Rockwell in 2014, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Sam Rockwell
Place of Birth: San Mateo, California, United States
Date of Birth: November 5, 1968
Ethnicity: German, Irish, English, distant Dutch
Sam Rockwell is an American actor. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017). His roles also include The Green Mile, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Matchstick Men, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Frost/Nixon, Moon, Iron Man 2, The Way, Way Back, Vice, Galaxy Quest, Fosse/Verdon, Jojo Rabbit, Richard Jewell, and The One and Only Ivan.
He is the son of actors Penny Hess (Penelope Ann Hess) and Pete Rockwell (Peter J. Rockwell). He was raised between San Francisco with his father and New York City with his mother.
Sam’s patrilineal line can be traced to William Rockwell, who was born, c. 1591, in Fitzhead, Somersetshire, England, and to his wife, Susanna Capen. They arrived in New England in 1630.
Sam’s paternal grandfather was John Hobart Rockwell, Jr. (the son of John Hobart Rockwell and Mary Margaret Higgins). Sam’s grandfather John was born in New York. Sam’s great-grandfather John was the son of Henry Hobart Rockwell and Lavina Mitchell. Mary Margaret had Irish ancestry, and was the daughter of John M. Higgins and Mary Simon.
Sam’s paternal grandmother was Phyllis V./M. Butler (the daughter of James Joseph Butler and Irene Mary Noonan/Harrigan). Phyllis was born in California. James was born in California, to Irish parents, with his father’s name being William Butler. Irene was also of Irish descent.
Sam’s maternal grandfather was Chester Edward Hess (the son of John A. Hess and Katie Honold/Honald). Chester was born in Virginia. At one point, he took on the surname of his stepfather, Harry King, being as known as Chester E. King. John was born in Pennsylvania. Katie was born in New Jersey, to German parents, whose names likely were John Honold/Honald and Barbara Borst.
Sam’s maternal grandmother was Elizabeth Jane/Jean “Betty” Moore (the daughter of William B./D. Moore and Ruth Minnie Johnson). Sam’s grandmother Betty had also acted, and was a drama teacher. She was born in California, the daughter of parents from Ohio. William was the son of Thomas B. Moore and Rebecca Bauchey. Ruth was the daughter of Whittaker/Whitacre Johnson and Caroline Rosina Hachtel, whose own parents, William George Hachtel and Catherine/Katheren Goeler, were from Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Sources: Genealogy of Sam Rockwell –
Genealogy of Sam Rockwell (focusing on his father’s side) –
Sam’s paternal grandfather, John Hobart Rockwell, Jr., on the 1920 U.S. Census –
Sam’s paternal grandmother, Phyllis V./M. Butler, on the 1920 U.S. Census –
Sam’s paternal great-grandparents, James Joseph Butler and Irene Mary Noonan/Harrigan, on the 1910 U.S. Census –
Sam’s paternal great-grandfather, James Joseph Butler, on the 1900 U.S. Census –
Marriage record of Sam’s maternal grandparents, Chester Edward Hess and Elizabeth Jane/Jean “Betty” Moore –
Marriage announcement of Sam’s maternal grandparents, Chester Edward Hess and Elizabeth Jane/Jean “Betty” Moore –
Sam’s maternal grandparents, Chester Edward Hess and Elizabeth Jane/Jean “Betty” Moore, on the 1940 U.S. Census –
Sam’s maternal grandfather, Chester Edward Hess, on the 1920 U.S. Census –
Chester Edward Hess (Chester E. King) on the 1930 U.S. Census –
Genealogy of Sam’s maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Jane/Jean “Betty” Moore –
Sam’s maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Jane/Jean “Betty” Moore, on the 1930 U.S. Census –
Obituary of Sam’s maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Jane/Jean “Betty” (Moore) Hess Davis –
Marriage record of Sam’s maternal great-grandparents, William B./D. Moore and Ruth Minnie Johnson –
