D.J. Cotrona
Cotrona in 2003, photo by PR Photos
Birth Name: Donald Joseph Cotrona
Place of Birth: New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Date of Birth: May 23, 1980
Ethnicity: Italian (37.5%), Polish (one quarter), English, as well as German, Hungarian, Bohemian, Czech
D.J. Cotrona is an American actor. His roles include the films Venom (2005), Love is the Drug, Dear John, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, and the Shazam! universe, and television’s Windfall, Detroit 1-8-7, and From Dusk till Dawn: The Series.
His father’s ancestry is half Italian, as well as German, English, Hungarian, and Bohemian Czech. His mother is of one half Polish, one quarter Italian, and one quarter English, descent.
D.J.’s paternal grandfather was Joseph August Cotrona (the son of Joseph Cotrona and Rose Papallo). D.J.’s grandfather Joseph was born in Connecticut. D.J.’s great-grandparents Joseph and Rose were also born in Connecticut, and all of their own parents were Italian, from Calabria.
D.J.’s paternal grandmother was Janet Frances Bensenhaver (the daughter of Brooke/Brooks Anderson Bensenhaver and Frances Sandor/Sandos). Janet was born in Connecticut. Brooke was the son of William Lee Bensenhaver and Sarah Ellen Wilkins. Frances was born in Austria, the daughter of Paul Sandor/Sandos, who was born in Hungary, and of Josephine Vanek/Vandek, who was born in Bohemia.
D.J.’s maternal grandfather was Anthony J. Magnoli, Jr. (the son of Anthony J. Magnoli, Sr. and Angela “Nellie”/”Nell” Krystofczyk). D.J.’s grandfather Anthony was born in Connecticut. D.J.’s great-grandfather Anthony was born in Connecticut, to Italian parents. Angela was also born in Connecticut, to Polish parents.
D.J.’s maternal grandmother was Joan Mitchell (the daughter of Charles S. Mitchell and Magdalena Duberek). Joan was born in Connecticut. Charles was born in Nova Scotia, Canada, the son of Sterling/Stirling Seldon Mitchell and Elizabeth Ann/Annie Gregory, and was of of British Isles/English descent; his own mother was from Newfoundland. Magdalena was born in Connecticut, to Polish parents, Stanislaus Duberek and Franciszka Kita.
Thus, both of D.J.’s maternal great-grandmothers were of Polish descent.
Sources: D.J.’s maternal grandfather, Anthony J. Magnoli, Jr., on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of D.J.’s maternal grandfather, Anthony J. Magnoli, Jr. – http://www.legacy.com
D.J.’s maternal great-grandparents, Charles S. Mitchell and Magdalena Duberek, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Interesting that I am latin America and only know how a “hispanic looks “by this website,also very insteresting that many people in my country don’t look “hispanic”
looks part Hispanic
correction. His eyes are brown.
correction; they’re definitely not ‘brown’ they’re forest green as they’re clearly a green colour with brown around the pupil
http://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/ay106229615us-actor-d-j-cot.jpg
correction; his eyes are forest green (green w brown) and his hair is dark brown (brunet)
https://telestrekoza.com/link-gallery/albums/Current_shows/Detroit_1-8-7/Cast/Season_1/Detroit_S1_DJ_Cotrona_005.jpg
He looks straight up Hispanic tho…. Like Puerto Rican…..
12.5% German/”possibly other” probably has a Mexican gardener in there huh? ;)
No, it’s in reference to his paternal grandmother, Janet Frances Bensenhaver. Her father was probably from the Bensenhaver family of West Virginia, who were of German descent (probably mixed with English). Janet’s mother seems to have been of Hungarian and Austrian descent.
Whatever. He still looks Hispanic. I bet his mom did some fooling around.