Joe Swanberg
Swanberg in 2013, photo by Prphotos.com
Place of Birth: Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Date of Birth: August 31, 1981
Ethnicity: Swedish (great-great-grandfather), Irish, Scottish, German, English, French-Canadian, Welsh
Joe Swanberg is an American independent film director, producer, writer, and actor. He is known for his micro-budget/mumblecore films. He has directed the films Kissing on the Mouth, LOL (2006), Hannah Takes the Stairs, Nights and Weekends (which he co-directed); Alexander the Last, Uncle Kent, Silver Bullets, Caitlin Plays Herself, Autoerotic (which he co-directed); Art History, The Zone, a segment in V/H/S; All the Light in the Sky, Drinking Buddies, 24 Exposures, Happy Christmas, Digging for Fire, and Win It All. He also wrote his Alexander the Last, Silver Bullets, The Zone, Drinking Buddies, 24 Exposures, and Happy Christmas, and co-wrote all of his other films, except for his segment in V/H/S. He also appeared in many of his films, as well as the horror film You’re Next, and co-wrote The Rental (2020). He wrote and directed episodes of the show Young American Bodies, and created, and wrote and directed all episodes of, the show Easy.
His paternal great-great-grandfather was of Swedish descent, the origin of Joe’s surname; and Joe’s other ancestry is Irish, Scottish, German, English, French-Canadian, and Welsh. Joe was raised partly in Georgia and Alabama.
He has two children with his former wife, filmmaker and actress Kris Williams, also known as Kris Swanberg.
Joe’s paternal grandfather was Clifford Duane Swanberg (the son of Charles Sidney Swanberg and Vivian Grace Gaffaney). Clifford was born in Montana. Charles’s father, Charles Walter Swanberg, was born in Minnesota, to Swedish parents, Andreas/Andrew Andersson Swanberg and Brilta/Betsy Kristina Andersdotter/Anderson Peterson, with roots in Herrljunga kommun, Västra Götalands län. Charles’s mother, Rose Marie/Maria Mooers, was of English and German descent. Vivian was the daughter of Marcus/Mark A. Gaffaney and Margaret L. McGregor.
Joe’s paternal grandmother was Margaret Mary Spillane (the daughter of Michael Anthony Spillane and Marguerita/Margaret Maria Curran). Joe’s grandmother Margaret Mary was born in New York. Michael was born in New York, the son of Irish parents, possibly named Cornelius Spillane and Margaret. Joe’s great-grandmother Marguerita was born in New York, the daughter of Irish parents, Thomas Curran and Sarah T.
Joe’s maternal grandfather was William J. Coming (the son of Alfred Ignatius Coming and Mary Reeta/Ruth Sullivan). William was born in LaSalle, Colorado. Alfred was the son of Joseph Omar Viens/Coming and Célina/Sélena Victoria Larivière, who was French-Canadian, from St-Grégoire, Québec, Canada. Mary was the daughter of William M./Leo Sullivan and Grace Ruth Davis.
Joe’s maternal grandmother was Nancy Jo Tucker (the daughter of David Edwin Tucker and Leah Ckula Shank). Nancy was born in Indiana. David was the son of Carl Russell Tucker and Minnie Arra Stage. Leah was the daughter of Jacob Shank and Artie/Art May Montel.
Sources: Genealogy of Joe Swanberg – https://www.geni.com
Genealogies and obituaries of Joe’s paternal grandparents, Clifford Duane Swanberg and Margaret Mary (Spillane) Swanberg – https://www.findagrave.com
Obituary of Joe’s paternal grandmother, Margaret Mary (Spillane) Swanberg – http://www.courierpress.com
Obituary of Joe’s maternal grandmother, Nancy Jo (Tucker) Coming – http://www.meaningfulfunerals.net
Marriage record of Joe’s maternal great-grandparents, David Edwin Tucker and Leah Ckula Shank – https://www.familysearch.org
Joe’s maternal grandmother was Nancy Jo Tucker (the daughter of David Edwin Tucker and Leah Shank). Nancy was born in Indiana. Dacid was the son of Carl Russell Tucker and Minnie Arra Stage. Leah was the daughter of Jacob Shank and Artie May Montel.