David Frankel

Frankel in 2006, photo by s_bukley/www.bigstockphoto.com

Birth Name: David Marshall Frankel

Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.

Date of Birth: April 2, 1959

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

David Frankel is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He has directed the films Miami Rhapsody, The Devil Wears Prada, Marley & Me, The Big Year, Hope Springs, One Chance, Collateral Beauty, and Jerry & Marge Go Large, and episodes of Inventing Anna. He is also known as Dave Frankel.

David is the son of Tobia Simone and Max Frankel, who was a columnist and executive editor of The New York Times. His family is Jewish. His father was born in Gera, Thuringia, and raised in Weißenfels, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, before moving to New York. His mother is from Brooklyn, New York.

David’s paternal grandfather was named Jakob Fränkel (the son of Isaak Fränkel). Jakob was born in Busk, Galicia, Poland, now Ukraine.

David’s paternal grandmother was Mary Katze. Mary was born in Sokal, Galicia, Poland, now Ukraine.

David’s maternal grandfather was named Harold M. Brown (the son of Maurice Brown and Ida). Harold was born in New York, to parents from Russia.

David’s maternal grandmother was named Pauline Kessler. Pauline was born in Odessa, Russian Empire, now Ukraine.

Sources: David’s father’s memoir, The Times of My Life and My Life with The Times, 1999 – http://books.google.com

Obituary of David’s mother – http://www.nytimes.com

David’s maternal great-grandparents, Maurice Brown and Ida, on the 1940 U.S. Census – http://www.familysearch.org

Obituary of David’s maternal grandmother, Pauline (Kessler) Brown – http://www.nytimes.com