Alexa Davalos
Davalos in 2010, photo by PrPhotos
Birth Name: Alexa Davalos Dunas
Place of Birth: Paris, France
Date of Birth: May 28, 1982
Ethnicity:
*father – Ashkenazi Jewish
*mother – Spanish, Finnish, Dutch-Indonesian, distant Swedish
Alexa Davalos is an American actress. She has had leading roles in The Mist, Defiance, and Clash of the Titans, and on the series FBI: Most Wanted.
She was born in Paris, France, to American parents, photographer Jeff Dunas and actress Elyssa Davalos. Her grandfather was actor Richard Davalos and her aunt is rock singer and bass player Dominique Davalos. She was raised in France, Italy, and New York, U.S. Alexa is married to actor Josh Stewart.
Alexa’s father is from a Jewish family, from Russia and Lithuania. Alexa’s maternal grandfather had Spanish, Finnish, and distant Swedish, ancestry. Alexa’s maternal grandmother is Dutch-Indonesian.
Alexa has said:
I was raised without much religion, to be honest… [my parents] were traveling around like mad and took me everywhere, so we didn’t celebrate traditionally. When I was very young, about 7, we came to Los Angeles from France for a brief time and my parents enrolled me in school at Temple Emanuel and I learned Hebrew. I do remember it had an impact on me. I’ve always felt a connection to [Judaism].
Alexa’s paternal grandfather is Ronald Sanders Dunas (the son of Joseph Charles Dunas and Beatrice Sanders). Ronald was born in Illinois. Joseph was born in Illinois, to Cassel/Charles Dunas and Tillie Kurtzon, who were Jewish emigrants, Cassel evidently from Russia and Tillie from Lithuania. Beatrice was born in Illinois, to Russian Jewish parents, Emile M. Sanders and Marie Massover.
Alexa’s paternal grandmother was Romelle Barbara Gross (the daughter of Jacob/John Charles Gross and Dorothy/Dora Zagon). Romelle was born in Illinois. Jacob was born in New York, and was also Jewish. Dorothy was born in Chicago, the daughter of Hyman Zagon and Rose Lurie, who were Russian Jewish immigrants.
Alexa’s maternal grandfather was named Richard Davalos (Richard Norman Davalos, the son of Liisi/Lucy Maria Grönman). Richard was an actor. He was born in New York City. Liisi was born in New York, to Finnish parents, Waino/Väinö Botvid Villehardsson/Willehardinpoika Grönman, from Kaasmarkku, Ulvila, and Fanny Maria Johanintytär Rothman, from Murtamo, Laukola, Lappi. Liisi also had distant Finland-Swedish ancestry.
Alexa’s maternal grandmother is dancer and actress Ellen Davalos (born Ellen Hedwig van der Hoeven). Ellen was born in the Netherlands, and is said to be of Dutch-Indonesian ancestry. She may have been the daughter of Maximillian Alexander van der Hoeven and Adele Lugten.
Sources: Genealogy of Alexa Davalos – https://www.geni.com
Genealogy of some of Alexa’s father’s family – http://63.227.221.225:8080
Alexa’s paternal grandfather, Ronald Sanders Dunas, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Alexa’s paternal great-grandfather, Joseph Charles Dunas, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Alexa’s paternal great-grandmother, Beatrice Sanders, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Alexa’s paternal great-grandmother, Dorothy/Dora Zagon, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of Alexa’s maternal grandfather, Richard Norman Davalos – http://www.telegraph.co.uk
Genealogy of Alexa’s maternal great-grandmother, Liisi/Lucy Maria Grönman – https://www.geni.com
I found this , is in spanish but say that is a spanish surname , but its true it sounds greek:
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A1valos
And says that Davalos surname was in the XII century in the kingdom of Navarra.
Richard Davalos’ obituary:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2016/06/02/richard-davalos-actor–obituary/
It mentions that his parents were Finnish and Spanish.
Isn’t that possibility already mentioned? The Telegraph doesn’t settle whether it was true or not.
Yes, it is. But i thought it would be more complete if there was an actual mention of it included on the page.
I’m confused as to what you want mentioned. Is it The Telegraph article? The Telegraph just took the Spanish and Finnish reference off Wikipedia or wherever. It was on the internet long before that.
Her name sounds Greek, yet it’s really Spanish and not Greek yet it says her father is an Ashkenazi?
Not Sephardi? That’s odd…
This “Dunas” family were typical Russian Jews. It’s just an unusual-sounding name.
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XS5V-L27
Her mother’s “Davalos” line is less clear to me, but one biography described Richard Davalos as being of Spanish and Finnish descent. Given that “Davalos” is usually a Spanish surname, the claim is plausible.
Interesting mix.
I see she took her in mothers surname, excuse thy.
CORRECTION
Ethnic I think you are wrong. She is half Greek. In many sites she is mentioned as Greek and that she can even speak Greek!
Read this article of GreekReporter. She is mentioned as Greek French. I dont think a site like GreekReporter give such false informations. Search it please!
hollywood.greekreporter.com/2014/09/10/alexa-davalos-takes-female-lead-in-amazon-pilot-the-man-in-the-high-castle/
It’s bizarre that they published that in 2014, just a few days ago, when so much information is available on her background.
Her father is of entirely Ashkenazi Jewish descent, as you can see from his genealogy. Her mother’s line doesn’t appear to be Greek either.
The claim that she is Greek (and that she speaks Greek) used to be on the IMDB, but was deleted. But it is still being repeated around the internet.
OK Thanks for clarifying it. :)
Btw why dont you make a profile for Adele Exarchopoulos? She is of Greek~French descent. Her Greek roots are obvious. Her long surname is 100% Greek!
P.S. Im Greek French my self. :)
Done.
http://ethnicelebs.com/adele-exarchopoulos
Wow you are fast! :)
Thank you! Put a beautiful picture of her. :P
she looks part native american
slight asiatic features are not uncommon among uralic people
Lol Seriously? you trolls must have a very boring life.
maybe because she’s part saami on her mother side?