Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Sigler in 2008, image via Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com
Place of Birth: Jericho, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: May 15, 1981
Ethnicity:
*father – Ashkenazi Jewish, Romaniote Jewish, Sephardi Jewish
*mother – Cuban [converted to Judaism]
Jamie-Lynn Sigler is an American actress and singer. She is known for playing the daughter of mafia kingpin Tony Soprano on the series The Sopranos, and for her roles in the films Love Wrecked, Dark Ride, Beneath the Dark, Divorce Invitation, I Do, Jewtopia, Gangster Land, and Mob Town.
Jamie-Lynn is the daughter of Connie and Steve Sigler, who founded the Men’s Senior Baseball League. Her father is from a Jewish family, of Ashkenazi, Romaniote, and Sephardi descent, from Romania, Poland, Greece, and Albania. Her mother, who is Cuban, converted to Judaism.
Jamie-Lynn is married to professional baseball player Cutter Dykstra, whose father is baseball player Lenny Dykstra. The couple has two children. Jamie-Lynn was previously credited under the name Jamie-Lynn DiScala, the surname of her ex-husband.
She has stated that she felt a spiritual and emotional connection to her Jewish roots when she visited Israel. She had a Bat Mitzvah ceremony.
Jamie-Lynn’s paternal grandfather was Seymour Sigler (the son of Murray Sigler and Sally R. Gendeler). Seymour was born in New York. Murray was born in New York, to parents from Romania, Nathan Sigler and Sarah Schwartz. Sally was born in New York, to parents from Poland.
Jamie-Lynn’s paternal grandmother is Ethel E. Bacola (the daughter of Haim/Harry Bacola and Astro/Stella Dostis). Ethel was born in New York. Haim was born in Ioannina, Ipiros Ditiki Makedonia, Greece. Astro was born in Vlorë, Albania, the daughter of Isaak Dostis and Esther Besso, who was born in Ioannina.
Jamie-Lynn’s maternal grandmother’s name is Amelia.
Sources: Genealogy of Jamie-Lynn Sigler (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Jamie-Lynn’s paternal grandfather, Seymour Sigler, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of Jamie-Lynn’s paternal grandfather, Seymour Sigler – https://www.findagrave.com
Genealogy of Jamie-Lynn’s paternal great-grandmother, Astro/Stella (Dostis) Bacola (focusing on her own mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com
I believe these are her ancestors. Many Romaniotes have ancestors that were expelled from Italy. https://www.facebook.com/kkjnyc/posts/calling-all-bacolasbakolasour-museum-director-is-presently-researching-family-co/3969276903144557/. Perhaps Italian Jewish is appropriate as well. Many Jews have a complex ancestry due to their ancestors constantly being expelled for thousands of years.