Henry Gibson

Gibson on ”Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” in 1969, Roy Cummings Inc.-Hollywood

Birth Name: James Bateman

Date of Birth: September 21, 1935

Place of Birth: Germantown, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Date of Death: September 14, 2009

Place of Death: Malibu, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: Irish, with some German, English, distant Dutch

Henry Gibson was an American actor, singer, and songwriter. He was the son of Dorothy and Edmund Bateman. His father was of Irish descent. His mother had Irish, German, English, and distant Dutch, ancestry. His nephew is actor Matt Molloy. Henry was married to Lois Joan Geiger, until her death, with whom he had three children. He was also credited as Olsen Gibson.

Henry was a first cousin of metal sculptor, jazz musician, and powerlifter Hugh Cassidy, and a first cousin, once removed, of vocalist and guitarist Eva Cassidy, who was Hugh’s daughter.

Henry’s paternal grandfather was named John J. Bateman. John was born in New York, to Irish parents.

Henry’s paternal grandmother was named Margaret E. Gallagher. Margaret was born in Pennsylvania, to Irish parents.

Henry’s maternal grandfather was Hugh Gilbert Cassidy (the son of Lewis Cochran/Cochrane Cassidy and Sarah T. “Sallie” Truman). Hugh was born in Pennsylvania. Henry’s great-grandfather Lewis C. Cassidy was a lawyer and politician, who served as Attorney General of Pennsylvania, from January 17, 1883 to January 18, 1887. He was the son of Hugh Cassidy, who was of Irish descent, and of Margaret Cochran, who was Irish. Sallie was the daughter of Joseph Truman and likely Sarah.

Henry’s maternal grandmother was Mary Dorothea Fagan (the daughter of Louis Estell Fagan and Mary Dorothea Colahan). Henry’s grandmother Mary was born in Pennsylvania. Louis was the son of John Francis Fagan and Emily Rogers Estell. Henry’s great-grandmother Mary was the daughter of Captain John Barron Colahan and Mary Dorothea Zell.

Sources: Henry’s father on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Henry’s maternal grandparents, Hugh Gilbert Cassidy and Mary Dorothea Fagan, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Henry’s maternal uncle on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org