Derek Cianfrance

Cianfrance in 2016, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: Derek M. Cianfrance

Place of Birth: Lakewood, Colorado, U.S.

Date of Birth: January 23, 1974

Ethnicity:
*father – Italian, Volga German
*mother – German, Austrian, some English

Derek Cianfrance is an American film director, cinematographer, screenwriter, and editor. He directed the films Blue Valentine and The Place Beyond the Pines, both of which he co-wrote, and The Light Between Oceans, which he wrote; and directed and co-wrote the mini-series I Know This Much Is True.

Derek is the son of Janice and Gary Cianfrance. He is married to Shannon Plumb, with whom he has two children.

Derek’s paternal grandfather was Thomas C. Cianfrance/Canfaraine (the son of Joseph Cianfrance/Canfaraine/Cianfarani and Louise). Thomas was born in Denver, Colorado. Joseph was born in Italy. Louise was born in Colorado, to Italian parents.

Derek’s paternal grandmother was Rita Spahn (the daughter of Casper Adam “Charles” Spahn and Mary Catherine Eckerman). Rita was born in Colorado, to Volga German parents, from Russia. Casper was born in Pfeifer, Saratov, the son of Jacob Spahn and Elizabeth. Mary was the daughter of Phillip/Philipp/Philip H. Eckerman, who was also from Pfeifer, and of Susanna/Susanne Etzel.

Derek’s maternal grandfather was Hilmer Edwin Palisch (the son of Ernst/Ernest Rudolf Palisch and Cora/Kora Johanna Mueller). Hilmer was born in Missouri. Ernst was born in Missouri, the son of Theodore Ernst Palisch, whose parents were ethnic Germans from Germany and France, and of Josephine Theresia Bruhl, whose parents were Austrian. Cora was born in Missouri, the daughter of Ernst Benjamin Mueller, whose parents were German, and of Johanna Christiana Sommer, whose father was German and whose mother was the daughter of German parents.

Derek’s maternal grandmother was Alice Laura Burroughs (the daughter of Otto Franklin Burroughs and Magdalena Friederike Mueller). Alice was born in Missouri. Otto was born in Missouri, the son of Thomas Franklin Burroughs and Maria Ernestine “Mary” Schmidt, whose father was German and whose mother was the daughter of German parents. Derek’s great-grandmother Magdalena was the daughter of Ferdinand Johann Mueller and Amalia C. Theiss, who were of German origin.

Sources: Genealogy and obituary of Derek’s paternal grandmother, Rita (Spahn) Cianfrance – https://findagrave.com

Obituary of Derek’s maternal grandfather, Hilmer Edwin Palisch – http://www.dignitymemorial.com

Obituary of Derek’s maternal grandmother, Alice Laura (Burroughs) Palisch – http://www.legacy.com