Stephen Karam

Stephen Karam – 70th Annual Tony Awards, 2016 – Photo Credit: Loredana Sangiuliano / PRPhotos.com

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

Date of Birth: (possibly) September 23, 1979

Ethnicity:
*Lebanese (father)
*Irish (mother)

Stephen Karam is an American playwright, screenwriter, and director. His plays as writer include columbinus, Speech & Debate, Sons of the Prophet, The Humans, and his adaptation of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard. He wrote the play-to-screenplay adapations for the films Speech & Debate, The Seagull (2018), also from Chekhov; and The Humans (2021). He also directed the latter.

Stephen is the son of Marie and Albert Karam. His father is of Maronite Catholic Lebanese origin. His mother has Irish roots.

Stephen’s paternal grandfather was named Soloman/Solomon Karam. Soloman was born in either Lebanon or Syria.

Stephen’s paternal grandmother was named Hesna Hanam. Hesna was born in Pennsylvania.

Stephen’s maternal grandfather was John Martin McAndrew (the son of John J. McAndrew and Sarah J. Clark). John was born in Pennsylvania. Stephen’s great-grandparents John and Sarah were born in Pennsylvania, both of them to parents from Ireland.

Stephen’s maternal grandmother was Elizabeth “Liz” A. Merrick (the daughter of Thomas F. Merrick and Florence A. Dean). Thomas was born in Pennsylvania, the son of Charles Merrick, whose parents were Irish, and of Bridget E. Nolan, whose parents were also Irish. Florence was also born in Pennsylvania, the daughter of Michael Dean, who was Irish, and of Mary Moran, whose parents were Irish.

Sources: http://www.nytimes.com

Obituary of Stephen’s uncle (father’s brother) – http://www.legacy.com

Obituary of Stephen’s aunt (father’s sister) – http://www.pressreader.com

Stephen’s paternal grandparents, Soloman/Solomon Karam and Hesna Hanam, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Stephen’s maternal grandfather, John Martin McAndrew, on the 1930 U.S.Census – http://www.familysearch.org