Profile Text
Coolidge in 2013, photo by cvanwagoner /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Jennifer J./C. Coolidge
Place of Birth: Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Date of Birth: June 1, 1961
Ethnicity: English, German, distant Scottish, Irish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, and French Huguenot
Jennifer Coolidge is an American actress, comedian, and activist. She is known for playing Stifler’s mother in the American Pie films, and for her roles in the films Best in Show , Legally Blonde , A Mighty Wind , A Cinderella Story , Date Movie , Click , and Single All the Way , and on the shows 2 Broke Girls , The White Lotus , and The Watcher .
Jennifer is the daughter of Gretchen Ann and Paul Constant Coolidge, a plastics manufacturer. She was raised in a wealthy family in Norwell, Massachusetts.
Jennifer’s paternal grandfather was John Templeman Coolidge IV (the son of John Templeman Coolidge III and Catharine/Catherine/Katharine Scollay Parkman). Jennifer’s grandfather John was born in Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts, and was an artist and naturalist. Jennifer’s great-grandfather John was born in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts. His father, Joseph Swett Coolidge, was born Joseph Coolidge Swett, the son of Tasker Hazard Swett and Elizabeth Boyer Coolidge, and swapped his middle and last names. Elizabeth’s brother, businessperson Joseph Coolidge, married Ellen Randolph Coolidge, the granddaughter of U.S. President Thomas Jefferson . Jennifer’s great-grandfather John’s mother was Mary Louisa Coolidge, after whose father, John Templeman Coolidge, Jennifer’s great-grandfather John was named. Joseph and Mary Louisa were second cousins. Jennifer’s great-grandmother Catharine was the daughter of Francis Parkman, a historian; and of Catherine Scollay Bigelow.
Jennifer’s paternal grandmother was Susannah Cunningham (the daughter of Frederic Cunningham and Hetty Sullivan Lawrence). Susannah was born in Brookline, Norfolk, Massachusetts. Frederic was born in Cohasset, Norfolk, the son of Frederic/Frederick Cunningham and Sarah Maria Parker. Hetty was born in Brookline, the daughter of Amos Adams Lawrence, after whom Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, is named; and of Sarah Elizabeth Appleton. Sarah’s maternal great-grandfather, James Sullivan, was a lawyer and politician, who was Governor of Massachusetts, from May 29, 1807 to December 10, 1808.
Jennifer’s maternal grandfather was Paul August Knauff (the son of Henry Knauff and Fredricka/Fredericka/Frederica/Frederika Marie Mulfinger/Maulfinger). Paul was born in Superior, Douglas, Wisconsin, to German parents. Henry was the son of John/Johannes J. Knauff and Elizabeth Schmidt. Jennifer’s great-grandmother Frederica was the daughter of Georg Heinrich/Henry Mulfinger and Rosine Maria/Marie Johanna Hermann/Herman, who were from Weiler, Württemberg.
Jennifer’s maternal grandmother was Mildred A. Adkisson (the daughter of William Frank Adkisson and Margaret/Maggie Ann Portlock). Mildred was born in Industry, McDonough, Illinois. William was born in Illinois, the son of Joseph Newton Adkisson and Cassey/Cassie Ann Harding. Margaret was born in Adair, McDonough, the daughter of Samuel V. Portlock and Nancy L. Frazzil/Frizzelle/Frezell.
Jennifer is a third cousin, six times removed, of politician Samuel J. Tilden . Jennifer’s paternal eight times great-grandparents, Stephen Tilden and Hannah Little, were also Samuel’s great-great-grandparents.
Sources: Genealogy of Jennifer Coolidge – https://famouskin.com
Obituary of Jennifer’s father – https://www.legacy.com
Death record of Jennifer’s maternal great-grandmother, Fredricka/Fredericka/Frederica/Frederika Marie (Mulfinger/Maulfinger) Knauff – https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogy of Jennifer’s maternal grandmother, Mildred A. (Adkisson) Lawton – https://www.findagrave.com