Robert Altman

Altman in 1999, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Robert Bernard Altman

Date of Birth: February 20, 1925

Place of Birth: Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.

Date of Death: November 20, 2006

Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Ethnicity:
*father – German, Swiss-German
*mother – English, Scottish, Dutch

Robert Altman was an American director, screenwriter, and producer. A figure of the New Hollywood of the 1970s, his films are known for their satire, humour, ensemble casts, mobile camera work, zoom lenses, and an Altman-developed multitrack recording technique that produced overlapping dialogue. He directed the films The Delinquents, The James Dean Story, Countdown (1968), That Cold Day in the Park, M*A*S*H, Brewster McCloud, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Images (1972), The Long Goodbye (1973), Thieves Like Us, California Split, Nashville (1975), Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull’s History Lesson; 3 Women, A Wedding (1978), Quintet, A Perfect Couple, HealtH, Popeye (1980), Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean; Streamers, Secret Honor, Fool for Love, O.C. and Stiggs, Beyond Therapy, Vincent & Theo, The Player (1992), Short Cuts, Prêt-à-Porte, Kansas City, The Gingerbread Man, Cookie’s Fortune, Dr. T & the Women, Gosford Park, The Company (2003), and A Prairie Home Companion. He also wrote his The Delinquents, 3 Women, and Beyond Therapy, and co-wrote McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Images, Thieves Like Us, Buffalo Bill, A Wedding, Quintet, A Perfect Couple, HealtH, Short Cuts, Prêt-à-Porte, and Kansas City.

Robert was the son of Helen (Matthews) and Bernard Clement Altman, a wealthy insurance salesman and amateur gambler. Robert was married to Kathryn Reed, until his death. He had a daughter with his first wife LaVonne Elmer; two children, including production designer Stephen Altman, with his second wife Lotus Corelli; and three children with Kathryn.

Robert’s nephew (sister’s son) is film and television director, and actor Deran Sarafian.

On his father’s side, Robert was of German descent, including one quarter Swiss-German. On his mother’s side, Robert had English, as well as Scottish and Dutch, ancestry.

Robert’s paternal grandfather was Frank Gerhardt Altman/Altmann (the son of Clement Altmann and Wilhelmina Rolling/Roling). Frank was born in Illinois, to German parents, his father from Schleswig-Holstein and his mother from Hanover, Lower Saxony. Wilhelmina was the daughter of Johan Wilhelm Roling and Anna Catharina Kramer.

Robert’s paternal grandmother was Annette Matilda Bolt (the daughter of Benjamin Bolt and Mary Elizabeth Smith). Annette was born in Illinois, to a German father, from Bavaria, and a Swiss mother.

Robert’s maternal grandfather was named Elisha Matthews (the son of James Matthews and Ellen). Elisha was born in Illinois.

Robert’s maternal grandmother was Gatie/Kittie L. Strawn (the daughter of Jacob Strawn and Mary Jane Patterson). Gatie was born in Illinois. Jacob was the son of Jacob Strawn, known as “The Cattle King,” and of Phoebe Emerson Gates. Mary Jane was the daughter of Franklin Patterson and Catherine Gest.

Sources: Genealogy of Robert Altman – https://www.geni.com

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

Robert’s father on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Genealogy of Robert’s maternal great-great-great-grandfather, Isaiah Strawn – http://www.wikitree.com