Don Benjamin

Benjamin in 2014, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Donald Benjamin Walls

Place of Birth: Illinois, U.S.

Date of Birth: c. 1987

Ethnicity:
*father – African-American
*mother – English, Irish, some Scottish, remote Swiss-German

Don Benjamin is an American model, rapper, and actor. He was a finalist of season 20 of America’s Next Top Model.

His father, Donald Walls, is an actor and model. His father is African-American. Don has stated:

My mom is half-White, half-Native American. The white, I think, is Irish and then my dad is African-American. He’s Black, from Chicago. He’s not African or nothing.

Don’s mother’s traceable ancestry includes English, Irish, some Scottish, and remote Swiss-German. It is not clear if she has any verifiable Native American roots.

Don’s paternal grandfather is named Bennie Walls.

Don’s paternal grandmother is named Margaret Broadway.

Don’s maternal grandfather was Wayne Oren Aldridge (the son of Oren Alonzo Aldridge and Treva Ester Cahoon). Wayne was born in Missouri. Oren was born in Missouri, the son of David Columbus Aldridge and Daisy Permelia “Melia” Periman. Treva was born in Missouri, the daughter of William Newton Cahoon and Nancy Elizabeth Spry.

Don’s maternal grandmother was named Hedy/Hettie Lee Ewing (the daughter of Effie Delilah/Deliah Rankard). Hedy was born in Missouri. Effie was born in Missouri, the daughter of Basil Earnest Rankard and Matilda C. “Tilda” McDaniel.

Sources: Marriage record of Don’s maternal grandparents, Wayne Oren Aldridge and Hedy Lee Ewing Mitchell – https://www.familysearch.org

Obituary of Don’s maternal grandfather, Wayne Oren Aldridge – https://findagrave.com

Death record of Don’s maternal grandmother, Hedy Lee Ewing Aldridge – https://findagrave.com

Obituary of Don’s maternal step-grandmother – https://www.parkermortuary.com