Kevin Spacey

by ethnic · June 24, 2019

Spacey in 2011, photo by DFree/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Kevin Spacey Fowler

Place of Birth: South Orange, New Jersey, U.S.

Date of Birth: July 26, 1959

Ethnicity: Swedish (maternal grandfather), English, small amounts of Scots-Irish/Northern Irish and Welsh

Kevin Spacey is an American actor, comedian, singer, writer, director, and producer. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for The Usual Suspects (1995), and the Academy Award for Best Actor for American Beauty (1999). His roles also include the films Working Girl, Glengarry Glen Ross, Swimming with Sharks, Se7en, Albino Alligator, which he also directed; L.A. Confidential, Pay It Forward, Beyond the Sea, which he also directed and co-wrote; Edison, Superman Returns, Fred Claus, 21, Recount, Bernard and Doris, Horrible Bosses, and its sequel; Margin Call, Baby Driver, Rebel in the Rye, and Billionaire Boys Club, the show House of Cards, and his considerable stage performances. He was artistic director of the Old Vic theatre in London for over 10 years.

Kevin is the son of Kathleen and Thomas Fowler. He was raised in Southern California. Kevin’s father was raised under the name Thomas C. Longshore, the surname of his own stepfather, and later changed his name to Thomas Geoffrey Fowler, the surname of his own biological father.

The name Spacey comes from Kevin’s paternal grandmother, and traces back to Kevin’s great-great-great-great-grandfather, John S. Spacey, who was born, c. 1760, likely in England. John fought in the Revolutionary War.

Kevin’s paternal grandfather was Bayard Cecil Fowler (the son of Corydon/Gordon/Corda/Cordon A. Fowler and Mabel/Maybelle M. Chaffee). Bayard was born in Pennsylvania. Cordon was the son of Henry A. Fowler and Cornelia A. White. Mabel was the daughter of James Orson Chaffee and Malinda/Melinda H. Merry.

Kevin’s paternal grandmother was Norma Louise Spacey (the daughter of Thomas Oscar Spacey and Lillian Mae/May “Lilly”/Lillie Shepherd). Norma was born in Tennessee. By 1930, Norma had married Kevin’s step-grandfather, Willard Breck Longshore (the son of Jeremiah Willard Longshore and Grace Gertrude Gantz), who was born in Ohio. Kevin’s great-grandfather Thomas was born in Atoka, Tipton, Tennessee, the son of John T. Spacey and Lucinda/Lou Cindy Gray. Kevin’s great-grandmother Lillian was born in Mississippi, the daughter of Racey Charles Shepherd and Mabel/Mable Halley.

Kevin’s maternal grandfather was named Allan August Knutson (the son of Olof/Ole Augustinus Knutson and Vehlemena/Vehelmena E. “Mamie”). Kevin’s grandfather Allan was born in Cannon Falls, Goodhue, Minnesota, to Swedish parents. Ole was the son of Knut Benson/Bengtsson and Inger Bengtsdotter.

Kevin’s maternal grandmother was Harriet Elizabeth Powell (the daughter of Judson/Jedediah Scott Powell and Lulu/Lula Cole/Ann Richardson). Harriet was born in Indiana, as were her parents. Judson was the son of Hiram F. Powell and Sarah E. Boardman, whose mother was born in England. Lulu was the daughter of Robert Harrison Richardson and Louisa Ann C. Dean.

Sources: Genealogies of Kevin Spacey – https://www.geni.com
https://famouskin.com

Marriage record of Kevin’s parents – https://familysearch.org

Kevin’s father, then known as Thomas C. Longshore, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Kevin’s father’s stepfather, Willard Breck Longshore, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of Kevin’s paternal grandfather, Bayard Cecil Fowler – https://www.findagrave.com

Kevin’s paternal grandmother, Norma Louise Spacey, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Kevin’s maternal grandparents, Allan August Knutson and Harriet Elizabeth Powell, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Kevin’s maternal grandfather, Allan August Knutson, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Kevin’s maternal grandmother, Harriet Elizabeth Powell, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org