Yul Brynner
Birth Name: Yuliy Borisovich Briner
Date of Birth: 11 July, 1920
Place of Birth: Vladivostok, Far Eastern Republic (present-day Primorsky Krai, Russia)
Date of Death: October 10, 1985
Place of Death: New York City, New York, U.S.
Ethnicity:
*75% Russian
*25% Swiss-German
Yul Brynner was a Russian-born actor, singer, and director. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for The King and I (1956). He worked mostly in American films, and is also known for his roles in The Ten Commandments, Anastasia, The Brothers Karamazov, The Buccaneer, The Magnificent Seven, The Return of the Seven, Villa Rides, Westworld, and Futureworld, among many others. He often appeared in westerns. Yul was also a U.S. and Swiss citizen.
He was born Yuliy Borisovich Brynner in Vladivostok, Far Eastern Republic (present-day Vladivostok, Russia). He was the son of Marousia Dimitrievna (Blagovidova) and Boris Yuliyevich Bryner, who was a mining engineer and inventor. His paternal grandfather was Swiss (of Swiss-German) descent, while the rest of his family was Russian. Yul’s mother and her family were from Penza, Russia. His sister, Vera, was a classically trained soprano with the New York City Opera. In the 1920s, he moved with his mother and sister to Harbin, China, then in 1932 to Paris, France, and in 1940 to the U.S., settling in New York City.
There are claims out there that Yul had Buryat (Mongolic), Japanese, Romani, and/or Jewish ancestry. It is not clear if any of these claims have been verified/documented. Many different variations on Yul’s background have been spread over time.
Yul was married to Malaysian ballerina Kathy Lee, until his death. He had a son with his former wife, actress Virginia Gilmore; a daughter with his former partner, Frankie Tilden; a daughter, fashion businessperson Victoria Brynner, with his former wife, Chilean model Doris Kleiner; and two children with his former wife, French socialite Jacqueline Thion de la Chaume.
Yul’s paternal grandfather was Julius/Jules Joseph Ivanovich Bryner (the son of Johannes Bruner and Maria Huber von Windisch). Jules was Swiss, and was of Swiss-German descent. Johannes was born in Mörigen, Switzerland, the son of Jakob Bryner and Elizabeth Wilde.
Yul’s paternal grandmother was Natalya Yosifovna/Iosifovna Kurkutova (the daughter of Josif/Iosfig Ivanovich Kurkutov and Alexandra Ivanovna Tyutrina). Natalya was Russian, from Irkutsk, Russia. Josif was the son of Ivan Gerasimovich Kurkutov. Alexandra was the daughter of Ivan Tyutrin.
Yul’s maternal grandfather was Dmitry Yevrgafovich/Evgrafovich Blagovidov (the son of Yevgraf Alexandrovich Blagovidov and Maria Ivanovna). Dmitry was born in Akshenas, Ishara, Penza (Mordovia), Russia. Yevgraf was the son of Alexander Blagovidov.
Yul’s maternal grandmother was named Anna Timofeevna Kireeva (the daughter of Timofey Kireev).
Sources: Genealogy of Yul Brynner (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Family background of Yul’s paternal grandfather, Julius/Jules Joseph Ivanovich Bryner – http://www.dmmserver.com
Pictures of Yul’s mother’s family – http://www.ym-penza.ru
His paternal grandmother Natalya Iosifovna Kurkutova was daughter of Iosif Ivanovich Kurkutov and Aleksandra Ivanovna Tiutrina.
Yul’s maternal grandparents were Dmitriy Evgrafovich Blagovidov and Anna Timofeevna Kireeva. They, as his mother, were from Penza, Russia.
Thank you. Is the story about the Jewish great-grandfather true?
There is some information that his maternal grandfather’s father was Jewish (Shari, later Blagovidov). But sources are not very reliable, and i find that Dmitriy’s parents were retired non-commissioned officer of Suzdalskiy infantry Regiment Evgraf Aleksandrovich Blagovidov and Maria Ivanovna.
About maternal grandmother’s father – Timofey Kireev, he was a peasant in Penza, not a Doctor.
Maybe Jewish roots it’s another rumor from Yul? I don’t know.
Photo of Yul’s mother with her parents and sister: http://www.ym-penza.ru/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=453:penzenskie-korni-yula-brinnera&Itemid=278
Thank you. Yul’s son wrote about the Jewish great-grandfather in his book, but it appears to be another myth.
Is there any truth to the claim that Brynner’s paternal grandmother was of Buryat descent?
Bryner’s family website stated: “Kurkutov’s ancestors were from the tribe, from time immemorial inhabited the territory of modern Mongolia. Family legend has it that the great-grandfather of Natalia converted to Orthodoxy and at baptism received the name of Gerasim, and the name he was given the name of the tribe from which he came – Kurkutov.” It is a family legend, but it no confirmation.
http://bryners.ru/main.php?bryner=16
Ann, I wonder if you could find something conclusive on the background of Sylvester Stallone’s Russian-born maternal grandfather. Was he Jewish or not? Most clues I found point to not.
http://ethnicelebs.com/sylvester-stallone
Well, I believe Yul’s paternal grandmother may easily have Buryat ancestry, considering where she was from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irkutsk
Ethnic, is there a picture, please?
this one seems to be eluding me