George Roy Hill

Date of Birth: December 20, 1921

Place of Birth: Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.

Date of Death: December 27, 2002

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

Ethnicity: Irish

George Roy Hill was an American filmmaker, and actor. He won the Academy Award for Best Director for The Sting (1973). He also directed the films Period of Adjustment, Toys in the Attic (1963), The World of Henry Orient, Hawaii (1966), Thoroughly Modern Millie, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Slaughterhouse-Five (1972), The Great Waldo Pepper, which he co-wrote; Slap Shot, A Little Romance, which he also co-wrote; The World According to Garp, The Little Drummer Girl (1984), and Funny Farm.

George was the son of Helen and George Roy Hill, who was from a prominent family, which owned the Minneapolis Tribune. George had four children with his former wife, actress Louisa Horton.

George’s paternal grandfather was named George E. Hill (the son of Edward Hill and Dina).

George’s paternal grandmother was Mary Ann Neary (the daughter of John Neary and Margaret Malone). Mary Ann was born in Wisconsin, to Irish parents. John was born in County Meath, the son of Matthew Neary and Margaret McCormick.

George’s maternal grandfather was William Michael Owens (the son of Michael Owens and Mary Stapleton). William was born in Wisconsin, to Irish parents.

George’s maternal grandmother was Anna Cornelia Murphy (the daughter of James Murphy and Mary Ellen McGraw). Anna was born in Wisconsin. James was born in County Down, Northern Ireland, to Irish parents, John Murphy and Eleanor McGannon. Mary was born in County Mayo, Ireland.

Sources: George Roy Hill on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Death record of George’s father – https://www.familysearch.org

George’s mother on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org