James Gunn

James Gunn – “Guardians of the Galaxy” European Premiere – Arrivals – Empire, Leicester Square – London, UK, 2014 – Photo Credit: Landmark / PR Photos

Birth Name: James Francis Gunn, Jr.

Place of Birth: St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.

Date of Birth: August 5, 1966

Ethnicity: Irish, Bohemian/Czech, English, German

James Gunn is an American filmmaker, actor, producer, novelist, musician, and executive. He has directed the films Slither, Super, the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, and The Suicide Squad (2021); he also solo wrote all of the films, except for the first Guardians, which he co-wrote. He has also co-written the film Tromeo & Juliet, written the films The Specials, Scooby-Doo (2002), the remake Dawn of the Dead (2004), Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, and The Belko Experiment; created, written, and directed most of, the series Peacemaker; directed, written, co-created, and appeared on the series The Tromaville Cafe and James Gunn’s PG Porn; and directed and wrote The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. He is the co-chairman and co-CEO of DC Studios.

He is the son of Leota and James Francis Gunn, an attorney. Among his siblings are screenwriter Brian Gunn, actor and political writer Matt Gunn, actor Sean Gunn, and producer and film executive Patrick Gunn. His cousin is screenwriter and producer Mark Gunn. Aside from St. Louis, he partly grew up in Manchester, Missouri. James was raised Catholic, and attended a Jesuit high school.

James is married to actress Jennifer Holland.

James’s paternal grandfather was Donald Joseph Gunn (the son of Joseph Francis Gunn and Jessie Allen). Donald was born in Missouri, and was President of the Board of Aldermen of the City of St. Louis, for the span of nine years. Joseph was the son of Peter Wilson Gilgunn/Gunn, who was Irish, and of Catherine Ludlum. Jessie was the daughter of Joseph Allen and Kate M. McAllister.

James’s paternal grandmother was named Loretto Agnes Hennelly (the daughter of James J. Hennelly and Catherine/Katherine A.). Loretto was born in Missouri. James was Irish. Catherine was born in England, of Irish descent.

James’s maternal grandfather was Charles M. “Duke” Hynek (the son of Charles William Hynek and Anna B. Sladek). James’s grandfather Charles was born in Missouri, the grandson of three Bohemian Czech immigrants. Anna was the daughter of Charles Albert Sladek and Barbara Gahn.

James’s maternal grandmother was Helen Irene Seng (the daughter of George Killian Seng and Elizabeth Grace Phillips). Helen was born in Missouri. George was the son of George K. Seng and Francis Fais. Elizabeth was the daughter of George W. Phillips and Lulu J. Freeman.

James has referred to having some degree of Jewish heritage, perhaps from having taken a DNA test that showed him to have a percentage of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry.

Sources: James’s paternal grandfather, Donald Joseph Gunn, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

James’s paternal grandmother, Loretto Agnes Hennelly, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Obituary of James’s maternal grandfather, Charles M. “Duke” Hynek – https://www.newspapers.com

James’s maternal grandmother, Helen Irene Seng, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org