Jason Biggs
Biggs in 2011, photo by s_bukley / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Jason Matthew Biggs
Place of Birth: Pompton Plains, New Jersey, U.S.
Date of Birth: May 12, 1978
Ethnicity:
*75% Italian [including Sicilian]
*25% English
Jason Biggs is an American actor and comedian. He is known for playing Jim in the American Pie franchise, and for his roles in the films Boys and Girls, Loser, Saving Silverman, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Anything Else, Jersey Girl, Eight Below, Over Her Dead Body, and My Best Friend’s Girl, and on television’s As the World Turns and, in voice performance, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012).
Jason is the son of Angela (Zocco), a nurse, and Gary Biggs, a shipping company manager. His father is of half English and half Italian descent, and his mother is of Italian (Sicilian) ancestry. He was raised in Hasbrouck Heights. Jason was raised in a Catholic home.
Jason is married to actress and writer Jenny Mollen, with whom he has two children.
Jason’s paternal grandfather was James F. Biggs (the son of James Biggs and Dora B. Hall). Jason’s grandfather James was born in Georgetown, Maryland, and had deep roots in the state. Jason’s great-grandfather James was the son of Benjamin Franklin Biggs and Susanna/Susan/Sussie/”Susie” Hessey. Dora was the daughter of William H. Hall and Annie/Hannah E.
Jason’s paternal grandmother was Assunta “Susan”/”Suzie”/Susie Furno (the daughter of Luigi/Louis Furno and Marie/Maria Giuliano). Assunta was born in New Jersey, to Italian parents. Marie was the daughter of Salvatore Giuliano, whose parents were from Barga, Lucca, Tuscany, and of Vincenza Capozzo/Capuozzo, who had ancestry from Campania. Jason stated on Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show in 2012 that Assunta’s family was from Naples.
Although he has played several Jewish characters, Jason is not of Jewish heritage.
Sources: Interview with Jason Biggs on Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show, 2012 – http://youtu.be
Marriage announcement of Jason’s paternal grandparents, James F. Biggs and Assunta “Susan”/”Suzie”/Susie Furno – https://www.newspapers.com
Jason’s paternal grandfather, James F. Biggs, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Jason’s paternal grandfather, James F. Biggs – https://www.newspapers.com
Jason’s paternal great-grandfather, James Biggs, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Jason’s paternal great-great-grandparents, Benjamin Franklin Biggs and Susanna/Susan/Sussie/”Susie” Hessey, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Benjamin Franklin Biggs and Susanna/Susan/Sussie/”Susie” Hessey on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Jason’s paternal great-grandmother, Dora B. Hall, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Jason’s great-great-aunt (paternal great-grandmother’s sister) – https://www.newspapers.com
Jason’s paternal great-great-grandparents, William H. Hall and Annie/Hannah E., on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Jason’s paternal grandmother, Assunta “Susan”/”Suzie”/Susie Furno, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of Jason’s paternal grandmother, Assunta “Susan”/”Suzie”/Susie (Furno) Biggs – http://www.legacy.com
thats surprising to hear especially as you met him in a club. People’s egos tend to inflate in that kind of setting.
ethnic
admin
Jason Biggs is cool guy. I’ve met him @ Ivar club in Hollywood…few years ago. He was not rude at all. Some actors r sooo cruel. Jason was smooth to be around with.
Youre right Deer, thanks for the comment. I agree with you, Id assume his family changed their name to an English one. Its not unusual for Italian American families to have done that in the past.
ethnic
admin
I wouldn’t necessarily assume that his father is of English descent. Father’s family may well have changed their name from something Italian to “Biggs”.
Well Deer, it is highly unusual for an Italian immigrant to take a name that far off. Old Italian Immigrants made very slight changes, in order to hide Italian names, however it is very common for Italians, as well as Italian Americans to take names of non-Italian family members. Didn’t Jessie say Jason Biggs said he was part Welsh?
My family changed their name, but wasn’t to an obviously English name, or Welsh name, that would be extremely rare. They more or less try and hide it, rather than change completely, and when they do change it, they often don’t change it correctly do to a lack of understanding of what seems most American.
It’s more common actually for a person who is of more than one ethnicity to call themselves the one they prefer. Many Italian Americans, as well as actual Italians have foreign family members, though some people may see it otherwise, modern Italians are reasonably open to intermarrying with various groups.
I know plenty of people who only identify one ethnicity when they are of multiple ethnicities.
why is his last name Biggs? Biggs is and English last name. Wouldn’t he have an Italian last name?