Jennifer Grey

Grey in 2014, photo by Prphotos.com

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

Date of Birth: March 26, 1960

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Jennifer Grey is an American actress. She is known for starring as “Baby” in the film Dirty Dancing (1987).

She is the daughter of Joel Grey (born Joel David Katz), an actor, and Jo Widler, an actress and singer. She has a daughter with her former husband, actor Clark Gregg.

Jennifer’s parents are both Jewish (her ancestors were from Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, and Ukraine).

Jennifer’s paternal grandfather was Mickey Katz, a comedian and musician (born Meir/Meyer Myron Katz, the son of Menachem/Max Mandel Katz and Johanna/Anna Sarah Herzberg). Mickey was born in Ohio. Menachem was a Lithuanian Jewish emigrant, from Vilnius. Johanna was a Latvian Jewish emigrant, from Courland, and was the daughter of Joseph/Josel Herzberg and Yetta L. Josephson.

Jennifer’s paternal grandmother was Goldie “Grace”/”Grayce” Epstein (the daughter of Morris Epstein and Fanny Bordovsky/Bodofsky/Vorodosky). Goldie was born in Ohio. Morris and Fanny were Russian Jewish immigrants. Morris was the son of Louis Epstein and Hinda Howitz. Fanny was the daughter of Gedelia Bordovsky/Bodofsky and Buly Korloitsky.

Jennifer’s maternal grandfather was named Israel Brower (the son of Shulim/Solomon Browerman/Brower and Sheyndl/Shendyl). Israel was born in Yampil’, Bilohirs’kyi district, Khmel’nyts’ka oblast, Ukraine.

Jennifer’s maternal grandmother was Clara Rockoff (the daughter of Hyman Rockoff and Chana Mazur). Clara was born in Russia. Hyman was born in Zeludok. Chana was the daughter of Moishe Issac Mazur and Bas Sheva Kazdoy.

Sources: Genealogy of Jennifer Grey – https://www.geni.com

Information about Jennifer’s ancestry – https://blogs.ancestry.com

Marriage record of Joel’s paternal grandparents, Mickey Katz and Goldie “Grace”/”Grayce” Epstein – https://www.familysearch.org