Profile Text
Harrington in 2018, photo by DFree /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: James H. Harrington III
Place of Birth: Wellesley, Massachusetts, U.S.
Date of Birth: November 15, 1971
Ethnicity: Irish, some English and Scottish, distant Welsh, possibly other
Jay Harrington is an American actor and director. His roles include the shows Coupling , Summerland , The Inside , Desperate Housewives , Private Practice , Better Off Ted , Hot in Cleveland , Botched , Code Black , Suits , and S.W.A.T. , which he also directed episodes of; the made-for-tv movies Octopus (2000) and Turkey Hollow , and the films A Monster in Paris and American Reunion .
Among his brothers is actor Adam Harrington.
Jay’s paternal grandfather was James Hazen Harrington (the son of Richard Hazen “Dick” Harrington and Mary J. Nee). James was born in Massachusetts. Richard was born in Vermont, the son of Edgar Theodore Harrington and Jane Maria Hazen. Jay’s great-grandmother Mary J. was born in Ireland, the daughter of John Nee and Catherine Kelley.
Jay’s paternal grandmother was Mary Gladys Bulger (the daughter of John James Bulger and Bridget Winifred “Winnie” O’Brian). Mary was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Canadian parents, from Prince Edward Island. John was the son of William Bulger, whose father was an Irish emigrant, from Ballyadams, County Laois, and whose mother was of Scottish descent; and of Bridget Hughes, whose father was Irish, and whose mother was also of Irish descent. Jay’s great-grandmother Bridget was the daughter of Dennis O’Brian and Jane McCarthy, who were born in Canada, both of them to Irish immigrants.
Jay’s maternal grandfather was David Joseph Collins (the son of Patrick Joseph Collins and Frances Marie Campbell). David was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Patrick was born in Massachusetts, to Irish parents, Michael Collins and Ellen Leary. Frances was born in Massachusetts, the daughter of Alexander Campbell, who had deep roots in the U.S.; and of Mary Ann Skerry, who was Irish.
Jay’s maternal grandmother was Julia Catherine Falvey (the daughter of Charles Anthony Falvey and Margaret Wright). Julia was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Charles was born in Massachusetts, the son of John M. Falvey, who was an Irish emigrant, from County Kerry; and of Mary Ellen Prendergast, whose parents were Irish. Jay’s great-grandmother Margaret was born in Missouri, the daughter of George Morrison Wright, whose parents were Scottish; and of Sarah S. Sterrett, who had deep American roots.
Sources: Genealogy of Jay’s father – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Jay’s paternal aunt – http://legacy.com
Genealogy of Jay’s mother – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Jay’s maternal grandmother, Julia Catherine (Falvey) Collins – http://legacy.com