Kemper in 2013, photo by DFree/Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Elizabeth Claire Kemper
Place of Birth: Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Date of Birth: May 2, 1980
Ethnicity: Italian (maternal grandfather), German, English, Scottish, Danish, Irish
Ellie Kemper is an American actress, comedian, writer, and field hockey player. Her roles include Bridesmaids, The Office, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, 21 Jump Street, Sex Tape, and Home Sweet Home Alone.
She is the daughter of Dorothy Ann “Dotty” and David Woods Kemper. She comes from a prominent Missouri family, which founded what is today Commerce Bancshares, a bank holding company, of which her father was chairman and chief executive officer. Ellie is the sister of television writer Carrie Kemper. She is a practicing Catholic.
Ellie is married to writer, comedian, and producer Michael Koman, with whom she has two children.
Ellie’s patrilineal line can be traced to Johannes Kemper, who was born, c. 1630, in Müsen, Nassau-Siegen, Germany.
Ellie’s paternal grandfather was James Madison Kemper, Jr. (the son of James Madison Kemper and Gladys Woods Grissom). Ellie’s grandfather James was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Ellie’s great-grandfather James was the son of William Thornton Kemper, Sr., a prominent banker, insurance agent, and railroad magnate, who was the first president of Commerce Bank; and of Lottie Crosby, whose own parents were from Maine. Ellie’s great-grandmother Gladys was the daughter of Arthur Grissom, who was editor of literary magazine, The Smart Set, and of Julia Stone Woods.
Ellie’s paternal grandmother was Mildred Lane Kemper (born Mildred Lane, the daughter of Eldon Russell Lane and Ethel J. Miller). Mildred was born in Missouri, and was a philanthropist, after whom the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum at Washington University in St. Louis is named. Eldon was the son of Robert Carr Lane and Laura D. Brennan, whose father was Irish. Ethel was born in Illinois, the daughter of a Danish father, Rudolph Christian Miller, and of a German mother, Wilhelmina/Minnie Daugs.
Ellie’s maternal grandfather was John Robert Jannarone (the son of Charles/Ciriaca Jannarone and Concetta Caruso). John was born in Newark, Essex, New Jersey, and was a Brigadier General. His parents were Italian, with his own father being from Avellino, Campania. Charles was the son of Joseph Jannarone and Mary Grace Difuria. Concetta was the daughter of Francisco/Francesco/Frank Caruso and Nicoletta Falcone.
Ellie’s maternal grandmother was Anna May/Mae/Annamae Miller (the daughter of Arthur Miller and Katherine V. Dougherty). Anna was born in Manhattan, New York, New York. Arthur was the son of German parents, John Miller and Annie/Anna Herman. Catherine was born in New York, to an Irish father, Patrick Dougherty, and a Scottish mother, Mary Lammond/Lamond.
Sources: Genealogy of Ellie Kemper – https://famouskin.com
Genealogy of Ellie Kemper (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Ellie’s paternal grandfather, James Madison Kemper, Jr., on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Ellie’s paternal grandmother, Mildred Lane Kemper, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Memorial for Ellie’s maternal grandfather, John Robert Jannarone – https://valor.militarytimes.com
Ellie’s maternal grandmother, Anna May/Mae/Annamae Miller, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of Ellie’s maternal grandmother, Anna May/Mae/Annamae (Miller) Jannarone – http://www.recordonline.com
ncG1vNJzZmidpJ27qq%2FEpZybq16YvK57xKWjop1doLKuvMSr