).
Place of Birth: Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: August 3, 1985
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
Max Landis is an American screenwriter, comic book writer, director, producer, and actor. He is the son of director and producer John Landis and costume designer Deborah Nadoolman. He has a sister, Rachel.
Max’s paternal grandfather was Marshall Landis (the son of Maxwell Landis and Muriel Davidson).
Max’s paternal grandmother was Shirley Magaziner (the daughter of Harry A. Magaziner and May Potasky). Harry was born in Ohio, the son of Russian-born parents, Bernard Magaziner and Lena Speck. May was also born in Ohio, the daughter of Louis J. Potasky and Elizabeth Phal, who were also from Russia.
Max’s maternal grandparents were Milton Nadoolman and Laura Kessler (the daughter of Max Kessler and Dora). Laura was born in New York, to parents from Russia.
Source: Obituary of Max’s maternal grandmother, Laura (Kessler) Nadoolman – http://www.legacy.com
Frances Bay was a Canadian-born American actress. She was born in Mannville, Alberta, to Ukrainian/Russian Jewish parents Max Goffman and Ann Averbach. She was raised in Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada.
Her brother was sociologist and writer Erving Goffman. In an article about his life, it is stated about his parents:
“When Max Goffman (b. 1890) arrived in Winnipeg he was one of almost 120,000 immigrant Jews who came from Eastern Europe to Canada between 1900 and 1920. They were mainly 3 shop keepers and tradesmen and for the most part they settled in big cities like Montreal, Toronto and Winnipeg. In Winnipeg Max met Ann Averbach (b. 1899) who had arrived from Russia in 1912”.
Frances’ surname “Bay” comes from her former husband, Charles Bay.
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, United States
Date of Birth: June 23, 1962
Ethnicity:
*Ashkenazi Jewish (father)
*possibly Huron Native American and other (mother)
Billy Wirth is an American actor.
Billy is the son of Jean C., and artist, and Morris A. Wirth, a lawyer. His father was Jewish. His mother is said to be of part Huron Native American descent.
Billy’s paternal grandparents were Louis Wirth and Esther. Louis and Esther were Russian Jewish immigrants.
Ethnicity:
*German, possibly other (father)
*Ashkenazi Jewish (mother)
Lucas Jade Zumann is an American actor. He is the son of Jennifer Carol (Golden), a pilates instructor, and Matthew Thomas Zumann.
Lucas’ paternal grandparents are Thomas Charles Zumann and Kathryn Lynne Herman.
Lucas’ maternal grandfather is Martin A. Golden (the son of Arnold Herbert Goldstein/Golden and Rae Irene Willens). Arnold was the son of Jack Goldstein/Golden, who was born in New York, to parents from Russia, and of Jean Silverstein/Silver, who was born in Illinois, to parents from Poland. Rae was born in Illinois, the daughter of Louis Albert Willens, who was born in Illinois, to parents from Germany or Russia, and of Jeannette Tintner, who was also born in Illinois, to parents from Germany or Austria.
Lucas’ maternal grandmother is Ellyn A. Hill (the daughter of Paul E. Hill and Cyrile H.). Paul was born in Illinois, the son of Meyer Hill and Hannah, who were immigrants from Russia.
Sources: Lucas’ maternal great-grandfather, Arnold Herbert Goldstein/Golden, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Lucas’ maternal great-grandmother, Rae Irene Willens, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Lucas’ maternal great-grandfather, Paul E. Hill, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of Lucas’ maternal great-grandmother, Cyrile H. Hill – http://www.legacy.com
Edward Zwick is an American filmmaker, director, and film and television producer. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Jewish parents Allen Zwick and Ruth Ellen/Ellyn (Reich).
His paternal grandparents were Edward Zwick and Lillian Berland. They were both born in Illinois to parents from Russia.
His maternal grandfather was Samuel Reich. He was born in Poland.
His maternal grandmother was Isabel S. Stern (the daughter of Morris H. Stern and Sarah Etta Kadaretzky). Morris was born in Szczuczyn, Poland. Sarah Etta was from Grajewo, Poland.
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: January 15, 1984
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
Ben Shapiro is an American attorney, conservative political commentator, nationally syndicated columnist, author, and radio show host. He is an Orthodox Jew.
Ben’s father’s name is David Shapiro. Ben has stated that his ancestors lived in Russia.
Leslie Moonves is the Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Corporation.
He was born in New York City, New York, U.S., to Jewish parents Herman Moonves and Josephine (Schleifer). His siblings are Jonathan, Alan, and Melissa.
Her maternal grandparents were Sol/Saul M. Schlaifer (the son of Joseph Schleifer and Nehuma Hendel) and Regina Olszewer. Sol and Regina were both originally from Poland.
His paternal grandparents were Bernard Moonves and Ida. They were both born in Russia.
He is married to Chinese-American television personality Julie Chen.
