Shirley Knight
Knight in 2009, photo by s_bukley/Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Shirley Enola Knight
Date of Birth: July 5, 1936
Place of Birth: Goessel, Kansas, U.S.
Date of Death: April 22, 2020
Place of Death: San Marcos, Texas, U.S.
Ethnicity: English, some Scottish and German
Shirley Knight was an American actress. Her roles include the films The Dark at the Top of the Stairs and Sweet Bird of Youth, both of which she received Academy Award nominations for, as well as Five Gates to Hell, Ice Palace, The Couch, House of Women, The Group, Dutchman, The Counterfeit Killer, Petulia, The Rain People, Secrets (1971), Juggernaut, Endless Love, Diabolique, Angel Eyes, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, Our Idiot Brother, and Mercy (2014), as well as many stage and television performances.
Shirley was the daughter of Virginia and Noel Johnson Knight, an oil company executive. She was raised partly in Mitchell, and Lyons, both in Kansas. She was married to English, writer John Hopkins, until his death. She had a daughter, actress Kaitlin Hopkins, with her former husband, actor and producer Gene Persson; and a daughter with John.
Shirley’s paternal grandfather was George Calvin Knight (the son of Alexander P. Knight and Frances Ann Griffin). George was born in Texas. Alexander was the son of Joseph Knight and Elizabeth Browning. Frances was the daughter of John B. Griffin and Mary Ann Sink.
Shirley’s paternal grandmother was Dora Jane Goldsberry (the daughter of Andrew Jackson Goldsberry and Sarah Louise Hulsey). Dora was born in Arkansas. Andrew was the son of William Goldsberry and Dicey Jane Weaver.
Shirley’s maternal grandfather was Benjamin Harrison Webster (the son of William Daniel Webster and Nancy Jane Jester). Benjamin was born in Kansas. William was the son of John H. Webster and Mary Magdalene Moomey. Nancy was the daughter of Charles Jester and Elizabeth Amanda White.
Shirley’s maternal grandmother was Laveta Fern Oldfield (the daughter of Alonzo David Oldfield and Clara Myrles Kirby). Laveta was born in Kansas. Alonzo was the son of Amos Oldfield and Eliza Mansfield/Manspile. Clara was the daughter of Benjamin S. Kirby and Phebe Garton.
Sources: Obituaries of Shirley’s parents – https://www.findagrave.com
Genealogy of Shirley Knight (focusing on her mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Shirley’s paternal grandfather was George Calvin Knight (the son of Alexander P. Knight and Frances Ann Griffin). George was born in Texas. Alexander was the son of Joseph Knight and Elizabeth Browning. Frances was the daughter of John B. Griffin and Mary Ann Sink.
Shirley’s paternal grandmother was Dora Jane Goldsberry (the daughter of Andrew Jackson Goldsberry and Sarah Louise Hulsey). Dora was born in Arkansas. Andrew was the son of William Goldsberry and Dicey Jane Weaver.
Shirley’s maternal grandfather was Benjamin Harrison Webster (the son of William Daniel Webster and Nancy Jane Jester). Benjamin was born in Kansas. William was the son of John H. Webster and Mary Magdalene Moomey. Nancy was the daughter of Charles Jester and Elizabeth Amanda White.
Shirley’s maternal grandmother was Laveta Fern Oldfield (the daughter of Alonzo David Oldfield and Clara Myrles Kirby). Laveta was born in Kansas. Alonzo was the son of Amos Oldfield and Eliza Mansfield. Clara was the daughter of Benjamin S. Kirby and Phebe Garton.
She also has some Scottish and German ancestry.