D. A. Pennebaker

Birth Name: Donn Alan Pennybaker/Pennebaker

Date of Birth: July 15, 1925

Place of Birth: Evanston, Cook, Illinois, United States

Date of Death: August 1, 2019

Place of Death: Sag Harbor, New York, U.S.

Ethnicity: English, German, smaller amount of Welsh, distant Dutch

D. A. Pennebaker was an American documentary filmmaker. A pioneer of direct cinema, his films largely focused on music and often also politics, particularly the figures of the 1960s counterculture. Among the documentaries he directed are Dont Look Back (1967), Monterey Pop, Keep On Rockin’, Sweet Toronto, Original Cast Album: Company, Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, 65 Revisited, Shake! Otis at Monterey, and 101 (1989); with his wife, Chris Hegedus, Jimi Plays Monterey, The War Room (1993), Moon Over Broadway, Down from the Mountain, Assume the Position with Mr. Wuhl, the latter two also with Nick Doob; Kings of Pastry, and Unlocking the Cage; and, with Andy Picheta, Elaine Stritch at Liberty.

D. A. was the son of Lucile Lorraine (Deemer) and John Paul Pennebaker, a commercial photographer. His father was born in Washington, D.C. His mother was born in Aguascalientes, Mexico, to American parents. He was married to Chris Hegedus until his death.

D. A.’s patrilineal line can be traced to his seven times great-grandfather, Johannes Pfannebecker, who was born, c. 1650, likely in Flomborn, Germany.

D. A.’s paternal grandfather was Charles Darwin Pennebaker (the son of Charles D. Pennebaker and Anna Eliza Elliott). D.A.’s grandfather Charles was born in Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky. D.A.’s great-grandfather Charles was the son of Peter Pennebaker and Ann Langley. He was an attorney, soldier, and politician, who was a member of Kentucky’s House of Representatives and Senate. Anna was the daughter of William Elliott and Lucinda Beall Thomas.

D. A.’s paternal grandmother was Lucinda/Lulie Wiles Harris (the daughter of Charles Edward Harris and Sallie Linthicum Able). Lucinda was born in Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky. Charles was the son of Josiah Harris and Sally. D. A.’s great-grandmother Sallie was the daughter of Ludwell Linthicum Able and Lucinda Carpenter.

D. A.’s maternal grandfather was Walter Lorraine Deemer (the son of Henry Clay Deemer and Katherine/Katherin/Kate M. Sickle). Walter was born in Brooklyn, Kings, New York. Henry was the son of Frazier Deemer and Mary Ann Evans. Katherine was the daughter of Thomas Sickle.

D. A.’s maternal grandmother was Anna Lucile Levick (the daughter of Samuel M. Levick and Anna E. Bullock). D. A.’s grandmother Anna was born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania.

Sources: Genealogies of D. A. Pennebaker – https://famouskin.com
https://www.geni.com
https://www.findagrave.com