Tawny Kitaen

Tawny Kitaen – “Take Me Home Tonight” Los Angeles Premiere – Arrivals – Regal Cinemas L.A. Live – Los Angeles, CA, USA, 2011 – Photo Credit: Tommaso Boddi / PR Photos

Birth Name: Julie E. Kitaen

Date of Birth: August 5, 1961

Place of Birth: San Diego, California, United States

Date of Death: May 7, 2021

Place of Death: Newport Beach, California, U.S.

Ethnicity:
*Ashkenazi Jewish (father)
*English, Scottish (maternal grandfather)

Tawny Kitaen was an American actress, model, and media personality. She starred in the films The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik-Yak, Witchboard, and Bachelor Party. She appeared in several music videos for the band Whitesnake, including “Here I Go Again,” and was married to the band’s singer and songwriter David Coverdale.

Tawny was the daughter of Linda and Terry Kitaen. She had two children with her former husband, professional baseball player Chuck Finley. Tawny was raised Jewish.

Tawny’s paternal grandfather was Joseph J. “Joe” Kitaen (the son of David Kitaen and Goldie Levine). Joe was a Russian Jewish immigrant. David’s mother’s surname was Faria. Goldie was the daughter of Dina.

Tawny’s paternal grandmother was Eleanor R. Ellis (the daughter of David Ellis and Ida Schneider/Schinder). Eleanor was born in New York, to Russian Jewish parents. David was the son of Tevia Ellis and Esther Ezralite. Ida was the daughter of Sam/Solomon Schneider and Sarah Cohen.

Tawny’s maternal grandfather was Guy Edward Taylor (the son of Fred Ward Taylor, Jr. and Winona/Nona M. Lackey). Guy was born in California. Fred was born in South Dakota, the son of Fred Ward Taylor and Ada E. Bowerman. Winona was born in Iowa, the daughter of William Andrew Lackey and Sidney Isabelle Morehead.

Tawny’s maternal grandmother was Pearl Elizabeth Strakon. Pearl was born in Washington, and was adopted by Laurenz/Lawrence Strakon and Rebekka A. “Bessie” Tannenbaum. Laurenz was from Rohrbach, Pfaffenschlag bei Waidhofen, Austria, and his parents were born in Bohemia. Rebekka was Jewish, and was born in Bukovina, to parents surnamed Tannenbaum and Handler.

Sources: https://twitter.com

Genealogy of Tawny Kitaen (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Tawny’s father on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Tawny’s paternal grandparents, Joseph J. “Joe” Kitaen and Eleanor R. Ellis – https://www.familysearch.org

Tawny’s paternal grandfather, Joseph J. “Joe” Kitaen, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Tawny’s paternal grandmother, Eleanor R. Ellis, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Tawny’s paternal great-grandparents, David Ellis and Ida Schneider/Schinder – https://www.familysearch.org

Tawny’s mother on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Tawny’s maternal grandfather, Guy Edward Taylor, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Tawny’s maternal grandmother, Pearl Elizabeth Strakon, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Obituary of Tawny’s maternal grandmother, Pearl Elizabeth (Strakon) Taylor – http://www.legacy.com