Troian Bellisario
Bellisario in 2011, Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Troian Avery Bellisario
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: October 28, 1985
Ethnicity:
*father – Italian, Serbian
*mother – African-American, Louisiana Creole [African, French, English]
Troian Bellisario is an American actress and singer. She is known for playing Spencer Hastings on the series Pretty Little Liars.
Her father, Donald Bellisario, is a television producer and screenwriter. Her mother, Deborah Pratt, is an actress, novelist, and television producer. Her half-brother is actor Michael Bellisario. Troian is married to Canadian actor Patrick J. Adams, with whom she has two children.
Troian’s father is of Italian and Serbian descent. Troian’s maternal grandparents were both African-American and/or Louisiana Creole; of African-American and European, including French and English, descent. About her name, “Troian,” she has said, “It’s a family name. It was a surname on my father’s maternal side. It means “woman of Troy.”” The surname “Troian” exists in North Italy.
Troian’s father is pictured here. Troian’s mother is pictured here.
Her step-siblings are actor Sean Murray and producer Chad W. Murray.
Troian’s paternal grandfather was Albert Jethro Bellisario (the son of Giuseppe/Guiseppe “Joseph” Bellisario and Maria Luigia/Luiga Troian). Albert was born in Pennsylvania, to Italian parents. Giuseppe was born in Gamberale, Province of Chieti, Abruzzo, the son of Antonio Bellisario and Teresa Domenica D’Angelo/D’Andrea. Maria was born in Sospirolo, Belluno, Veneto, the daughter of Antonio Troian and Agata De Zanet.
Troian’s paternal grandmother was Dana Lapčević (the daughter of Samuel Paul Lapčević and Anna J. Dobrich). Dana was born in Pennsylvania, to Serbian parents. Anna was born in Kovacevac.
Troian’s maternal grandfather was Col. Bertram Roberson Pratt (the son of Richard Edward Pratt and Theresa Cecilia/Cecelia Coates/Coats). Bertram was born in Alabama. His family was from Mobile in that state. Bertram and his parents were both black. They are listed as either “Mulatto” (mixed race) or “Negro” (black) on U.S. Censuses. Richard was the son of Major Lankford and Priscilla Tartt. Theresa was the daughter of William Coates and Elizabeth Whitehead.
Troian’s maternal grandmother was Geraldine Marion Bryant (the daughter of Lincoln Joseph Bryant and Mabel Avery). Geraldine was born in Louisiana. Lincoln and Mabel were both black. Lincoln was born in Louisiana, the son of Aismene/Andrew Joseph Bryant and Camille Dunn/Decuir. Mabel was born in Louisiana, the daughter of Lavina/Lavinia Goeffney/Gafney, and, evidently, of a white man named John Leeds Avery. U.S. censuses list Lincoln and both of his parents as “Mulatto” (mixed race) or “Negro” (black), and Mabel as “Negro” (black).
Sources: Genealogies of Troian Bellisario – http://gw.geneanet.org
http://www.wikitree.com
https://www.geni.com
Obituaries of Troian’s paternal grandparents, Albert Jethro Bellisario and Dana (Lapčević) Bellisario – http://www.findagrave.com
Death record of Troian’s paternal great-grandfather, Giuseppe/Guiseppe “Joseph” Bellisario – https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com
Marriage announcement of Troian’s maternal grandparents, Col. Bertram Roberson Pratt and Geraldine Marion Bryant – http://www.newspapers.com
Troian’s maternal grandfather, Col. Bertram Roberson Pratt, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Col. Bertram Roberson Pratt, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of Troian’s maternal grandfather, Col. Bertram Roberson Pratt – http://articles.chicagotribune.com
Troian’s maternal grandmother, Geraldine Marion Bryant, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Troian’s maternal great-grandfather, Lincoln Joseph Bryant, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Lincoln Joseph Bryant on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Correction. According to a tree on geneanet.com her mom also has English ancestry as wel threw the Bryants.
It’s impressive how someone who is half Italian and Black would look as white as this woman, considering how relatively swarthy Italians are. Even those who are half Swedish or Anglo and African look extremely dark.
Either, her Italian side is very white, or her black side is actually mixed and that they probably resemble Beyonce.
I don’t know. Something’s fishy about her ethnic makeup. She could be holding back on one ethnicity. :/
Both her parents are famous and there are photos of them all over the internet. She looks like her parents’ daughter.
She isn’t of half Italian descent.
What is fishy about it? She is s white as some Latinos that have “black” grandparents. black is a U.S. category that includes/included mixed race people. Her grandparents were even listed as mulatto at times. They could have looked like Colin Powell. Italians are not all swarthy at all, especially in northern Italy. I’m black and lived there for years. Even Sicilians who are stereotyped as dark can be blond and blue eyed due to Norman origins. This girl’s mother is barely black in appearance. The U.S. categorizes her as black, but she is closer to white, in my opinion. if her mother said she was Puerto Rican, one would perhaps say that she has some black in her, but since she’s American she is described as black. I am medium skinned and my daughter’s father is of slav origin and is as fair as Troian, with lighter hair, and Euro features. It happens very often when the mother is the darker parent. That’s why so many Caribbean latinos who look white actually have a black ancestor, who is usually a woman. Have you seen her mother?
Her mother is half black and European, so she is mostly white.
She’s not a mulatto or even half Italian descent. She’s like 1/4 Italian descent and her mother looks like a quadroon or 1/3 African American in ancestry if I’m gonna be serious.
Angelina Jolie looks more like she has African ancestry than this woman………..
Correction
http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130410213332/quantumleap/images/1/12/Deborah_pratt.jpg
her mother looks like she’s like 35-40% black, this girl is only like 15-20% black…