The Gaslamp Killer

Birth Name: William Benjamin Bensussen

Place of Birth: San Diego, California, United States

Date of Birth: November 7, 1982

Ethnicity: Sephardi Jewish, Mizrahi Jewish, Ashkenazi Jewish

The Gaslamp Killer is an American alternative hip hop producer and DJ. He is based in Los Angeles. Known for his alternative music, he has won many awards. His sister is theatre director Melia Bensussen. His great-uncle was Marxist historian and political activist Herbert Aptheker, who wrote more than 50 books, predominantly about African-American and general U.S. history.

His father was born in Mexico.

He is Jewish, with further ancestors from Turkey, Lebanon, Lithuania, Latvia, and Russia. His father is likely Sephardi/Mizrahi. His mother is Ashkenazi.

The Gaslamp Killer’s paternal grandparents may have been named Nissim Bensussen and Esther Safemi.

The Gaslamp Killer’s maternal grandfather was Jay/Jerome Maurice Lowen/Lowenstein (the son of William Lowenstein and Bertha Prussak). Jay was born in New York, to Jewish parents. William was born in Latvia. Bertha was born in New York, to parents from Russia, Abraham Prusak and Sara.

The Gaslamp Killer’s maternal grandmother was Augusta Aptheker (the daughter of Benjamin Aptheker and Rebecca “Beckie” Kaminetsky/Komar). Augusta was born in New York, to Russian Jewish parents.

Sources: Death record of The Gaslamp Killer’s maternal grandmother, Augusta (Aptheker) Lowen – https://www.findagrave.com

Genealogies of The Gaslamp Killer’s maternal great-grandparents, Benjamin Aptheker and Rebecca “Beckie” Kaminetsky/Komar – https://www.geni.com

5 Responses

  1. Dar says:

    He has Mexican ancestry on his dad’s side I heard including Spanish

  2. bablah says:

    His maternal grandfather was Jay/Jerome Maurice Lowen/Lowenstein (the son of William Lowenstein and Bertha Prussak). Jay was born in New York. William was born in Latvia. Bertha was born in New York, to parents from Russia, Abraham Prusak and Sara.

    His maternal grandmother was Augusta Aptheker (the daughter of Benjamin Aptheker and Rebecca “Beckie” Kaminetsky). Augusta was born in New York, to parents from Russia.

    Augusta’s brother was Herbert Aptheker
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Aptheker

    His father was born in Mexico. His sister is theatre director Melia Bensussen. Paternal grandparents might be Nissim Bensussen and Esther Safemi.

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