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
He has Mexican ancestry on his dad’s side I heard including Spanish
What do you mean by Mexican ancestry?
His father is Mexican born, but if I got his paternal grandparents right, they were both of Jewish descent.
I’m trying to remember where I saw the article but it stated that Mr. Gaslamp here also had Spanish-Mexican ancestry, but who knows it could have been wrong.
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.
He is Mexican