Peter MacNicol

MacNicol in 2009, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: Peter Michael Johnson

Place of Birth: Dallas, Texas, United States

Date of Birth: April 10, 1954

Ethnicity: Norwegian (paternal grandfather), Ashkenazi Jewish (maternal grandfather), French-Canadian, Irish, English, Dutch, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish

Peter MacNicol is an American actor. His roles include the films Dragonslayer, Sophie’s Choice, Ghostbusters II, Housesitter, Addams Family Values, Dracula: Dead and Loving It, Bean, and Battleship (2012), and the shows Chicago Hope, Ally McBeal, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law, 24, Numb3ers, Grey’s Anatomy, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Veep, and Tangled: The Series. He has also been billed as Peter Johnson.

Peter is the son of Barbara and John Wilbur Johnson, a corporate executive, and later an Episcopalian priest. His mother was born in Panama, to American parents. He is married to Martha Cumming.

Peter’s paternal grandfather was John Edward Johnson (the son of Iver Karinus Johnsen and Eli Olsdatter). John was born in Minnesota, to Norwegian parents. Eli was the daughter of Ole Olsen and Berith Pedersdotter.

Peter’s paternal grandmother was Adele Mary Raboin (the daughter of Maxime Raboin and Mary Bush). Adele was born in Michigan. Maxime was born in Canada, to French-Canadian parents, Louis Frederic Rabouin and Domithilde Guilmette. Mary had French and Irish ancestry, and likely was the daughter of Joseph Boucher and Margaret Donahue.

Peter’s maternal grandfather was Samuel/Sam Gol Gottlich (the son of Henry A. Gottlich and Lena/Lina Barnett). Samuel was born in Texas, to a Jewish family. Henry was born in either Austria or Germany. Lena was born in Manchester, England, to an English-born father and a German-born mother, Pauline Girman.

Peter’s maternal grandmother was Ruth Elizabeth Terwilliger (the daughter of Albert Newton Terwilliger and Elizabeth Groves). Ruth was born in New York, and had Dutch, English, and Scots-Irish/Northern Irish ancestry. Albert was the son of Charles Ludlow Gray Terwilliger and Sarah Van Wagenen/VanWagenen. Peter’s great-grandmother Elizabeth was the daughter of John James Groves and Elizabeth Forde, who was Irish.

Sources: Peter’s father on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Peter’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Peter’s maternal grandparents, Samuel Gol Gottlich and Ruth Elizabeth Terwilliger – https://www.familysearch.org

Peter’s maternal grandfather, Samuel Gol Gottlich, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Samuel Gol Gottlich on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Death record of Peter’s maternal great-grandmother, Lena/Lina (Barnett) Gottlich – https://www.familysearch.org