Profile Text
Birth Name: Karen L. Parsons
Place of Birth: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: October 8, 1966
Ethnicity: * father – English, German, Irish, Welsh, 1/16th Turkish or Greek * mother – African-American
Karyn Parsons is an American actress, comedian, and model. She is known for playing Hilary Banks on the show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air , and for her roles in the film Major Payne and on the series The Job .
Karyn is the daughter of Louise and Kenneth Parsons. A picture of her father can be seen here . Karyn is married to director Alexandre Rockwell, with whom she has two children, including actress Lana Rockwell .
Karyn’s paternal grandfather was Edward Leroy Parsons (the son of Edward Parsons and Sara Kerst). Karyn’s greandfather Edward was born in Crete, Nebraska. Karyn’s great-grandfather Edward was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, the son of Walter Parsons and Mary Truitt. Sara was born in Decorah, Iowa, the daughter of German parents, from Hesse, Conrad Kerst and Christina Arndt.
Karyn’s paternal grandmother Hazel Mae Owen (the daughter of Ansel Erastus Owen and Augusta Elisabeth McLaughlin). Hazel was born in Livingston, Montana. Ansel was born in New York City, New York, the son of William Nelson Owen and Mary Ann Weaver. Augusta was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of Horace Elmer McLaughlin and Margaret Ann Benjamin. Margaret’s father, Antony Benjamin, was evidently born in Istanbul, Turkey, and may have been of Greek descent.
Karyn’s maternal grandfather was named Willie Hankerson.
Karyn’s maternal grandmother was Lucile Turno (the daughter of Cyrus Turno and Lizzie Bradley). Lucile was born in South Carolina.
Sources: Genealogies of Karyn’s parents – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Karyn’s parents – https://www.familysearch.org