Luise Rainer

publicity photo of Luise Rainer in 1936, RR Auctions

Date of Birth: 12 January, 1910

Place of Birth: Düsseldorf, Prussia, German Empire

Date of Death: 30 December, 2014

Place of Death: London, England, U.K.

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Luise Rainer was a German-born American actress. She twice won the Academy Award for Best Actress, for The Great Ziegfeld (1936) and The Good Earth (1937). She was the first actor to win Oscars in two consecutive years. At the time of her death, at age 104, she was the longest-living Academy Award-winner.

She was the daughter of Emilie “Emmy” (Königsberger) and Heinrich/Heinz Rainer. Her parents were both Jewish. Luise moved to the U.S. in the mid 1930s. Luise was married to publisher Robert Knittel, until his death. The couple had a daughter.

Luise’s maternal grandfather was Sigmund Königsberger (the son of Nathan Loeb Königsberger and Johanna Herz Reifenberg). Sigmund was born in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia. Nathan was the son of Löb/Loeb Ahron/Aaron Königsberger/Koenigsberger and Jüttle Henriette Nathan. Johanna was the daughter of Joseph Reifenberg.

Luise’s maternal grandmother was named Julie Rothschild (the daughter of Frederike Bloch).

Source: Genealogy of Luise Rainer (focusing on her mother’s side) – http://www.geni.com