Karen Allen

photo by PR Photos

Birth Name: Karen Jane Allen

Place of Birth: Carrolton, Illinois, U.S.

Date of Birth: October 5, 1951

Ethnicity: English, smaller amounts of Northern Irish/Irish, Scottish, Welsh

Karen Allen is an American actress. Her roles include National Lampoon’s Animal House, Marion Ravenwood in the Indiana Jones films, John Carpenter’s Starman, Scrooged, and Things Heard & Seen.

She is the daughter of Ruth Patricia (Howell) and Carroll Thompson Allen, an FBI agent. She has described herself as being of English, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh descent. She has a son with her former husband, actor Kale Browne.

Karen’s paternal grandfather was William Jackson “Bill” Allen (the son of Thomas J. Allen and Lillian M. Porter). William was born in Roodhouse, Greene County, Illinois. Thomas was the son of William J. Allen, whose family were among the earliest European settlers of Green County, IL; and of Mary Shaw, whose father was from Northern Ireland.

Karen’s paternal grandmother was Hazel Jane Thompson (the daughter of Albert Alonzo Thompson and Sarah Josephine/Jane “Sally” Edwards). Hazel was born in Roodhouse, Greene County, Illinois. Albert was the son of David Thompson and Mary Jane Cole. Sarah was the daughter of William Presley Nowlin Edwards and Ellen/Ellinder Jefferies/Jeffres/Jeffries.

Karen’s maternal grandfather was Fred Uriah/William Howell (the son of John J. Howell and Augusta L. Snell). Fred was born in Jerseyville, Illinois. John was the son of Uriah D. Howell and Elsie/Alice Nevius. Augusta was the daughter of Asa Snell and Priscilla Emeline Landon, who were from Vermont, and were of Colonial American (English) descent.

Karen’s maternal grandmother was Florence Lucille Stanley (the daughter of Edward Buchanan Stanley and Sarah Maria Kirby). Florence was born in Illinois. Edward was the son of Matthew Cook “M.C.” Stanley, who was born in Cheshire, England, and of Elizabeth Armstrong. Sarah was the daughter of William Kirby and Experience Perrings, whose father was English, and whose mother was from Vermont.

Sources: History of the Allen family in Illinois – http://www.rcasey.net

Genealogies of Karen’s parents – https://www.findagrave.com

Karen’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Genealogy of Karen’s paternal great-grandfather, Thomas J. Allen (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.wikitree.com

Karen’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org