Profile Text
Gretsch – 2010 TV Guide Magazine’s “Hot List” – Arrivals – Drai’s at the W, Hollywood – Hollywood, CA, USA – Photo Credit: Chris Hatcher / PR Photos
Birth Name: Joel James Gretsch
Place of Birth: St. Cloud, Minnesota, U.S.
Date of Birth: December 20, 1963
Ethnicity: *50% German *25% Swedish *12.5% Polish *12.5% French-Canadian, likely English/British
Joel Gretsch is an American actor. He is known for his roles on the shows The 4400 and V , in the films The Legend of Bagger Vance , Minority Report , The Emperor’s Club , Glass House: The Good Mother , National Treasure: Book of Secrets , Push (2009), Saving Grace B. Jones , Safelight , and Air (2023); in the made-for-tv movie Zodiac: Signs of the Apocalypse ; and in the mini-series Taken (2002).
Joel is the son of Barbara and Russell Gretsch. He was raised in Albany, Minnesota. Joel is married to actress Melanie Shatner, whose father is actor William Shatner . The couple has two children.
Joel’s paternal grandfather was Joseph Gretsch (the son of Mathias Groetsch and Maria Hundzek/Huntzek). Joseph was born in Albany, Stearns, Minnesota, to a German father and a Polish mother. Mathias was from Munich, Bavaria, the son of Johann Georg Groetsch and Margareta Barbara Weiss. Joel’s great-grandmother Maria was born in Dombrowa, Chrosczütz, Prussia, the daughter of Franciscus Hieronimus Huntzek and Luzie Strelzik.
Joel’s paternal grandmother was Mary Louise “Mamie”/Mayme Peltier (the daughter of Edward Adlaska/Adalaska Peltier and Cathrine/Catherine/Catherina/Catharina Dickhausen). Mary Louise was born in Minnesota. Edward was born in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, the son of Canadian parents, Charles Peltier, who was French-Canadian, with roots mostly in Québec; and Mary Catherine Sawyer, who was also from Québec, and likely was of English/British descent. Joel’s great-grandmother Cathrine was born in Mörlen, Hesse, Prussia, Germany, the daughter of Heinrich “Henry” Dickhausen and Aloysia Louisa Brenner.
Joel’s maternal grandfather was William Henry Blattner (the son of David Henry Blattner and Clara Theresa Herbst). William was born in St. Cloud, Stearns, Minnesota. David was born in Ontario, Canada, the son of Johann Christopher Blattner, who was a German immigrant; and of Catherine Elizabeth Schneider, who was an ethnic German, from Alsace. Joel’s great-grandmother Clara was also the daughter of German parents.
Joel’s maternal grandmother was Margaret Natalie Almgren (the daughter of Oscar Christian Almgren and Anna Natalia Strom). Margaret was born in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, to Swedish emigrants. Oscar was from Vänge, Uppsala, the son of Anton Andersson Almgren and Emma Björklund. Joel’s great-grandmother Anna was from Levene, Skaraborg, the daughter of Svante Ström and Johanna Karlsdotter.
Sources: Obituary of Joel’s aunt (father’s sister) – http://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Joel’s paternal grandparents, Joseph Gretsch and Mary Louise “Mamie”/Mayme Peltier – http://www.familysearch.org