Profile Text
Leigh in 2003, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Jennifer L. Morrow
Place of Birth: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: February 5, 1962
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
Jennifer Jason Leigh is an American actress. She is known for her roles in the films Fast Times at Ridgemont High , Sister Sister , Single White Female , Short Cuts , Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle , Dolores Claiborne , and The Hateful Eight , and on the show Hunters .
She is the daughter of actor Vic Morrow (born Victor Morozoff) and screenwriter Barbara Turner (born Gloria Rose Turner). Her parents were both Jewish; their families emigrated from Russia/Ukraine/Crimea and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Her half-sister is actress Mina Badie . Jennifer uses the middle name Jason in tribute to actor Jason Robards , who was a family friend.
She has a son with her former husband, writer and director Noah Baumbach .
Jennifer’s paternal grandfather was Harry Morozoff (the son of Zaskar/Raskar Morozov/Morozoff and Mary Broock/Brovick). Harry was a Russian Jewish emigrant, from Crimea. Mary was born in Taurida.
Jennifer’s paternal grandmother was Jeanette/Jean Kress/Krez/Krass (the daughter of Abraham Krass and Mary Dubinsky). Jeanette was a Russian Jewish emigrant, from Odessa or Simferopol. Mary was born in Odessa, the daughter of Abraham.
Jennifer’s maternal grandfather was Alexander Chaim Turner (the son of Meilech/Milton/Melach Turner and Hanna/Henie/Anna/Annie Teicholtz/Torcholz). Alexander was a Jewish emigrant, from Galicia. Hanna was the daughter of Isaac Teicholtz and Ida.
Jennifer’s maternal grandmother was Pearl Pauline Zisez/Zises (the daughter of Samuel/Sam Zisez/Zises and Fannie/Fanny Abershtark/Aberstark/Eberstadt). Pearl was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, to Jewish parents from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Jennifer’s great-grandmother Fannie was the daughter of Lipa Eberstark and Gertrude/Gussie.
Sources: Genealogies of Jennifer Jason Leigh – http://www.geni.com https://www.wikitree.com
Obituaries of Jennifer’s parents – https://www.findagrave.com
Jennifer’s father on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Jennifer’s maternal grandparents, Alexander Chaim Turner and Pearl Pauline Zisez/Zises, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org Alexander Chaim Turner and Pearl Pauline Zisez/Zises on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Jennifer’s maternal grandmother, Pearl Pauline Zisez/Zises, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org Pearl Pauline Zisez/Zises on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org