Profile Text
Cannon in 2019, photo by DFree /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Kathryn Ellen Cannon
Place of Birth: Custer Park, Illinois, U.S.
Date of Birth: August 21, 1974
Ethnicity: * father – Irish * mother – Irish, German, English, as well as Scottish and Scots-Irish/Northern Irish
Kay Cannon is an American screenwriter, producer, director, and actress. She has written the films Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2 , co-written the films Pitch Perfect 3 and Let It Snow (2019), directed the film Blockers , and directed and written the film Cinderella (2021). She wrote for the shows 30 Rock , New Girl , and Cristela , and created and wrote for the show Girlboss .
She is married to comedy writer Eben Russell, with whom she has a daughter.
Kay’s paternal grandfather was Alfred James/Joseph Cannon (the son of William Henry Cannon and Rose/Rosa Carroll/Carrol). Alfred was born in Illinois. William was born in Illinois, the son of Alfred Cannon, who was English, and of Catherine “Kate” Dorsey, who was Irish. Rose was born in either Michigan or Illinois, to Irish parents, Michael/Michel Carrol and Julia.
Kay’s paternal grandmother was Mary R. Joyce (the daughter of William Joyce and Nora McCauliffe). Mary was born in Illinois, to Irish parents. William was the son of Maurice Joy and Mary Grogan.
Kay’s maternal grandfather was Paul J. Perrin (the son of Charles Francis Perrin and Mary Frances McDowell). Paul was born in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. Charles was born in Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana, the son of John Q. A. Perrin and Elizabeth Ann Talcott, whose father, and many paternal ancestors, were deacons. Kay’s great-grandmother Mary was born in New York, the daughter of Thomas Skelly McDowell, Jr. and Jennie Day, who was born in Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland.
Kay’s maternal grandmother was Charlotte M. Grossman (the daughter of Charles Douglas Grossman and Margaret M. “Maggie” Douglas). Charlotte was born in Illinois. Charles was born in Illinois, to German parents, David Edward Grossman and Mary Anna/Ann Wagner, who was born in Baden-Württemberg. Kay’s great-grandmother Margaret was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of James Douglas, who was born in Scotland, to Irish parents; and of Margaret A. Kelleher, who was also Irish.
Sources: Obituary of Kay’s father – http://rwpattersonfuneralhomes.com
Genealogies of Kay’s maternal grandparents, Paul J. Perrin and Charlotte M. (Grossman) Perrin – https://www.findagrave.com