Benh Zeitlin

Zeitlin at the 85th Annual Academy Awards Arrivals, Dolby Theater, Hollywood, CA 02-24-13, photo by s_bukley/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Benjamin Harold Zeitlin

Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.

Date of Birth: October 14, 1982

Ethnicity:
*father – Ashkenazi Jewish
*mother – English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, French, German

Benh Zeitlin is an American filmmaker. He directed the films Beasts of the Southern Wild and Wendy, both of which he co-wrote, the latter with his sister Eliza Zeitlin.

His parents are writers and folklorists Mary Amanda Dargan and Steven Joel Zeitlin. His father is Jewish, and was mostly raised in Brazil. His mother comes from a Protestant background.

Benh’s paternal grandfather was Irving Zeitlin (the son of Samuel Zeitlin and Minnie Flarkin/Flatter/Flatte). Irving was born in Pennsylvania, to parents from Russia.

Benh’s paternal grandmother was Shirley Stein (the daughter of Harry Isaac Stein and Bella Brodsky). Shirley was born in Pennsylvania, to parents from Russia. Harry was the son of Isaia Stein and Miriam Spolen. Bella was the daughter of Edward Brodsky and Minnie Lazavatsky.

Benh’s maternal grandfather was Lucas McIntosh Dargan (the son of William Edwin Dargan III and Rosa Evans McIntosh). Lucas was born in South Carolina. William was born in South Carolina, the son of William Edwin Dargan, Jr. and Mary Brockington Hart. Rosa was born in South Carolina, the daughter of Lucas McIntosh and Rosa Evans.

Benh’s maternal grandmother was Frances Edwards (the daughter of George Boardman Edwards and Marie Amanda McCullough). Frances was born in South Carolina. George was born in South Carolina, the son of Augustus Fulton Edwards and Elizabeth Sarah “Betty” Hart. Marie was born in South Carolina, the daughter of David Shields McCullough and Anne Jane Smith.

Sources: Marriage record of Benh’s paternal grandparents, Irving Zeitlin and Shirley Stein – http://familysearch.org

Genealogy of Benh Zeitlin (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Obituary of Benh’s maternal grandmother, Frances (Edwards) Dargan – http://obits.postandcourier.com