Alessandro Gassmann

Gassmann in 2009, photo by Prphotos.com

Place of Birth: Rome, Lazio, Italy

Date of Birth: 24 February, 1965

Ethnicity:
*father – German-Italian-Jewish
*mother – French

Alessandro Gassmann, also credited as Alessandro Gassman, is an Italian actor and film director.

He is the son of actors Vittorio Gassman and Juliette Mayniel. He is a half-brother of actress Paola Gassman. Alessandro is married to Sabrina Knaflitz, with whom he has a son, singer Leo Gassmann.

Alessandro’s mother is French, from Saint-Hippolyte, Aveyron. His father was Italian, and was born in Genoa, Liguria, to a German-born father and an Italian-born mother.

Alessandro’s father Vittorio was of partly or entirely Jewish background. Whether both of his parents were Jewish appears to be a matter of dispute. Alessandro has said (at 1:50 here) that his father Vittorio’s parents were both Jewish, and that Vittorio downplayed his Jewish background throughout his life. Alessandro’s half-sister Paola has stated that Vittorio’s father was Catholic, and that Vittorio’s mother was of half Jewish background.

Alessandro’s paternal grandfather was named Heinrich “Enrico” Gassmann/Gassman (the son of Karl Gassmann). Heinrich, an engineer, was born in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg.

Alessandro’s paternal grandmother was named Luisa Ambron (the daughter of Ugo Ambron). Luisa was born in Pisa, Tuscany. The Jewish Ambron family settled in Italy after leaving Spain in the 1400s. Ugo was likely descended from Isacco Lamprónti, a physician and rabbi of Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Isacco is best known for having written the rabbinic encyclopedia Paħad Yitzħak.

Sources: http://ricerca.repubblica.it

Genealogy of Alessandro Gassman – http://www.geni.com

Obituary of Alessandro’s father – http://www.nytimes.com

Articles about Alessandro’s likely ancestor, Isacco Lamprónti – http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com
http://www.treccani.it