# Your Celebrity Relatives **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 23, 2004, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291 "2004-12-23T05:02:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Reloy3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c68b51/32.png) [@Reloy3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reloy3)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291/21 "2004-12-23T16:05:34Z")
> [@AllShookDown](#): > > I’m also a 9th or some other absurdly distant great-granddaughter of John Alden and Priscilla Mullens. Wow! what a coincidence - me too! When my grandmother did the geneology and found that out there was a write-up about it in her small local paper. There are a lot of famous ancestors in my family tree (though I believe that is true for almost everyone if you start looking), including Yaroslav (SP?) the Wise and the basis for the “Old King Cole” nursery rhyme. Oh, also Charlemagne, but probably have of the population of decendants of European ancestry can say the same. Me, the only living semi-famous person I’m related to is Stuart Peterson, who was in a couple of small movies in the 1970’s like “Against the Crooked Sky” and “Where The Red Fern Grows”. ---
**Author:** ![melondeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@melondeca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melondeca)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291/22 "2004-12-23T16:10:44Z")
My uncle was the lead singer of this really terrible metal band, **Trouble Tribe**. They experienced a very brief stint of popularity in the early nineties and had a spread in _Metal Edge_ magazine. This spread also made my mother think that she was a celebrity because one of the pictures included with the article was a shot of my mother and my uncle when they were very young. She even brought it to church to show everyone. ---
**Author:** ![JerH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@JerH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerH)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291/23 "2004-12-23T16:19:01Z")
Um, let’s see…my great-uncle ran for Congress in the mid-1950s (he lost). Probably doesn’t quite count as fame, but close. I think he was chair of the New York State Democratic Party at some time. A second cousin of mine wrote a couple Christian romantic fiction novels - so I guess she’s at least slightly famous in the Christian romantic fiction world. Supposedly I’m somehow descended (or at least related) to Winfield Hancock (Civil War general and 1880 presidential candidate) and Shakespeare’s enemy Sir Thomas Luce. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291/24 "2004-12-23T16:29:26Z")
Mr. Snicks’s ancestor is Daniel Boone. 'Course, same could be said for a lot of people, apparently. In our family folklore, someone in my grandmother’s family - her mother, perhaps? - was once to be a child bride for one of the Mormon Church’s founding fathers, until her parents put the kibosh to it. Not sure if that one’s true or not. Some cousin in my mother’s family worked for Al Capone, while some cousin in my dad’s family was in the KKK. I’ve got a lot to live up to! Such is my family folklore. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291/25 "2004-12-23T16:45:39Z")
My mom thinks we’re descendants of the Ellis family, as in Ellis Island. My husband’s uncle ran for governor of Minnesota a few years back. ---
**Author:** ![Boopsie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@Boopsie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boopsie)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291/26 "2004-12-23T16:46:22Z")
I’m related to Buffalo Bill Cody. He’s a cousin on my dad’s side. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291/27 "2004-12-23T16:46:49Z")
Film composer [Alex North](http://imdb.com/name/nm0006218/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHxwbj0wfHE9QWxlYyBOb3J0aHxodG1sPTF8bm09b24_;fc=1;ft=8;fm=1) was my great-uncle. [Lauren Bacall](http://imdb.com/name/nm0000002/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHxwbj0wfHE9TGF1cmVuIEJhY2FsbHxodG1sPTF8bm09b24_;fc=1;ft=5)’s grandmother and my great-grandmother were sisters. My [great-uncle Jack](http://www.the-forum.com/books/sexteen.htm) wrote a series of dirty-joke books in the '50s and '60s, using my family’s names in the jokes! Very disturbing for a small child to read feelthy jokes with your parents and grandparents as the protagonists. ---
**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291/28 "2004-12-23T17:01:32Z")
Folk singer Townes Van Zandt was my distant cousin (RIP). I’m also descended from the younger brother of President Sam Houston of Texas fame. ---
**Author:** ![PsychoBabble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@PsychoBabble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PsychoBabble)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291/29 "2004-12-23T17:05:33Z")
Well if you had asked my brother when he was a kid (early 80s) who we were related to, he would have told you Michael Jackson. This was because my brother’s middle name is Jackson, so obviously we must be related. And yes, we’re white folk, though lately this wouldn’t be much of a distinction. But in real life, we’re not related to anyone famous. Luckily, I married my husband, and he’s like 42nd or so in line for the Spanish royal crown. That’s as close as I get. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291/30 "2004-12-23T17:21:01Z")
famous porn star/sex-worker advocate/performance artist Annie Sprinkle is my second cousin. Yes, I’ve met her, and yes, she’s cool. 🙂 On my other side, I’m something-cousins (second or third) to Michael Cammalleri who was playing hockey for the LA Kings. He’s been sent down to minors, then sent up again several times… I don’t remember his current status before the NHL strike. I’ve never met him, but I have met his mom :). ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291/31 "2004-12-23T17:24:06Z")
Through my maternal grandfather, I’m related to Mani-Leib (a Yiddish poet) and the Romanovs. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291/32 "2004-12-23T17:24:40Z")
> [@Mississippienne](#): > > Folk singer Townes Van Zandt was my distant cousin (RIP). I’m am incredibly impressed by this. He’s my hero! ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291/33 "2004-12-23T18:03:32Z")
A friend of mine married a guy who is related to Kurt Vonnegut. He’s never met him, but he knows several other Vonneguts. I think that’s exceptionally cool. ---
**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291/34 "2004-12-23T18:15:05Z")
> [@PookahMacPhellimey](#): > > I’m am incredibly impressed by this. He’s my hero! That’s so sweet! I feel proud to be related to someone who brought joy into people’s lives and maybe inspired a few musicians. I hope I can have such a great impact on the world, too. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291/35 "2004-12-23T18:29:37Z")
I have to verify it but I’m told I’m distantly related to WWI hero Alvin York. ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291/36 "2004-12-23T18:41:35Z")
The Family tree on my mother’s side tangles with the Kennedy’s, a few generations back. I was told this made me a “Tenth cousin” to JKF. I have never since heard of a tenth cousin. Cousin 10 times removed? I’m sure Removed is exactly what I’d be if I ever showed up at the Kennedy Compound. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291/37 "2004-12-23T18:50:31Z")
Apparently way, way back I am related to Lady Hamilton who scandalised England by getting into Nelson’s pants. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291/38 "2004-12-23T18:55:33Z")
I have a suspicion that my dad’s wife (my step-mum) is a distant relation of the actor Richard Burton. ---
**Author:** ![Obsidian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/51bf81/32.png) [@Obsidian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obsidian)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291/39 "2004-12-23T19:41:30Z")
I am related to John Erikson, who built the first iron-sided ship during the Civil War. (The Monitor or the Merrimack, whichever was union) I’m also decended from the Cunard family, who owned the White Star Line, the company that owned the Titanic. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291/40 "2004-12-23T22:45:48Z")
> [@Alias](#): > > I am a direct descendent of Robert E. Lee on my mother’s side. That’s pretty cool. This would make you also a direct descendant of Martha Washington (Lee’s great-grandmother-in-law). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-celebrity-relatives/281291.md?page=3)