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 stars 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