Place of Birth: Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States
Date of Birth: January 23, 1950
Ethnicity: Finland-Swedish (paternal grandfather), English, German, Scottish, French-Canadian, Irish
Richard Dean Anderson is an American actor and producer. He is known for his lead role in the television series MacGyver.
Richard is the son of Jocelyn Rhae (Carter), an artist, and Stuart Jay Anderson, a teacher. Richard’s paternal grandfather was born in Wisconsin, to Finland-Swedish (ethnic Swedes from Finland) parents. His paternal grandmother was of English, Scottish, and Irish descent. Richard’s mother has German, English, and French-Canadian ancestry.
Richard has said that he has Mohawk Native American ancestry on his mother’s side. It is not clear if this ancestry has been verified/documented.
Richard’s paternal grandfather was John Irenus Anderson (the son of John Anderson and Sophia Silvart). John and Sophia were ethnic Swedish immigrants from Finland. Richard’s great-grandfather John was the son of Andrew Anderson and Susanna Johandotter. Sophia was the daugther of Jacob Silvart and Susanna Gunard.
Richard’s paternal grandmother was Verna Jane Hall (the daughter of Charles Frederick Hall and Jennie Margaret McGeorge). Charles was born in New Brunswick, Canada, the son of George Stillman Hall and Hannah E. Knight, who was born in Maine. Jennie was also born in New Brunswick, Canada, the daughter of Peter McGeorge, who was Scottish, and of Eleanor Kelly, whose father was Irish.
Richard’s maternal grandfather was Ralph Thomas Carter (the son of Francis Marion Carter and Otilia/Otellia Emilie/Amelia “Tillie” Gust). Francis was the son of Thomas Henry Carter and Cynthia Ann Trenary. Otilia was German.
Richard’s maternal grandmother was Hazel Marie Rodd (the daughter of Richard Edward Rodd and Clara Bell Gray). Richard’s great-grandfather Richard Rodd was the son of Charles A. Rodd, who was of French-Canadian descent, and of Susanna Steffers, who was German. Clara was the daughter of David W. Gray, who was Canadian, and of Mary Elizabeth Hammer, whose father was German.
Sources: Genealogy of Richard Dean Anderson – http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Genealogies of Richard Dean Anderson (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Genealogy of Richard’s paternal grandfather, John Irenus Anderson – http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Richard’s paternal grandparents, John Irenus Anderson and Verna Jane Hall, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Genealogy of Richard’s maternal grandfather, Ralph Thomas Carter (focusing on his own father’s side) – http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Genealogy of Richard’s maternal grandmother, Hazel Marie Rodd – http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Photo by cvanwagoner/Bigstock.com