Bret Easton Ellis

Ellis in 2010, photo by Olga Besnard/Bigstock.com

Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Birth: March 7, 1964

Ethnicity: English, one quarter Slovenian, small amounts of Scots-Irish/Northern Irish and German

Bret Easton Ellis is an American author, screenwriter, short-story writer, and director.

He is the son of Dale and Robert Martin Ellis, a property developer. His maternal grandmother Suzanne Easton Dennis was a children’s book writer. He was raised in Sherman Oaks, in the San Fernando Valley.

Bret’s paternal grandfather was Robert Caldwell “R.C.” Ellis (the son of Charles Fisher Ellis and Laura Caldwell). Robert was born in California, and owned and operated the Commercial Hotel in Nevada. Charles was the son of Thomas Oliver Ellis and Elizabeth Long. Laura was the daughter of William Calhoun Caldwell and Pauline Glenn.

Bret’s paternal grandmother was Mary Viola Fear (the daughter of Martin Joseph Fear and Anna Mary/Mariana/MariAnna/Annie Groshe). Bret’s grandmother Mary was born in Colorado, to a father from Suhor Krain, Vas, and a mother from Dolenja Krain. The family likely were ethnic Slovenians. Bret’s great-grandmother Anna was the daughter of Franc/France Gorshe/Gorše and Agnes Zobec/Sobez.

Bret’s maternal grandfather was Andrew Lauray Dennis (the son of Stanley Arthur Dennis and Ruth Mary Benson). Andrew was born in Greenwich, Connecticut. Stanley was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Louis Edward Dennis and Emma Frances/Francisca Fox, who had German ancestry. Ruth was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, the daughter of Luther William Benson and Anna Collard Slade.

Bret’s maternal grandmother was Suzanne Easton Dennis (born Suzanne Parker Long, the daughter of Jerome Charles Long and Audrey/Audry Parker). Suzanne was born in Peru, Indiana. Audrey was the daughter of William Anderson Parker and Marinda Ardilla “Della” Highsmith. Audrey remarried to Robert Dean Easton, who was the son of Archibald Gamble Easton and Estella Anna Dean.

Sources: Biography of Bret’s paternal grandfather, Robert Caldwell “R.C.” Ellis – https://elkodaily.com

Bret’s paternal grandmother, Mary Viola Fear, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Mary Viola Fear on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Bret’s maternal grandparents, Andrew Lauray Dennis and Suzanne Parker Long Easton – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Bret’s maternal great-grandparents, Stanley Arthur Dennis and Ruth Mary Benson – https://www.familysearch.org

Bret’s maternal grandmother, Suzanne Parker Long, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Biography of Bret’s maternal grandmother, Suzanne Easton Dennis – http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu