Herman J. Mankiewicz

Birth Name: Herman Jacob Mankiewicz

Date of Birth: November 7, 1897

Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.

Date of Death: March 5, 1953

Place of Death: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Herman J. Mankiewicz was an American screenwriter. He co-wrote the film Citizen Kane (1941) with Orson Welles.

Herman was the son of Johanna (Blumenau) and Franz/Frank Mankiewicz. His parents were German Jewish immigrants. His father was born in Berlin. His mother was from Kurland, Latvia. Herman’s brother was director, screenwriter, and producer Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and his nephew was filmmaker Tom Mankiewicz.

Herman was married to Sara Sulamith (Aaronson), until his death. Sara’s parents were Russian Jewish immigrants. The couple had three children, including screenwriter and novelist Don Mankiewicz and journalist, political adviser, and NPR president Frank Mankiewicz. Among their grandchildren are NBC News reporter Josh Mankiewicz, filmmaker and television producer Nick Davis, and radio and television personality Ben Mankiewicz.

Herman’s paternal grandfather was Jakob Mankiewicz (the son of Abraham Mankiewicz and Minna Mindel Herzfeld). Jakob was born in Lissa, Posen. Abraham was the son of Moses Mankiewicz and Süsse Plachte. Minna was the daughter of David Leib Herzfeld and Bertha Beile Neumann.

Herman’s paternal grandmother was Karoline/Karolina/Lina Eckmann (the daughter of Fabian/Feibelmann Eckmann and Sara/Sarchen Kalischer). Karoline was born in Lissa. Fabian was the son of Leib Eckmann. Sara was the daughter of Elieser Lippman Kalischer, whose father was a rabbi, and of Jachet Jochebed Caro, who was born in Leszno.

Herman’s maternal grandfather was named Sam Blumenau.

Herman’s maternal grandmother was named Amalie Goldmann.

Sources: Genealogy of Herman J. Mankiewicz (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Herman J. Mankiewicz on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org