Michael Showalter

Showalter in 2015, photo by Debby Wong/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Michael E. Showalter

Place of Birth: Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.

Date of Birth: June 17, 1970

Ethnicity:
*father – English, some German, distant French
*mother – Ashkenazi Jewish

Michael Showalter is an American comedian, actor, director, writer, and producer. He has starred on the show The State and in the Wet Hot American Summer franchise. He has directed the films The Baxter, which he also wrote, Hello, My Name Is Doris, which he co-wrote, The Big Sick, The Lovebirds, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, and Spoiler Alert. He also co-wrote the Wet Hot American Summer film and series, and They Came Together. On television, he has directed episodes of Grace and Frankie, Search Party, which he co-created and co-wrote, The Shrink Next Door, and The Dropout.

Michael is the son of writer, literary critic, and professor Elaine Showalter (born Elaine Cottler) and professor English Showalter, Jr. His father has English, some German, and distant French, ancestry, and is an Episcopalian. His mother is Jewish, and was disowned by her own parents for marrying outside the Jewish faith.

Michael is married to Anne Kalin Ellis, with whom he has two children. Anne’s father is Methodist and her mother is Jewish.

Michael’s patrilineal line can be traced to Jacob Mathias Showalter, who was born, c. 1702, in Germany.

Michael’s paternal grandfather was English Showalter, Sr. (the son of Chester David Michael Showalter and Lou Ella English). Chester was the son of Josiah Thomas Showalter and Sara Catherine Vaden. Lou was the daughter of James Lewis English and Parmelia Anne Tyree. Michael’s great-great-grandmother Sara’s patrilineal line can be traced back to Isaac Vaudin and his wife, Elizabeth LeBroc, who were likely of French descent.

Michael’s paternal grandmother was Jean Lee Staples (the daughter of Abram Penn Staples and Jean Duncan Watts). Abram was the son of Abram Penn Staples and Sallie Clement Hunt. Michael’s great-grandmother Jean was the daughter of John Allen Watts and Gertrude Lee.

Michael’s maternal grandfather was named Paul Cottler. Paul was born in Kiev, Russian Empire (now Ukraine).

Michael’s maternal grandmother was named Violet Rottenberg (the daughter of Nathan Rottenberg and Geneva/Jennie). Violet was born in Massachusetts, to parents from Poland.

Sources: Interview with Michael Showalter – https://www.thejc.com

Genealogy of Michael Showalter (focusing on his father’s side) – http://www.genealogy.com

Genealogy of Michael’s paternal grandfather, English Showalter, Sr. – http://www.geni.com

Biography of Michael’s mother – https://www.enotes.com

Michael’s maternal grandmother, Violet Rottenberg, on the 1930 U.S. Census – http://www.familysearch.org