Sissy Spacek

Spacek in 2013, photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Mary Elizabeth Spacek

Place of Birth: Quitman, Smith, Texas, U.S.

Date of Birth: December 25, 1949

Ethnicity:
*father – Moravian/Czech, German
*mother – English

Sissy Spacek is an American actress and singer. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980).

Sissy is the daughter of Virginia Frances (Spilman) and Edwin Arnold Spacek. Her father was of three quarters Bohemian (Czech) and one quarter German descent. Her mother had English ancestry. The surname Špaček means “starling” in Czech, and is used as a slang word for “cigarette.”

Sissy’s first cousin was actor and comedian Rip Torn, who was her father’s sister’s son. Sissy is married to production designer, art director, and director Jack Fisk, with whom she has two children, including actress, singer, and songwriter Schuyler Fisk.

Sissy’s paternal grandfather was Arnold Adolph Špaček (the son of František/Frank John Špaček and Julia/Julie Anna Gloeckner/Gloekner/Glockner). Arnold was born in Texas, and was mayor of Granger, Texas in Williamson County. Frank was born in Bordovice, Moravia (now in the Czech Republic), the son of František Jan Špaček and Rosie Klimicek Mynar. Julia was born in Neustadt, Germany, the daughter of William Gloekner/Gloekcner and Johanna Kirsch.

Sissy’s paternal grandmother was Mary Julia Červenka (the daughter of Josef Friedrich Červenka and Anna Machu). Mary was born in Texas, to a father from Huckvaldy, Moravia (now the Czech Republic) and a mother from Senince Usti, Vsetin Valley, Moravia (also now the Czech Republic). Anna was the daughter of Pavel Machu and Rozina Talica.

Sissy’s maternal grandfather was Thomas Hall Spilman (the son of Thomas Percival Spilman and Almira H. Randall). Sissy’s grandfather Thomas was born in Iowa. Sissy’s great-grandfather Thomas was the son of John Dyke Spilman and Amelia Percival. Almira was the daughter of Benjamin Randall and Miranda Lathrop, who was born in Canada.

Sissy’s maternal grandmother was Elizabeth Allen Holliday (the daughter of Joseph Evans Holliday and Virginia Jenny Prichard Baker). Elizabeth was born in Mississippi. Joseph was the son of Isaac Newton Holliday and Elizabeth A. “Lizzie” Tisdale. Virginia was the daughter of Samuel Smith Baker and Eliza Jane Austin.

Sources: Genealogy of Sissy Spacek – https://www.geni.com

Genealogy of Sissy Spacek (focusing on her father’s side) (through Sissy’s cousin, Rip Torn) – http://www.wargs.com

Death record of Sissy’s paternal great-grandmother, Julia/Julie Anna (Gloeckner/Gloekner/Glockner) Spacek – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Sissy Spacek (focusing on her mother’s side) – http://www.wargs.com