Carlos Alazraqui
Birth Name: Carlos Jaime Alazraqui
Place of Birth: Yonkers, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: July 20, 1962
Ethnicity: Argentinian (Spanish, likely some Sephardi Jewish)
Carlos Alazraqui is an American comedian, actor, voice actor, impressionist, singer, producer, and screenwriter.
Carlos’ parents are Argentinian. He grew up in Los Angeles, California. His surname is of Sephardi Jewish origin, but it appears that if Carlos has Jewish ancestry, it is distant or relatively distant. The Jewish Alazraqui family lived in Izmir, Turkey.
Carlos has said:
[Being Latino] is something I embrace. Being in this business got me to embrace my Latino roots, before that I was just American, just a comic, my first cartoon had nothing to do with being Latino. When I had the chance to do Latino stand up, that is when I started to connect with [Latino things]. Sometimes in Hollywood it works against me, because my name is Carlos but my last name is of Jewish origin. You know I’ll go out for Latino roles but they’re looking for a Mexican, or a Guatemalan.
Carlos’ paternal grandparents were Jaime Miguel Alazraqui and Nelda Maria Torraca.
Source: Genealogy of Carlos Alazraqui (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Photo by s_bukley/Bigstock.om
His surname comes from “Alazraki” and has roots in Izmir, Turkey.
Are you sure?
The ”Al” prefix in Sephardic names comes from Arabic and goes back to Spain. Maybe there are Alzrakis in Izmir, but they’re not necessarily his family. The Sephardis came to Ottoman Empire after they were kicked out of Spain. Before that the only Jews there were Romaniotes and Mizrahis (and Mountain Jews).
Yes, I know “Al” suffix is Arabic. There are still plenty of “Alazraki” in Izmir, I believe Carlos’s ancestors relocated in Turkey after 1492, then they fled to Argentina. For example:
https://www.geni.com/people/Jacobo-Alazraki/6000000037913083365
But that’s just speculation. His ancestor could have moved from anywhere (from Spain to Netherlands to Turkey).
I’m actually arguing against the ”has roots in Izmir”. It certainly has roots from way before they even arrived to Turkey.