Stephen Dorff

"Somewhere" Los Angeles Premiere - Arrivals

Dorff in 2010, photo by prphotos

Place of Birth: Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

Date of Birth: July 29, 1973

Ethnicity:
*father – Ashkenazi Jewish
*mother – Italian, Polish

Stephen Dorff is an American actor. He is the son of Nancy Lee (Masters) and composer Steve Dorff (Stephen Hartley Dorff). His brother was songwriter Andrew Dorff.

Stephen’s father is Jewish, of Russian Jewish/Polish Jewish descent. Stephen’s mother was Catholic. He has said that his mother was of Italian and Polish descent.

Stephen has said:

I spent over fourth months in Israel, and I learned Hebrew for the movie [Zaytoun, 2012]. My Dad is Jewish, my Mom is Catholic but I was raised neither, which was probably for the best. But I always wanted to go there, I felt… [I] paid a tribute to that side of my family and my grandparents.

Stephen’s paternal grandfather was Henry “Hank” Dorff (the son of Daniel Dorf/Dorff and Frances C. Rabinwitz/Rabinowitz). Henry was born in New York, to Polish Jewish/Russian Jewish parents. Daniel was the son of Samuel Mekadorff and Esther Manashewitz. Frances was the daughter of Hyman Rabinowitz and Jennie Hertz.

Stephen’s paternal grandmother was Esther/Elaine Masse (the daughter of Wolf Masse and Gertrude Kolsky). Elaine was born in New York, to Russian Jewish parents.

Stephen’s maternal grandfather was named Niccolo/Nicholas Mastromatteo/Masters (the son of Domenico/Dominick Mastromatteo/Matromatteo and Jennie). Nicholas was born in Ruvo di Puglia, Apulia, Italy.

Stephen’s maternal grandmother was named Dorothy Cecilia Schinn.

Sources: Stephen’s paternal grandfather, Henry “Hank” Dorff, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Stephen’s paternal great-grandparents, Daniel Dorf/Dorff and Frances C. Rabinwitz/Rabinowitz – https://www.familysearch.org

Stephen’s paternal grandmother, Esther/Elaine Masse, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

ethnic

Curious about ethnicity

1 Response

  1. transemacabre says:

    Maternal grandparents were Niccolo (Nicholas) Mastromatteo aka Masters, and Dorothy Cecilia Schinn. Nicholas was born in Ruvo di Puglia, Italy to Domenico Matromatteo and Jennie (later Dorio).

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