Bret Michaels

photo via PR Photos

Birth Name: Bret Michael Sychak

Place of Birth: Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Date of Birth: March 15, 1963

Ethnicity: Rusyn (paternal grandfather), German, English, Irish, Swiss

Bret Michaels is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actor, writer, director, producer, and reality television personality. He is the vocalist and frontman of glam metal band Poison. He founded Pets Rock, a line of pet clothing and accessories.

Bret is the son of Marjorie and Wally Sychak. He was raised in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Bret has two children with his former fiancée Kristi Lynn Gibson.

Bret’s paternal grandfather was Wallace/Wallice Sychak (the son of Vasil/Wallace/Wallice Sychak and Anna/Annie Daňo). Bret’s grandfather Wallace was born in Pennsylvania, to Rusyn immigrant parents.

Bret’s paternal grandmother was Marie Hazel Myers (the daughter of Chester Erby Myers and Charlotte C. Mohan).

Sources: Article about some of Bret’s family history, by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak – http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Bret’s paternal grandfather, Wallace/Wallice Sychak, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Article about the military service of Bret’s paternal great-uncle, Nick Sychak – http://archive.is