Erik Valdez

Valdez in 2012, photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Russell Erik Valdez

Place of Birth: Lubbock, Texas, U.S.

Date of Birth: August 26, 1979

Ethnicity:
*father – Mexican
*mother – English, Irish, Welsh, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, distant French

Erik Valdez is an American actor. He is known for his work on the soap opera General Hospital and the series Graceland and Superman & Lois.

He is married to Candice Lopez, with whom he has one child.

Some family trees on his mother’s side state that Erik is a descendant of George Robert Lightsky/Leyestsky, a Cherokee war Chief, who was born, c. 1700, in Virginia. It is not clear whether this is accurate.

Erik’s paternal grandfather was named Miguel Antonio “Mike Anthony” Valdez.

Erik’s paternal grandmother was Melesia “Molly” Lucero (the daughter of Rumaldo/Roumaldo/Romualdo Lucero and Feliciana Esquibel). Melesia was born in New Mexico. Rumaldo was born in the New Mexico Territory, the son of Jose Andres Lucero and Petra Chavez. Feliciana was born in the New Mexico Territory, the daughter of Mejerildo Esquibel.

Erik’s maternal grandfather was Charles Vernie Dunnam (the son of Vernie Dunnam and Irma Maude Ellis). Charles was born in Texas. Vernie was born in Texas, the son of William Jasper Dunnam and Bertha Smith. Erma was born in Texas, the daughter of William Akin Ellis and Eula Lee Hancock.

Erik’s maternal grandmother was Betty Jo McElroy (the daughter of Berna/Barnie/Burnis W. McElroy and Bessie B. Wright). Betty was born in Texas. Berna was born in Oklahoma, the son of Albert Houston McElroy and Corah/Cora Estelle Welborn. Bessie was born in Oklahoma, the daughter of Joseph Thomas Wright and Mattie Lou Alice Weatherford.

Sources: Obituary of Erik’s paternal grandmother, Melesia “Molly” (Lucero) Valdez – http://findagrave.com

Obituary of Erik’s maternal great-grandmother, Bessie B. (Wright) McElroy – http://stei-23977.tributes.com