David Suchet

Suchet in 2016, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: David Courtney Suchet

Place of Birth: Paddington, London, England, U.K.

Date of Birth: 2 May, 1946

Ethnicity:
*75% Ashkenazi Jewish
*25% English

David Suchet is a British actor. He is known for his performances as Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot.

David is the son of actress Joan Patricia (Jarché) and gynaecologist Jack Suchet. His father was from South Africa, and emigrated to England from Johannesburg in 1932. His mother was from England. Newsreader and author John Suchet is his brother. He is married to Sheila Ferris, with whom he has two children.

David’s father was of Lithuanian Jewish descent, from a family from Memel (now Klaipėda, Lithuania). David’s mother was Anglican. David’s maternal grandfather was of Latvian Jewish and Belarusian Jewish descent. It appears David may not have been aware his maternal grandfather was Jewish until he was an adult. David’s maternal grandmother was of English (non-Jewish) background. At some point, the family name had been recorded to be Schohet, a Yiddish word defining the profession of a kosher butcher. His father changed his surname to Suchet while living in South Africa.

David was raised without religion, but has been a practising Anglican since 1986, having been confirmed in 2006.

David’s paternal grandfather was named Isidor/Izidor Suchedowitz (the son of Yankel Shokhet/Suchedowitz and Beila). Isidor was a Lithuanian Jew, from Kretinga, Klaipėda County. Yankel was from Tryškiai.

David’s maternal grandfather was James Jarché (the son of Arnold Jarché/Jarchy and Amelie Salomon/Solomon). James was born in London, England, to a Latvian Jewish father, from Dunabourg, and a Belarusian Jewish mother, from Grodno. Arnold was the son of Lippmann Jarchy and Matilde Touroff. Amelie was the daughter of Meyer/Miles Solomon and Rebecca Levinschtein.

David’s maternal grandmother was Elsie Gladys Jezzard (the daughter of Walter Jezzard and Martha Finch). Elsie was of English descent. Walter was the son of George Jezzard and Anne.

Sources: http://www.bbc.co.uk

Genealogy of David Suchet – https://www.geni.com

Genealogy of David’s mother – http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com