David Hyde Pierce

Pierce in 2011, photo by prphotos.com

Birth Name: David Pierce

Place of Birth: Saratoga Springs, New York, U.S.

Date of Birth: April 3, 1959

Ethnicity: English, some Irish and Welsh

David Hyde Pierce is an American actor, director, and comedian. He is known for his roles on the shows Frasier and The Good Wife, and in the films The Fisher King, Sleepless in Seattle, Wolf, Nixon, A Bug’s Life, Treasure Planet, Down with Love, and The Perfect Host, as well as for the Wet Hot American Summer franchise, and many stage performances.

David is the son of Laura Marie, an insurance agent, and George Hyde Pierce, an aspiring actor. He took on the middle name Hyde to avoid confusion with another actor named David Pierce. He is married to writer and producer Brian Hargrove.

David’s ancestry is English, with smaller amounts of Irish and Welsh. He has considerable Colonial American lineage, with deep roots in New England on both sides.

David’s paternal grandfather was Arthur J. Pierce (the son of Henry Thomas Pierce and Sarah M. Hogan). Arthur was born in Mortimer, Canada. Henry was born in Martinville, Québec, the son of American parents, from Windham, Vermont, Thomas Pierce, who was born in Putney, and Olive Martin, who was born in Wardsboro. Sarah was born in Québec, to Irish parents.

David’s paternal grandmother was Helen E. Hyde (the daughter of George W. Hyde and Mary Annie “Mollie” Lewis). Helen was born in Richfield Springs, Otsego, New York. Mary Annie was the daughter of William Henry Lewis and Caroline Page Thayer.

David’s maternal grandfather was Lorado Thomas Hughes (the son of The Rev. Thomas Bennett Hughes and Sarah B. “Sadie” Mayhew). Lorado was born in Charlevoix, Charlevoix Co., Michigan. David’s great-grandfather The Rev. Thomas was Welsh. Sarah was born in Wisconsin, the daughter of William Wadsworth Mayhew and Hannah Wilson Sawyer.

David’s maternal grandmother was Mildred E. Sherman (the daughter of James W. Sherman and Frances/Fannie/Fanny J. Hunt). Mildred was born in New York. James was the son of George C. Sherman and Emma J. Frances was the daughter of Darius Hunt and Jane, who was Irish.

Sources: Genealogies of David Hyde Pierce – http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com
http://famouskin.com

Marriage record of David’s paternal great-great-grandparents, William Wadsworth Mayhew and Hannah Wilson Sawyer – https://www.familysearch.org