Profile Text
Birth Name: Jonathan David Larson
Date of Birth: February 4, 1960
Place of Birth: Mount Vernon, New York, U.S.
Date of Death: January 25, 1996
Place of Death: New York City, New York, U.S.
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
Jonathan Larson was an American composer, lyricist, and playwright. He is known for his musicals Tick, Tick… Boom! , which is autobiographical, and Rent , the latter premiering the day of his death. He also wrote the unproduced musical Superbia . In the film version of Boom , Jonathan is played by Andrew Garfield .
Jonathan was the son of Nanette and Allan Larson.
Jonathan’s paternal grandfather was named Bernard Isaac Lazarson/Larson. Bernard was born in Minsk, Belarus.
Jonathan’s paternal grandmother was Adeline Rebecca Brody (the daughter of Jacob “Julius” Browdy/Brody and Sarah Kohn). Adeline was born in Minsk. Jacob was born in Yekaterinoslav, Russia, the son of Lazar Brudnick. Sarah was the daughter of David Kohn and Tibi.
Jonathan’s maternal grandfather was Louis Notarius (the son of Aaron Natarius and Bertha/Betty “Ita” Aronstamm). Louis was born in Riga, Latvia.
Jonathan’s maternal grandmother was Therese A. “Tess” Aronstamm (the daughter of Adolph B. Aronstamm and Sonia “Jenny” Haack). Tess was born in New York, to parents from Russia.
Sources: Marriage record of Jonathan’s parents – https://www.familysearch.org
Jonathan’s paternal grandparents, Bernard Isaac Lazarson/Larson and Adeline Rebecca Brody, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Jonathan’s mother on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Jonathan’s mother – https://www.legacy.com