Franklin J. Schaffner

Birth Name: Franklin James Schaffner

Date of Birth: May 30, 1920

Place of Birth: Tokyo, Japan

Date of Death: July 2, 1989

Place of Death: Santa Monica, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: German, Swiss-German, Scottish, English

Franklin J. Schaffner was an American filmmaker. He won the Academy Award for Best Director for Patton (1970). He also directed the films The Stripper (1963), The Best Man (1964), The War Lord (1965), The Double Man, Planet of the Apes (1968), Nicholas and Alexandra (1971), Papillon (1973), Islands in the Stream, The Boys from Brazil, Sphinx (1981), Yes, Giorgio; Lionheart (1987), and Welcome Home; episodes of the shows The Ford Theatre Hour, Wesley, Studio One, Tales of Tomorrow, Person to Person, The Kaiser Aluminum Hour, Playhouse 90, The Defenders, and The DuPont Show of the Week; and the special A Tour of the White House with Mrs. John F. Kennedy.

Franklin was born in Japan, to Christian missionaries from Pennsylvania, Sarah and The Rev. Paul Schaffner. His father died in Japan in 1925, after which Franklin and his siblings were raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Franklin was married to Helen Gilchrist, until his death, with whom he had two children.

Franklin’s paternal grandfather was Franklin Jacob Schaffner (the son of Daniel S. Schaffner and Salome Christina Hoerner). Franklin’s grandfather Franklin was born in Pennsylvania, to parents of Swiss-German descent. Daniel was the son of Christian Schaffner and Christiana Hoffman. Salome was the daughter of Johan Jacob Hoerner and Salome Beinhower.

Franklin’s paternal grandmother was Isabella Rhoads (the daughter of Henry Rhoades and Sarah Cassel). Isabella was born in Pennsylvania. Henry was the son of Charles Rhoads and Elizabeth Stephenson. Sarah was the daughter of David Cassel and Catharine Horst.

Franklin’s maternal grandfather was Josiah Swords (the son of Smith Swords and Susanna Coho). Josiah was born in Pennsylvania. Smith was the son of Scottish parents. Susanna was the daughter of Daniel Coho and Mary Swoveland.

Franklin’s maternal grandmother was Martha Louise Stauter (the daughter of John Stauter and Phiana Bach). Martha was born in Pennsylvania. Phiana was the daughter of Tillman Bach and Sarah Horting.

Sources: Death record of Franklin J. Schaffner – https://www.familysearch.org

Franklin’s father on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Franklin’s maternal grandparents, Josiah Swords and Martha Louise Stauter – https://www.familysearch.org