Amber Valletta

Valletta in 2015, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Amber Evangeline Valletta

Place of Birth: Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.

Date of Birth: February 9, 1974

Ethnicity:
*father – Italian, Portuguese
*mother – English, Cherokee Native American

Amber Valletta is an American supermodel and actress. She has been featured on the cover of Vogue. She was the face of Giorgio Armani, Chanel, Escada, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Valentino, Gucci, and Versace, and appeared in cosmetics advertisements for Calvin Klein and Elizabeth Arden. Her acting roles include the films What Lies Beneath, The Family Man, Max Keeble’s Big Move, Hitch, Transporter 2, Man About Town, Dead Silence, Premonition (2007), Gamer, and The Spy Next Door, and the series Revenge and Blood & Oil. She also co-hosted the show House of Style.

Amber was raised mostly in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her father is of half Italian and half Portuguese descent. Her mother, who worked at the post office, has significant, verified Cherokee Native American ancestry, from her own father, along with English. A picture of Amber with her mother can be seen here. Her brother is actor, producer, television host, author, and philanthropist Robert Parks-Valletta.

She has a son with her former husband, Olympic volleyball player Chip McCaw.

Amber’s paternal grandfather was Vincent James Valletta (the son of Frank/Francesco Valletta and Maria Carmina Perrone). Vincent was born in Massachusetts, to Italian parents, with roots in Vitulazio, Caserta, Campania. Maria was the daughter of Vincenzo Perrone.

Amber’s paternal grandmother was Evangeline Teresa Dejesus (the daughter of Alfred da Silva DeJesus and Maria Gomes Orfao). Evangeline was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Portuguese parents.

Amber’s maternal grandfather was Sequoyah Lewis/Louis Rogers (the son of Sequoyah Hokesmith Rogers and Siota/Soita/Siater/Sista Mae/P. Tyner). Amber’s grandfather Sequoyah was born in Topeka, Kansas. Amber’s great-grandfather Sequoyah was born in Oklahoma, the son of William Charles Rogers and Nan Kannie/Haney/Haynie, and was of Cherokee Native American descent. Siota was the daughter of Carter Blackstone Braxton Tyner, who was of one eighth Cherokee ancestry, and of Christina Helen Elder, who was of one quarter Cherokee descent.

Amber’s maternal grandmother was Mary Jean Garrison (the daughter of Sidney Andrew Garrison and Anna/Annie Lee Cade). Mary Jean was born in Oklahoma, to parents from Texas. Sidney was the son of Joseph Andrew Garrison and Sidney Ann Gardenhire. Amber’s great-grandmother Anna was the daughter of Steven/Stephen Horn Cade and Smillie/Smiley/Smilie Ann Swain. A picture of Amber and her grandmother can be seen here.

Sources: Amber’s maternal grandfather, Sequoyah Lewis/Louis Rogers, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Sequoyah Lewis/Louis Rogers on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Amber’s maternal great-grandfather, Sequoyah Hokesmith Rogers, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Amber’s maternal great-grandmother, Siota/Soita/Siater/Sista Mae/P. Tyner – https://www.findagrave.com

Genealogies of Amber’s maternal great-grandparents, Sidney Andrew Garrison and Anna/Annie Lee Cade – https://www.findagrave.com

Amber’s maternal great-grandfather, Sidney Andrew Garrison, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Amber’s maternal great-grandmother, Anna/Annie Lee Cade, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org