Profile Text
Elfman in 2013, photo by DFree /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Jennifer Mary Butala
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: September 30, 1971
Ethnicity: * father – Croatian * mother – English, Scottish, German
Jenna Elfman is an American actress. Her roles include the show Dharma & Greg and the films Keeping the Faith and Looney Tunes: Back in Action .
She is the daughter of Susan and Richard Butala. Her uncle, father’s brother, is musician Tony Butala (Anthony Francis Butala), the lead singer of pop trio The Lettermen. Jenna is married to actor Bodhi Elfman, who is the son of filmmaker Richard Elfman and the nephew of composer and musician Danny Elfman . The couple has two children.
Jenna’s paternal grandfather was John George Butala (the son of Miko/Michael John Butala and Helen R. Sinkovich). Jenna’s grandfather John was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, to Croatian parents. Miko was the son of Michael Butala and Mary Drost. Helen was born in Zumberek, the daughter of George Andrew Sinkovich and Mary Birskovich.
Jenna’s paternal grandmother was Mary Ann Ference (the daughter of Joseph Peter Ference and Helen Gladich). Mary Ann was born in Pennsylvania, to Croatian parents. Joseph was the son of Ivan Ferenac and Magdalena Povina. Helen was born in Guci Draganicki, Zagreb, the daughter of Ferko Gledic and Luci Pjevac.
Jenna’s maternal grandfather was Thomas Logan Grace (the son of Jackson Marion Grace and Sarah C. Shaw). Thomas was born in Nebraska. Jackson was the son of Elijah/Elisha Grace and Sarah A. Laird. Jenna’s great-grandmother Sarah Shaw was the daughter of Joseph Henry Shaw and Rachel Trosper.
Jenna’s maternal grandmother was Susan Mildred Hart (the daughter of Enos Bernard Hart and Lucia Blanche/Blanch Reaugh/Ray Ertel). Susan was born in Kansas. Enos was the son of Jacob Stansbury B. Hart and Mary Elizabeth Beeson.
Sources: Genealogy of Jenna Elfman – http://gw.geneanet.org
Jenna’s paternal grandparents, John George Butala and Mary Ann Ference, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org