Alison Brie

Brie in 2011, image via kathclick/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Alison Brie Schermerhorn

Place of Birth: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Birth: December 29, 1982

Ethnicity:
*father – Scottish, as well as Dutch, English, German, Norwegian
*mother – Ashkenazi Jewish

Alison Brie is an American actress, writer, and producer. Her roles include the shows Community, GLOW, Mad Men, and BoJack Horseman, and the films Scream 4, Get Hard, How to Be Single, The Disaster Artist, The Post, Promising Young Woman, The Rental, and Happiest Season.

She is the daughter of Joanne and Charles Terry Schermerhorn, a musician and entertainment reporter. Alison’s paternal grandfather had Dutch, English, German, and Norwegian ancestry, and Alison’s paternal grandmother was Scottish. Alison’s mother is Jewish.

Alison is married to actor and filmmaker Dave Franco.

Alison has said:

My mother is Jewish. My father was raised Catholic, but by the time I was born he was going to church in more like, Christian/Hindu faith, so it was very meditation-like.

She has also said:

I’m Jewish, well, my mother is, so I am by default, and even though she’s never been a real practicing Jew, she certainly is a proud Jew.

Alison’s patrilineal ancestry can be traced to Reyer Schermerhorn, who was born, c. 1541, in Schermerhorn, Waterland, Noord-Holland.

Alison’s paternal grandfather is John/Jack C. Schermerhorn (the son of Charles Terry Schermerhorn and Lillian Miernicke). John was born in Michigan. Charles had Dutch and English ancestry, and was the son of William Ten Broeck Schermerhorn and Jane Adelaide Terry. Lillian was born in Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Francis Miernicke, who was German, and of Anna Emma Nelson, who was Norwegian.

Alison’s paternal grandmother is named Agnes McLean. Agnes was a Scottish immigrant.

Alison’s maternal grandfather likely was Eugene Robert Brenner (the son of Jacob “Jack” Brenner and Lillian Richmond). Eugene was born in New Jersey. Jacob was a Latvian Jewish immigrant. Lillian’s parents were also Latvian Jews.

Sources: Genealogy of Alison Brie (focusing on her father’s side) – http://www.geni.com

Alison’s paternal grandfather, John/Jack C. Schermerhorn, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Alison’s paternal great-grandmother, Lillian Miernicke, on the 1901 Canadian Census – https://familysearch.org