Teo Halm

Halm in 2014, photo by PrPhotos

Birth Name: Teo Lucas Halm

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

Date of Birth: May 18, 1999

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish, Sephardi Jewish

Teo Halm is an American actor, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He starred in the films Earth to Echo and Memoria, and on the show Nova. He was one of the winners of the Latin Grammy Award for Best Urban Song 2019 for “Con altura,” by Rosalía (featuring J Balvin), which Teo co-wrote. He also co-wrote the songs “Mood 4 Eva” and “Scar” from The Lion King (2019) soundtrack.

His father is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, from Czechoslovakia, Ukraine, and Russia, by way of England and Australia. His mother is of Sephardi Jewish descent, from Morocco and France. His uncle is writer and director Jérôme Cohen-Olivar and his half-uncle was racing driver Max Cohen-Olivar.

Teo’s paternal grandfather was Albert Halm (born Albert Rosenberg, the son of Srool Yakov Rosenberg and Nachuma “Nelly” Halm/Eisikovits). Albert was born in Yasinya, Ukraine, and was raised in the Carpathian Mountains. He was a Holocaust survivor, who wrote the book, My Handwriting Saved Me (2017). A picture can be seen here. Srool was born in Czechia. Teo’s great-grandmother Nachuma was born in Yasinya, Rakhivs’kyi district, Zakarpats’ka oblast, Ukraine, the daughter of Avrom-Wolf Eisikovits and Bince Halm/Finkelstein. The Halm surname can be traced back as far as Teo’s great-great-great-great-grandfather, Avrom-Dovid Halm.

Teo’s paternal grandmother was Ruth P. Denoff (the daughter of Abraham/Alfred Denoff and Millie Squirsky). Ruth was born in Stepney, London, England. Abraham was born in Russia, the son of Marks Denoff and Dinah Lomonosov. Millie was the daughter of parents from Ukraine/the Russian Empire, Pinyas/Pinchas Squirsky/Squara and Ester/Esther/Esta Caplan.

Teo’s maternal grandfather was Isaac “Zazac” Cohen Olivar (the son of Mimon Judah Cohen Olivar and Aicha Pinto). Isaac was born in Paris, France, to parents from Tangiers, Morocco. Mimon was the son of Judah Cohen and a woman surnamed Olivar. Aicha was the daughter of Yacob Pinto and Donna Serfaty.

Teo’s maternal grandmother was named Suzanne Zohra Dray (the daughter of Aisha).

Sources: Genealogy of Teo Halm – http://www.geni.com

Obituary of Teo’s paternal grandfather, Albert Halm – http://tributes.smh.com.au

Genealogy of Teo Halm (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.farhi.org