Jon Bernthal

Jon Bernthal

Bernthal in 2011, photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Jonathan Edward Bernthal

Place of Birth: Washington, D.C., U.S.

Date of Birth: September 20, 1976

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Jon Bernthal is an American actor. He is known for his roles on The Walking Dead and The Punisher, and in the films The Wolf of Wall Street, The Accountant, and Ford v Ferrari, among many others.

His parents, Joan and Eric “Rick” Bernthal, are both Jewish. His family came to the U.S. from Austria, Russia, and Poland on his father’s side, and from Germany, Lithuania, and Russia on his mother’s side. His father is chairman of the board of the animal rights group The Humane Society of the United States. Jon was raised partly in Cabin John, Maryland.

Jon is married to Erin Angle, with whom he has three children. Erin is the niece of actor and wrestler Kurt Angle. Jon’s brother is marketing CEO and news producer Tom Bernthal. Tom is married to Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg.

Jon was a first cousin of songwriter, composer, and record producer Adam Schlesinger. Jon’s father and Adam’s mother are siblings.

Jon’s paternal grandfather was Murray Bernthal, a composer (the son of Samuel Bernthal and Lena Fleisher). Murray was born in New York. Samuel was a Jewish emigrant from Bukovina, and was the son of Mordecai/Marcus Bernthal and Dvorsa/Dora Gottlieb/Gross. Lena was a Russian Jewish immigrant, the daughter of Elias Fleisher/Fleischer and Chaja Saks.

Jon’s paternal grandmother was Rose Wartsky (the daughter of Aaron/Aron Wartsky and Lena Zlutnic). Rose was born in New York. Aaron was a Polish Jewish emigrant, who was born in Kalisz, Kalisz County, Poland. Lena was a Russian Jewish immigrant.

Jon’s maternal grandfather was Hendrik Otto “Henry” Marx (the son of Solomon Marx and Flora Kaufmann). Hendrik was a German Jew, born in Munich, Germany, in 1918; he later moved to the United States.

Jon’s maternal grandmother was Mildred Geraldine “Billi” Lurie (the daughter of Levi Israel Lurie and Rose Cwengel). Mildred was born in Missouri. Levi was a Lithuanian Jewish immigrant. Rose was born either in Missouri, or in Kupel, Russia, to Russian-born Jewish parents, Harry Cwengel and Pessie/Bessie “Pauline” Whiser/Weiser, whose own parents were Malech Weiser and Rachel.

Sources: Genealogy of Jon Bernthal – https://www.geni.com

Jon’s paternal grandfather, Murray Bernthal, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Jon’s paternal grandmother, Rose Wartsky, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Jon’s maternal grandmother, Mildred Geraldine “Billi” Lurie, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

34 Responses

  1. Racial Realist says:

    My first guess was Italian, followed by Italian-Jewish, but Ashkenazi only makes sense.
    With his shaved head in TWD he could pass as hispanic, he looks like a right Chulo with the buzzcut and sleeveless shirt.

    • andrew says:

      He does not look Italian in the slightest, definitely not an Italian face.

      • jackson9 says:

        I agree with Racial Realist, he has the skin tone of my half Sicilian Governor (Cuomo) and many other people of southern Italian descent.

        • andrew says:

          It has nothing to do with the skintone but it’s about the facial features. I am not sure if Cuomo has ancestry from Sicily though.

          • jackson9 says:

            I thought his mother is of Sicilian ancestry and father Campania. I have a lot of Jewish (Ashkenazi mainly) and Italian friends were I grew up and they say they often get mistaken for each other.

          • pedro_henrique says:

            I am certain you could not differentiate a spanish man from italian, nor greek

      • pedro_henrique says:

        what makes an “italian face” for you? lol

        • Keepit_smooth says:

          Are you kidding me?? Italians are white. Spanish people are Hispanic. Spanish people have very pointy noses and round eyes, like Javier Bardem and William Levy. Or what about Penelope Cruz?? Those people look nothing Italian

          • muricansareallmutts says:

            Lol Bardem despite his nationality he’s Amerindian his Spaniard ancestors must had raped and got pregnant a native Central-Southern American and brought the children to Spain and Levy is heavily part indigenous also.
            Pointy nose looks like this https://images.app.goo.gl/NmdvVh7LFbe9Gqug7 is typical of Anglos and Alpines.

            Correct they’re not Italians but you say Bernthal another Hispanic it is don’t troll.

  2. WTF says:

    He’s one —- motherf……. Wtf is up with his nose? —- ass!

  3. fuzzybear44 says:

    The character this guy played in the walking dead,was something else

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