Shannyn Sossamon

Sossamon in 2010, marcello farina / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Shannon Marie Kahololani Sossamon

Place of Birth: Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.

Date of Birth: October 3, 1978

Ethnicity:
*father – French, Irish
*mother – Native Hawaiian, Filipino, English, German

Shannyn Sossamon is an American actress, director, and musician. Her roles include the films A Knight’s Tale, 40 Days and 40 Nights, The Rules of Attraction, Undiscovered, One Missed Call, Life Is Hot in Cracktown, Our Family Wedding, The Day, Sinister 2, Ghost Light, and Grimcutty, and the shows Wayward Pines and Sleepy Hollow.

She is usually described as being of French and Irish ancestry on her father’s side, and of Native Hawaiian, Filipino, English, and German ancestry on her mother’s.

Shannyn changed her name from Shannon to Shannyn in high school. Her surname is from her mother, Sherry Sossamon, who gave birth to Shannyn when she was seventeen. The surname Sossamon is German. Her sister is musician Jenny Lee Lindberg. Shannyn has two children, including a son with her former partner, children’s book illustrator and author Dallas Clayton.

Shannyn’s maternal grandfather is the son of Edward Thornton “Eddie” Sossamon and Ola Pearl Smith. Edward was the son of Marion Harvey Sossamon and Mary Ellen Storie. Ola was the daughter of Tilman Washington Smith and Emma M. Stone.

Shannyn’s maternal grandmother is Ethel Mangalao (the daughter of Meliton/Meleton Mangalao and Helen Ahialani Uina). Meliton was born in the Philippines. Helen was born in Hawaii, of Hawaiian descent, and was the daughter of John Uina and Keala Mary Kaaimoku/Kaiamoku/Kauaohilo.

Sources: http://www.theage.com.au

Shannyn’s maternal great-grandparents, Edward Thornton “Eddie” Sossamon and Ola Pearl Smith, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Shannyn’s maternal great-grandparents, Meliton/Meleton Mangalao and Helen Ahialani Uina, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of Shannyn’s maternal great-grandmother, Helen Ahialani (Uina) Mangalao – https://library.byuh.edu

ethnic

Curious about ethnicity

35 Responses

  1. Eric says:

    She dresses like a hobo and acts as if she has a metal disability, I hate these celebrities that purposely dress strangely in vintage sweaters and other “costumes” to make themselves stand out, would it kill them to show some respect and dress appropriately like they should on national television.

    From her mannerisms and incessant giggling it would appear that she is either on drugs or has the brain function of a child.

    • teri says:

      @Eric Wow I totally agree with you, I’ve always thought this whenever I see her in a movie, she just seems so AWKWARD and I hate watching her.

      It’s a shame because she’s a nice looking girl but comes off like she’s just out of rehab.

    • over9000 says:

      Maybe she just doesn’t wanna be like every other conservatard out there. Hate to break it to you, but not everyone has the same sense of style, EVEN on “national television”. In fact, she has more self respect than any of the other actresses you see today. You’re about as emotionally retarded as a duck, because any person with the slightest bit of empathy could tell that she is just nervous. Actually, it doesn’t take a smart person to figure that out.

  2. meagan says:

    She was funny in the movie Our Family Wedding even though she only had a little part.Another thing is of all the ethicity she could have been the first thing would not have popped out of my mind was hawaiian but looking at her now I can see a little bit of all her ethic and so…kinda.Its cool that she was born in Hawaii I guess the reason why I say that is because I’m polynesian and raised in Hawaii and would like to see polynesians in the hollywood business more or so.

  3. ethnic says:

    I put up an interview of her instead of a photo. Hope you enjoy it.

    Ethnic

  4. IM KIRA says:

    one missed call, was terrible.

  5. clart kent says:

    that does not look like her. this is the girl who was in a knights tale right?

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