Michiel Huisman

Huisman in 2014, photo by Prphotos

Place of Birth: Amstelveen, Netherlands

Date of Birth: 18 July, 1981

Ethnicity: Dutch-Ashkenazi Jewish

Michiel Huisman is a Dutch actor, musician, singer, and songwriter. He has starred in both Dutch- and English-language productions. His roles include television’s De co-assistent, Bloedverwanten, Treme, Nashville, Orphan Black, Game of Thrones, Harley and the Davidsons, The Haunting of Hill House, The Flight Attendant, Angela Black, and Echo 3; and the films Costa!, Phileine Says Sorry, Floris, Black Book (2006), The Young Victoria, World War Z, Wild (2014), The Invitation (2015), The Age of Adaline, The Ottoman Lieutenant, 2:22, Indian Horse, Irreplaceable You, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, State Like Sleep, The Red Sea Diving Resort, The Other Lamb, The Last Right, Kate (2021), A Boy Called Christmas, and Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire. He was in the band Fontane.

Michiel is the son of Miryam and Dick Huisman. His brother is professional footballer Dustin Huisman.

His mother is Ashkenazi Jewish, from a family with deep roots in the Netherlands, going back to the 1600s, as well as ancestors that lived in Germany, the Czech lands, Poland/Ukraine, and, more distantly, Alsatia/France. It is not clear if Michiel’s father is Jewish, too, but it is possible. Michiel’s brother Dustin has said, “I am Jewish as far as faith is concerned. Friday is therefore a real family day.”

Michiel is married to actress Tara Elders, with whom he has a daughter. Tara is the daughter of Dutch philosopher Fons Elders, and of his wife, Judith Gray, who is American Jewish. Fons’ parents, Jan and Johanna Elders, were named Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem for saving German Jews during the Holocaust.

Michiel’s maternal grandfather was Jacques Simon “Jack” Bles (the son of Bernard Bles and Rachel Reens). Jacques was born in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands, to a Jewish family. Bernard was the son of Joseph Bles and Duifje Furth. Rachel was the daughter of Jacob Levie Reens and Mietje Halverstad/Halberstad. Michiel’s great-grandmother Rachel was killed in the Holocaust in 1944.

Michiel’s maternal grandmother was Ernestine Bartfeld (the daughter of Max Bartfeld/Bartfield and Klara Chaya Weiser). Ernestine was born in Zwickau, Germany, the daughter of Jewish parents from Saxony, Germany. Max was born in Leipzig, Leipzig, the son of Moses/Moritz Bartfeld, from Krasna, Ukraine, and of Ernestine Stoll, from Massbach. Klara was born in Zwickau, Chemnitz, the daughter of Leib/Leo Weiser, from Buczacz, Poland, and of Ella Skall, from Chemnitz. Ella also had roots in Chomutov, Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic. Ella’s mother, Michiel’s great-great-great-grandmother Cäcilia Hirsch, was killed in the Holocaust, in 1942, in Auschwitz.

Michiel is a fourth cousin, twice removed, of French actor Jean-Pierre Aumont. Michiel’s five times great-grandparents, Levie Lion/Leib Eliazer Lioni Stokvis and Sara Joseph Levie, who were Dutch Jews, were also Jean-Pierre’s paternal great-great-great-grandparents. He is a sixth cousin, twice removed, of Dutch actor Jeroen Krabbé, also through shared Dutch Jewish ancestry. Michiel’s seven times great-grandparents, Mozes Salomon Shlomo van Livna and Rebecca Israel, were also Jeroen’s maternal five times great-grandparents.

Michiel is also a distant cousin of several American actors through shared Dutch Jewish/German Jewish ancestors, including a ninth cousin of Mark-Paul Gosselaar, through their shared eight times great-grandparents, Samuel/Salomon/Shlomo Zalman Jacob Speyer, who was born in Speyer, Germany, and Abigael Bele/Bonele Jacob Genzchen Levie, who was born in Amsterdam; a ninth cousin, once removed, of Ben McKenzie, through Michiel’s nine times great-grandfather, Moses Hartog/Hirsch Shochet, who was also Ben’s eight times paternal great-grandfather; and a tenth cousin of Tyler Young, through their shared nine times great-grandparents, Benjamin Wolf Magnus/Menachem Swaab Jaffe and Anna Hendrikje/Hendele Jacob.

Sources: Article about Michiel’s grandparents-in-law, Jan and Johanna Elders, being honoured by Yad Vashem – https://www.archgh.org

Genealogies of Michiel Huisman (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://gw.geneanet.org
https://www.geni.com
http://jorge.home.xs4all.nl

Genealogies of Michiel’s maternal great-grandparents, Bernard Bles and Rachel Reens – https://www.genealogieonline.nl