Carlos Alazraqui
Alazraqui in 2006, photo by s_bukley/Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Carlos Jaime Alazraqui
Place of Birth: Yonkers, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: July 20, 1962
Ethnicity: Argentinian [Spanish, some Sephardi Jewish, possibly other]
Carlos Alazraqui is an American actor, stand-up comedian, impressionist, producer, and screenwriter. He is known for his role on Reno 911!, as well as many voice performances, and as a contributor to The Stephanie Miller Show. He has also been credited under his full name Carlos Jaime Alazraqui, and Carlos J. Alazraqui, Dennis O’Connor, and Carlos Higgins.
Carlos was born in Yonkers, to Argentinian parents. He grew up in Concord, California. His surname is of Sephardi Jewish origin, from his Turkish Jewish great-grandfather. The Jewish Alazraqui family lived in Izmir, Turkey. Carlos is married to Laura Mala, with whom he has two children, including Rylee, who is also a voice actor.
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 grandfather was Jaime Miguel Alazraqui (the son of José Alazraqui and Emilia Alonso). Jaime was born in Mendoza, Capital Department, Mendoza. José was born in Aydýn, Turkey, the son of Jaime/Haim Alazraqui and Fortunata Matilde Barqui. Emilia was the daughter of Miguel Alonso and Emilia Estrabid.
Carlos’ paternal grandmother was named Nelda Maria Torraca (the daughter of Antonio Torraca, and of a woman surnamed Bengochea). Nelda was born in Cañuelas, Cañuelas, Buenos Aires.
Sources: https://twitter.com
Genealogy of Carlos Alazraqui (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
He has said he has some Sephardic Jewish ancestry via his father.
https://twitter.com/carlosalazraqui/status/996477063593844736?s=21
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.
Mountain Jews were from the South Caucasus (especially around what is now Azerbaijan). Bukharans were around Central Asia (especially around Uzbekistan). Both speak Hebraized dialects of Farsi.