Laura Linney

Linney in 2011, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Laura Leggett Linney

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

Date of Birth: February 5, 1964

Ethnicity: English, with Irish, Scottish, and German

Laura Linney is an American actress and singer. Her roles include the films Primal Fear, You Can Count On Me, Mystic River, Kinsey, and The Savages, and the series The Big C and Ozark.

She is the daughter of Miriam Anderson “Ann” (Leggett), a nurse, and Romulus Linney (Romulus Zachariah Linney IV), a playwright and novelist. Her father was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her mother was born in Nicholls, Coffee, Georgia. She is married to drug counselor Marc Schauer, with whom she has a son.

Laura’s patrilineal line can be traced to William Linney, who was born, c. 1739, in England.

Laura’s paternal grandfather was Romulus Zachariah Linney III (the son of Romulus Zachariah Linney II and Texie N. Townsend). Laura’s grandfather Romulus was born in Lenoir, Caldwell, North Carolina. Laura’s great-grandfather Romulus was the son of Romulus Zachariah Linney and Dorcas A. Stephenson. Texie was the daughter of The Rev. Noah Townsend and Leanna/Anna F. Linthicum. Laura’s great-great-grandfather Romulus was a politician, who was a Republican, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina, from March 4, 1895 to March 3, 1901.

Laura’s paternal grandmother was Maitland LeGrande Thompson (the daughter of Jacob Alexander Thompson and Elizabeth Bettie Griffin). Maitland was born in North Carolina. Jacob was the son of Lemons Williams Thompson and Sarah Jane Townsend. Elizabeth was the daughter of Silas Griffin and Nancy Elizabeth Hill.

Laura’s maternal grandfather was Milton Mitchell Leggett, Jr. (the son of Milton Mitchell Leggett and Ruth Sally Collins). Laura’s grandfather Milton was born in Woodbine, Camden, Georgia. Laura’s great-grandfather Milton was the son of Benjamin/Ben Russell Leggett and Dora Ann/Ada Kirkland. Ruth was the daughter of Hugh Wilbur Collins and Celia Louise Cross.

Laura’s maternal grandmother was Miriam Mae Anderson (the daughter of David Anderson and Ella Mae Busbee). Miriam was born in Georgia. David was the son of Sparks Delaware Anderson and Sarah Delilah Salter. Ella was the daughter of Gabriel Wesley Busbee and Josephine Rosa Johnson.

Sources: Genealogy of Laura Linney – https://www.geni.com

Genealogy of Laura’s father (focusing on his father’s side) – http://www.wikitree.com

Genealogy of Laura’s maternal grandmother, Miriam Mae Anderson – http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com

Genealogy of Laura’s maternal grandmother, Miriam Mae Anderson (through Miriam’s brother) – http://www.findagrave.com