Zack Snyder

Snyder in 2013, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Zachary Edward Snyder

Place of Birth: Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.

Date of Birth: March 1, 1966

Ethnicity: German, English, smaller amounts of Irish and French

Zack Snyder is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and cinematographer. He has directed the films Dawn of the Dead (2004), 300, Watchmen (2009), Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, Sucker Punch, Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League (2017), Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021), Army of the Dead, Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire, and Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver. He co-wrote his 300, Sucker Punch, Army of the Dead, and Rebel Moon films, as well as 300: Rise of an Empire. He also directed many music videos, including “You’re So Close,” “Tomorrow”, “Somebody to Shove,” “Black Gold,” “I Know,” and “Desolation Row.” He co-founded production company The Stone Quarry, formerly Cruel and Unusual Films.

Zack is the son of Marsha Manley (Reeves), a painter and photography teacher, and Charles Edward Snyder, an executive recruiter. He was raised in Riverside, Connecticut. He grew up in Christian Science.

Zack is married to producer Deborah Snyder (née Johnson). He has had four children with his former wife Denise Weber; two children with his former partner, line producer Kirsten Elin; and two children with Deborah. Four of his children were adopted.

Zack’s paternal grandfather was Henry Lloyd Snyder (the son of Charles B. Snyder and Emma Belle Hibbler). Henry was born in New Jersey. Charles was the son of Henry Snyder and Mary Riley. Zack’s great-grandmother Emma was the daughter of Simon Hibbler and Agnes Latourette.

Zack’s paternal grandmother was Harriet A. Weidner (the daughter of David Crawford Weidner and Meta A. Roes). Harriet was born in Hagaman, Montgomery, New York. David was born in West Shokan, Ulster, New York, the son of Charles/Carl Herman/Hermann Weidner, who was from Neunkirchen, Dieburg, Hesse, Germany; and of Harriet Melinda Holyoke, who had deep roots in Colonial New England. Meta was born in Germany, the daughter of Johann/John Roes, from Ringstedt, and of Adelheid/Adelaide Schriefer.

Zack’s maternal grandfather was Edgar Earl Reeves (the son of Edgar R. Reeves and Katherine/Kittie E. Derby). Zack’s grandfather Edgar was born in Tupper Lake, Franklin, New York. Zack’s great-grandfather Edgar was born in Kansas, the son of Joseph Reeves, who was English, and of Adeline/Addie Ellen Hickok. Katherine was the daughter of George M. Derby and Amelia S. Sheffield.

Zack’s maternal grandmother was Helen Danforth Manley (the daughter of John Batchelder Manley and Jennie Minerva Danforth). Helen was born in Brattleboro, Windham, Vermont, to parents from Dorset, Bennington, in the state. John was the son of John Batchelder Manley and Ellen Biscoe Lord. Jennie was the daughter of Oliver Harwood Danforth and Sarah M. Hills.

Through Zack’s maternal grandmother, he is a descendant of William Brewster (c. 1566-1644), a Mayflower passenger and noted Pilgrim. Among many of William’s other descendants are actors Jordana Brewster, Paget Brewster, Austin Butler, Chevy Chase, Taylor Lautner, Seth MacFarlane, and Elisabeth Shue, actors and models Noah Mills and Brandon Routh, singer Buffy Sainte-Marie, soccer player Clint Dempsey, Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, U.S. Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, and Governor of Arkansas Winthrop Rockefeller.

Sources: Genealogy of Zack Snyder – https://famouskin.com

Genealogies of Zack Snyder (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com
http://humphrysfamilytree.com

Marriage record of Zack’s maternal grandparents, Edgar Earl Reeves and Helen Danforth Manley – https://www.familysearch.org

Birth record of Zack’s maternal grandmother, Helen Danforth Manley – https://www.familysearch.org