Cassavetes in 2011, photo by kathclick/www.bigstockphoto.com/
Birth Name: Nicholas David Rowland Cassavetes
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: May 21, 1959
Ethnicity:
*Greek (father)
*English, Welsh (mother)
Nick Cassavetes is an American director, actor, and writer. He has directed the films The Notebook, Alpha Dog, and My Sister’s Keeper, among others.
Nick is the son of actress Gena Rowlands and actor and film director John Cassavetes. His siblings are directors, writers, and actors Alexandra Cassavetes and Zoe Cassavetes.
Nick’s father was of Greek ancestry. Nick’s mother has English and Welsh roots. He has two children with his former wife Isabelle Rafalovich; and a daughter with his former wife, actress Heather Wahlquist.
Nick’s paternal grandfather was Nicholas John Cassavetes, originally Ιωάννης Νικόλαος Κασσαβέτης (the son of John Cassavetes and Haide Pappas). Nick’s grandfather Nicholas was born in Larissa, Thessaly, Greece.
Nick’s paternal grandmother was Katherine “Kate” Demetri/Demetre (the daughter of Nicholas Demetre and Calliopi Papalexandro/Alexander). Katherine was born in New York, to parents from Turkey and Greece, who were of Greek ancestry.
Nick’s maternal grandfather was Edwin Myrwyn Rowlands (the son of David Morris Rowlands and Emma Davies). Edwin was born in Wisconsin, and was a banker and state legislator, who was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate. David was the son of Welsh parents, Morris J. Rowlands and Catherine Owens. Emma was the daughter of Edwin Davies, who was Welsh, and of Jane Ann Hughes, whose parents were Welsh.
Nick’s maternal grandmother was actress Lady Rowlands, who was born Mary Allen Neal (the daughter of William Joel Neal and Tennessee Virginia Hickey). Lady Rowlands was born in Arkansas. William was the son of Younger Neal and Martha Thomas Dyer. Tennessee was the daughter of Charles Midland Hickey and Saphronia “Froney” Wright.
Sources: Genealogy of Nick Cassevetes (focusing on his father’s side) – http://www.geni.com
Birth record of Nick’s paternal grandmother, Katherine “Kate” Demetri/Demetre – http://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Nick’s maternal grandparents, Edwin Myrwyn Rowlands and Mary Allen Neal – http://www.familysearch.org
Nick’s maternal grandfather, Edwin Myrwyn Rowlands, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Genealogy of Nick’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Jane Ann Hughes – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Nick’s maternal great-grandfather, William Joel Neal, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Nick’s maternal great-grandmother, Tennessee Virginia Hickey, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogy of Nick’s maternal great-great-grandfather, Charles Midland Hickey – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com
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