Profile Text
Place of Birth: Pittsfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Date of Birth: June 29, 1953
Ethnicity: Irish, English, some Scottish
Deirdre O’Connell is an American actress. Her roles include the series Loving , Sirens , Second Noah , L.A. Doctors , Law & Order , Nurse Jackie , The Affair , The Path , Daredevil , Outer Range , The Penguin , and The Beast in Me ; the made-for-tv movies Our Son, the Matchmaker ; Murder in a Small Town , Just Ask My Children ; the films Stars and Bars (1988), Misplaced , State of Grace (1990), CrissCross , Cool World , Fearless (1993), Smoke (1995), Hearts in Atlantis , Secondhand Lions , Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind , Imaginary Heroes , Winter Passing , Trainwreck: My Life as an Idiot , What Happens in Vegas , Synecdoche, New York ; A Dog Year , Gabriel , The Quitter (2014), Detours , The Boy Downstairs , Diane (2018), Lez Bomb , The Requin , and Eddington ; and many stage performances.
Her mother, Anne Ludlum, is a playwright and actress. Her father, Thomas E. O’Connell, was a founding president of Berkshire Community College, the first state-supported community college in Massachusetts; and president of Bellevue College. He was also an actor.
Deirdre’s paternal grandfather was named Thomas J. O’Connell. Thomas was born in Maine.
Deirdre’s paternal grandmother was named Mary E. Mary E. was born in Massachusetts.
Deirdre’s maternal grandfather was David Sweezy Ludlum, Jr. (the son of David Sweezy Ludlum and Emma Augusta Pugh). Deirdre’s grandfather David was born in Swarthmore, Delaware, Pennsylvania. Deirdre’s great-grandfather David was born in Goshen, Orange Co., New York, and was President of the Autocar Company of Ardmore, PA. He was the son of David Sweezy/Sweezey/Swayze Ludlum and Margaret Ann McWilliams/McWilliam. Deirdre’s great-grandmother Emma was born in Lansing, Michigan, the daughter of Hananiah D. Pugh and Mary Elizabeth Berry.
Deirdre’s maternal grandmother was named Marion/Marian E./V. Hamilton (the daughter of Guy Alexander Hamilton and Margarette/Margaret V.). Marion was born in Washington, to parents from Nebraska. She was a dancer. Guy was born in Iowa. Margarette was born in Wisconsin, to an English father.
Through her maternal grandfather, Deirdre is a half-first cousin, twice removed, of brothers George Ludlum Hartford, who was longtime chairman and treasurer of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A&P); Edward V. Hartford, who perfected the automobile shock absorber, and was founder and president of Hartford Suspension Company; and John Augustine Hartford, who was President of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, for 35 years, until his death. Edward was the father of businessperson and philanthropist Huntington Hartford and heiress and thoroughbred racehorse owner Josephine Hartford Bryce. Deirdre’s grandfather’s paternal grandfather was also the Hartford brothers’ maternal grandfather.
Sources: https://www.nytimes.com https://www.berkshireeagle.com
Deirdre’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Deirdre’s father – https://www.funerals.coop
Marriage announcement of Deirdre’s maternal grandparents, David Sweezy Ludlum, Jr. and Marion/Marian E./V. Hamilton – https://www.nytimes.com
Deirdre’s maternal grandparents, David Sweezy Ludlum, Jr. and Marion/Marian E./V. Hamilton, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Deirdre’s maternal great-grandparents, David Sweezy Ludlum and Emma Augusta Pugh – https://www.familysearch.org
Death records of Deirdre’s maternal great-grandparents, David Sweezy Ludlum and Emma Augusta (Pugh) Ludlum – https://www.findagrave.com
Genealogy of Deirdre’s maternal great-grandfather, David Sweezy Ludlum (focusing on his own father’s side) – https://www.wikitree.com
Deirdre’s maternal grandmother, Marion/Marian E./V. Hamilton, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org