Profile Text
Lawson in 2013, photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: Bianca Jasmine Lawson
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: March 20, 1979
Ethnicity: African-American, Creole [French, African], one quarter Italian/Sicilian, smaller amounts of English, Blackfoot Native American, and Portuguese
Bianca Lawson is an American actress.
She is the daughter of actors Denise Gordy and Richard Lawson (born Rickey Lee Lawson). She is the half-sister of Marvin Gaye III, who is the son of singer Marvin Gaye ; and the half-sister of songwriter and A&R Ricky Lawson.
Her parents both have black ancestry. Her maternal grandmother was of Italian origin. Bianca has said that her ancestry is “Black, Italian, Blackfoot, Portuguese, Creole.” A picture of Bianca with her parents can be seen here .
Bianca was a step-sister of singers Beyoncé and Solange Knowles . Her father was married to their mother, Tina Knowles . Her step-niece was singer and dancer Blue Ivy Carter , who is Beyoncé’s daughter.
Bianca is a cousin of career music executive Kerry Gordy, musician Rockwell ; musician and actress Rhonda Ross Kendrick ; and Redfoo and Sky Blu , who are the pop duo LMFAO; and musicians and actors Jermaine Jackson II and Mahogany Lox . She is a first cousin, once removed, of Kerry, Rockwell, Rhonda, and Redfoo, and a second cousin of Jermaine Jackson II, Sky Blu, and Mahogany Lox. Bianca’s great-grandparents Berry Gordy and Bertha Fuller were also Kerry, Rockwell, Rhonda, and Redfoo’s grandparents, and Jermaine, Sky Blu, and Mahogany’s great-grandparents.
Bianca’s paternal grandfather was L. B. Lawson (the son of Robert Lawson and Lottie Wheeler). L. B. was born in Louisiana.
Bianca’s paternal grandmother was Gertie Broussard (the daughter of Joseph Broussard and Effie Wilturner). Gertie was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. Effie was the daughter of Alcide Wilturner and Julia Johnson.
Bianca’s maternal grandfather was George Weldon Gordy (the son of Berry Gordy, Jr. and Bertha Fuller). George was born in Michigan, to parents from Georgia. He was a writer and businessperson. Bianca’s great-uncle, the brother of her maternal grandfather, is Motown producer Berry Gordy. Bianca’s great-grandfather Berry was born in Oconee, Washington County, the son of Berry Gordy and Lucy Hellum. Bertha was born in Milledgeville, Baldwin County.
Bianca’s maternal grandmother was named Rosemary Valenti. Rosemary had Italian/Sicilian ancestry.
Bianca is also a half-second cousin, twice removed, of U.S. President Jimmy Carter . Bianca is the great-great-great-granddaughter of President Carter’s (white) great-grandfather, James Thomas Gordy, from his relationship with a black woman, Esther Johnson (President Carter was descended from James’s white wife, Harriet Emily Helms).
Sources: Genealogy of Bianca Lawson (focusing on her mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Genealogy of Bianca’s mother – https://www.genealogy.com
Genealogy of Bianca’s maternal grandfather, George Weldon Gordy (through George’s brother, Berry Gordy) (focusing on his father’s side) – https://famouskin.com
Bianca’s father Richard Lawson in 2010, photo by Prphotos.com