Chaplin in 2002, photo by Denis Makarenko/Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Geraldine Leigh Chaplin
Place of Birth: Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: July 31, 1944
Ethnicity: English, Irish, as well as 1/16th Scottish
Geraldine Chaplin is an American-born British actress.
She is the daughter of actors Oona Chaplin (born Oona O’Neill) and Charlie Chaplin (born Charles Spencer Chaplin).
Geraldine is married to Chilean cinematographer Patricio Castilla. She has a son with her former partner, Spanish director Carlos Saura, and a daughter with Patricio, actress Oona Chaplin. Among her nieces and nephews are actors Dolores Chaplin, Carmen Chaplin, Kiera Chaplin, Orson Chaplin (who is also a rapper), and circus performer and actor James Thiérrée. Her half-brother was actor Sydney Chaplin.
Geraldine’s paternal grandfather was Charles Chaplin, a singer (the son of Spencer Chaplin and Ellen Elizabeth Smith). Charles was born in Marylebone, London, England. Spencer was the son of Shadrach Chaplin and Sophia Hancock. Ellen was the daughter of William Smith and Emma Bristo/Bristow.
Geraldine’s paternal grandmother was Hannah Harriet Pedlingham Hill, an actress and singer (the daughter of Charles Frederick Hill and Mary Ann Terry). Hannah was born in Newington, London, England. Geraldine’s great-grandfather Charles was the son of John Hill. Mary Ann was the daughter of John Terry and Mary Ann Lake. It appears that both John Hill and John Terry were born in Ireland.
Geraldine’s maternal grandfather was Eugene O’Neill, a playwright (born Eugene Gladstone O’Neill, the son of actor James O’Neill and Mary Ellen “Ella” Quinlan). Eugene was born in New York City, New York. James was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, the son of Edmond O’Neill and Mary Ann Neill. Gerladine’s great-grandmother Mary Ellen “Ella” was born in New Haven, Connecticut, the daughter of Thomas Joseph Quinlan and Bridget Lundigan, who were Irish.
Geraldine’s maternal grandmother was Agnes Boulton, a writer (born Agnes Ruby Boulton, the daughter of Edward William Boulton, an artist, and of Cecil/Cecille Maud/Maude Williams). Agnes was born in Chelsea, London, England. Edward was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to an English father, Edward W. Boulton, and to an American mother of Scottish descent, Barbara Elizabeth Stevenson. Cecil was the daughter of Robert M. Williams and Florence Emily Harper.
Geraldine’s father is often stated to have had some degree of Romani (Gypsy) ancestry. It does not appear that this ancestral claim has ever been verified/documented. Charlie was sometimes believed to have been Jewish (especially during his lifetime), but his parents were not of Jewish heritage.
Sources: Genealogies of Geraldine Chaplin – https://www.geni.com
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com
https://www.wikitree.com
Genealogies of Geraldine’s parents – https://www.findagrave.com
Genealogy of Geraldine’s father – http://www.wargs.com
Draft card of Geraldine’s father – https://www.archives.gov
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