Sam Morril

Place of Birth: Chelsea, Massachusetts, U.S.

Date of Birth: c. 1986

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Sam Morril is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer.

His mother, Marilyn Greenberg, is a painter, of abstract art. His biological father is Robert Elgort. Sam was raised by his mother and stepfather, attorney Mark Morril, and took his surname. His uncle is fashion photographer Arthur Elgort. Sam is a first cousin of photographer Sophie Elgort and actor and DJ Ansel Elgort, who are Arthur’s children. Sam was raised in New York.

Sam has stated that both of his birth parents are Jewish; as is his stepfather.

Sam’s paternal grandfather was Henech “Harry” Elgort (the son of Samuel Shimel Elgort and Etel/Ethel/Etta Ushomesky Schumerska). Henech was a Jewish emigrant from Roternissel, Russia. Samuel was born in St. Petersburg, the son of Mottel Elgort and Bloom. Etel was the daughter of Tellig Ushomesky Schumerska and Thena Kiratt.

Sam’s paternal grandmother was Sophie/Sophia Didimamoff (the daughter of Rafael Didimamoff and Katharine/Katherine/Katarzyna/Catherine/Katherina Kurtz). Sophie was born in New York, to a father from Akhaltsikhe, Russian Empire, now Georgia; and a mother from Lemberg, Austria, now in Lviv, Ukraine. Sam’s grandmother’s exact heritage is not clear. She had a Catholic funeral (she re-married to a Catholic). It is not clear if she was of Jewish heritage, but it is possible, given her emigrant roots in Lviv and the surname Kurtz. Sam’s uncle Arthur, at least, had a Bar Mitzvah ceremony and attended a Jewish summer camp, and Sam has referred to his father as Jewish.

Sam’s maternal grandfather was named George Greenberg. George was chairman and chief executive of Loehmann’s, the women’s clothing store chain in the Bronx.

Sam’s maternal grandmother was Frances Lily Huberman (the daughter of Morris Huberman and Celia Stern). Frances was born in Massachusetts, to Polish Jewish parents. Morris was born in Chełm, the son of Sol Huberman and Frieda Cooperman.

Sources: Marriage announcement of Sam’s mother and stepfather – https://www.nytimes.com

Genealogy of Sam’s father (through his father’s brother) – https://www.geni.com

Sam’s paternal grandmother, Sophie/Sophia Didimamoff, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Sophie/Sophia Didimamoff on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Sophie/Sophia Didimamoff on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of Sam’s paternal grandmother, Sophie/Sophia (Didimamoff) Elgort Bednarczyk – https://www.newspapers.com

Obituary of Sam’s maternal grandmother, Frances Lily (Huberman) Greenberg – https://www.legacy.com