Jerry O’Connell
O’Connell in 2013, photo by Prphotos.com
Place of Birth: Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: February 17, 1974
Ethnicity:
*50% Irish
*25% Polish
*25% Italian
Jerry O’Connell is an American actor, director, and television presenter. He has had leading roles on the series Sliders and Star Trek: Lower Decks, and in the films Stand by Me, Jerry Maguire, Scream 2, Mission to Mars, and Kangaroo Jack.
Jerry is the son of Linda and Michael O’Connell. His mother, who is American, is of half Polish and half Irish ancestry. His father, who is from England, is of half Irish and half Italian descent; he moved to the U.S. in the 1950s. Jerry also carries a U.K. passport. His brother is actor Charlie O’Connell.
Jerry is married to actress and model Rebecca Romjin, with whom he has two children.
Jerry’s paternal grandfather was from County Cork, Ireland.
Jerry’s maternal grandfather was Charles S. Witkowski, a politician (Charles Stanislaw/Stanley Witkowski, the son of Joseph Witkowski and Blanche Kawko). Charles was born in New Jersey, to Polish parents. A member of the Democratic Party, he was mayor of Jersey City, from May 21, 1957 to June 30, 1960.
Jerry’s maternal grandmother was Florence Victoria Wilson (the daughter of George Crowe Wilson and Anne/Annie Snowden/Snoddy). Florence was born in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, and moved to the U.S. as a child. George was the son of William John Wilson and Sarah Carlisle Crowe. Anne was the daughter of Francis Snowdon and Sarah Adams.
Sources: https://www.irishcentral.com
https://www.usmagazine.com
https://www.theatermania.com
Genealogy of Jerry O’Connell (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Jerry’s maternal grandfather, Charles Stanislaw/Stanley Witkowski, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Correction: O’Connell has stated that his father is British, being born in England to a father from Cork County, Ireland and a mother from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He calls himself “half Irish” and has also stated that he has a British passport (presumably getting it from his father). Source for British passport: https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/jerry-oconnell-25-things-you-dont-know-about-me/ (Quote: I have both a U.S. and British passport. I can do a near-perfect London accent.)
Source for the interview on his paternal grandparents background: https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/jerry-oconnell-trip-ireland-irish-roots
Quote from article: “I’m half Irish. My father is actually British, his father was from Co Cork, and my maternal grandmother is actually from Belfast. My grandfather emigrated to England, so my father was born in England and my grandmother emigrated as a child from Belfast.”
Did he mention in the past that his father is half italian? I do remember seeing that claim roaming around the net since the mid 2000s.
He mentions nothing about his paternal grandmother being Italian. I also misread the source, thinking that he was stating that his paternal grandmother was from Belfast but he was actually referring to his maternal grandmother.
The only claim for Italian heritage I could find was this quote from this interview. https://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/the-pluck-of-the-irish_52338.html
But he isn’t specific though. Just stating that he’s half Irish, a quarter Polish and a quarter Italian. His maternal grandmother may very well be Italian though, given everything that we know.
He says his maternal grandmother was from Belfast, which we know.
I misread the source, sorry about that. I thought he was saying that his paternal grandmother was from Belfast, but he was actually referring to his maternal grandmother.
*Blanche Kawko