Birth Name: Wallace Michael Shawn
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: November 12, 1943
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
Wallace Shawn is an American actor, comedian, playwright, and essayist.
He is the son of Cecille (Lyon) and William Shawn (William Chon), a magazine editor. His brother is composer Allen Shawn.
Wallace’s paternal grandfather was Benjamin William Chon (the son of William Louis Cohen/Chon and Esther Elizabeth Singer). Benjamin was born in either New York, United States, to Polish Jewish parents, or in Warsaw, Poland.
Wallace’s paternal grandmother was Anna/Annie Bransky (the daughter of Morris Bransky and Minna Levy). Anna was born in England, to Polish Jewish parents.
Wallace’s maternal grandfather was named William Lyon/Lyons. William was born in Russia.
Wallace’s maternal grandmother was Rose Levinson (the daughter of Simon Levinson and Rachel/Rachael). Rose was born in Carlstadt, Sweden, to Russian Jewish parents.
Each of Wallace’s grandparents was born in a different country, something that is fairly rare. Actors Noah Emmerich, Jessica Lange, and Logan Lerman are others whose grandparents were born in four distinct countries.
Sources: Genealogy of Wallace Shawn – https://www.geni.com
Genealogy of Wallace Shawn (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.wikitree.com
Wallace’s parents on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Wallace’s father on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Wallace’s paternal grandparents, Benjamin William Chon and Anna/Annie Bransky, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Benjamin William Chon and Anna/Annie Bransky on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Benjamin William Chon and Anna/Annie Bransky on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Wallace’s mother on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Wallace’s mother on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Wallace’s maternal grandparents, William Lyon/Lyons and Rose Levinson, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
William Lyon/Lyons and Rose Levinson on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Death record of Wallace’s maternal grandmother, Rose (Levinson) Lyon – https://www.familysearch.org
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