Brett Ratner

Ratner in 2016, photo by kathclick/www.bigstockphoto.com

Birth Name: Brett Shai Ratner

Place of Birth: Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.

Date of Birth: March 28, 1969

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Brett Ratner is an American film producer, businessperson, and director of motion pictures, music videos, and television. He directed the films Money Talks, the Rush Hour trilogy, The Family Man, Red Dragon, After the Sunset, X-Men: The Last Stand, Tower Heist, and Hercules (2014), and the pilot for Prison Break. He co-founded production company RatPac Entertainment.

Brett is the son of Marsha and Ronald Michael Ratner. His family is Jewish. Brett’s father is American. Brett’s mother was born in Cuba, and moved with her family to the U.S. in the 1960s. Her parents were from Poland and Ukraine/Russia. His mother was a teenager when he was born, and he barely knew his father. Brett partly attended high school in Israel.

Brett’s paternal grandfather was Lee Ratner (Leonard Lee Ratner, the son of Morris/Maurice Ratner and Ida Bailine). Lee was born in Illinois, to a father from Russia and a mother from Poland. He was a businessperson, who built a fortune through mail order sales, and founded the d-CON rat poison company; he later worked in real estate investment.

Brett’s paternal grandmother was named Esther Richmond (the daughter of Joseph Richman/Richmond and Rose). Esther was born in Illinois, to a father from Illinois, whose own parents were from Poland, and to a mother from Poland.

Brett’s maternal grandfather was named Mieczyslaw “Mario” Pressman/Presman. Mieczyslaw was born in Poland.

Brett’s maternal grandmother was Fanita Stone (the daughter of Mayor Stoenko/Stone and Bertha Chercasie). Mayor was from Ukraine/Russia, and was the son of Moshe Mendel Stoenko and Esther Malke Kapzan. Bertha was born in Kiev, Russian Empire, now Ukraine.

Sources: Genealogy of Brett Ratner – http://www.geni.com

Brett’s paternal grandfather, Leonard Lee Ratner, on the 1930 U.S. Census – http://www.familysearch.org

Brett’s paternal grandmother, Esther Richmond, on the 1930 U.S. Census – http://www.familysearch.org

Obituary of Brett’s great-uncle (paternal grandmother’s brother) – http://www.legacy.com

Obituary of Brett’s maternal grandfather, Mieczyslaw “Mario” Pressman/Presman – http://www.miamiherald.com