Walter Afanasieff
Walter Afanasieff and Katie Cazorla – “Nail Files” Reality TV Series Season 2 Premiere Party – Arrivals – Station Hollywood at W Hollywood – Hollywood, CA, USA, 2012 – Photo Credit: Billy Bennight/ PR Photos
Birth Name: Vladimir Nikitich Afanasieff
Place of Birth: São Paulo, Brazil
Date of Birth: 10 February, 1958
Ethnicity: Russian
Walter Afanasieff is an American multiple Grammy Award-winning musician, songwriter, record producer, and composer. He is known for his long association with Mariah Carey, for whom he was co-producer and co-writer for several years, beginning in 1990, and for working with many other recording artists. He is nicknamed “Baby Love.”
Walter was born in São Paulo, Brazil, the son of Tatiana Rikova and Nikita Afanasieff. His parents were the children of ethnic Russian immigrants. He lives in the U.S. Walter is married to Katie Cazorla. He has three children.
Walter’s paternal grandfather was Georgi Afanasieff (the son of Leonid Afanasieff and Nadeshda Grigorieva). Georgi was born in Halish, Russia, and imigrated to Brazil.
Walter’s paternal grandmother was Zinaida/Sinaida Bolsunowski (the daughter of Joan Bolsunowski and Tatiana Iolshina). Zinaida was a Russian immigrant to São Paulo, Brazil.
Walter’s maternal grandfather was named Vladimir Rikoff/Rikov (the son of Vladimir N. Rikoff/Rikov and Vera I.). Walter’s grandfather Vladimir was born in Mtsenks, Russia.
Walter’s maternal grandmother was named Antonina Menshikoff/Minshikoff (the daughter of Nikolai I. Menshikoff and Maria V.). Antonina was born in Harbin, China, to Russian parents.
Sources: Immigration record of Walter’s paternal grandfather, Georgi Afanasieff – https://www.familysearch.org
Immigration record of Walter’s paternal grandmother, Zinaida/Sinaida Bolsunowski – https://www.familysearch.org
Immigration record of Walter’s maternal grandfather, Vladimir Rikoff/Rikov – https://www.familysearch.org
Immigration record of Walter’s maternal grandmother, Antonina Menshikoff/Minshikoff – https://www.familysearch.org
He states his maternal family were from China and they belong to the Russian-Chinese community, who are one of the 55 recognized minorities of China. They don’t really have a big “voice” in the country and are largely forgotten among the majority Han Chinese, but still exist. He’s worked with a Chinese show before I believe.
He basically proves not every single “Asian” has one single look lol. Some can have blue eyes. Though he’s not ethnically Asian but doesn’t change the point.
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