Profile Text
White in 2018, photo by kathclick /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Michael Christopher White
Place of Birth: Pasadena, Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: June 28, 1970
Ethnicity: English, smaller amounts of Swedish, Norwegian, German, and Cornish
Mike White is an American writer, actor, producer, filmmaker, and reality television personality. He is known for creating, writing, and directing the show The White Lotus . He also directed and wrote the films Year of the Dog and Brad’s Status ; wrote the films Chuck & Buck , Orange County , The Good Girl , School of Rock , Beatriz at Dinner , The One and Only Ivan , and Migration (2023); and co-wrote the films Dead Man on Campus , Nacho Libre , The Emoji Movie , Pitch Perfect 3 , and Despicable Me 4 . He also created the shows Pasadena and Cracking Up , and co-created, co-starred in, and directed episodes of, the show Enlightened ; he wrote for all the shows, as well as for Dawson’s Creek and Freaks and Geeks . His acting roles also include his films Chuck & Buck , Orange County , The Good Girl , School of Rock , and Brad’s Status , as well as Smother , Gentlemen Broncos , Zombieland , Ride (2014), and The D Train .
His mother, Lyla Lee, was a fundraising executive, and executive director of the Pasadena Playhouse. His father, The Rev. Dr. James Melville White, “Mel” White, is a clergyman, speechwriter, and author. Originally a ghostwriter for religious right figures, Mel White came out as a gay Christian, and ministers mostly to LGBT+ people.
Mike’s paternal grandfather was Olin “Carl” White (the son of James Madison White and “Effie” Azalea Baker). Olin was born in Dalton, Arkansas, and was raised on a small farm, in the Ozarks. He was Mayor of Santa Cruz, California, from 1957 to 1958, and was also an associate pastor, and deacon. Mike’s great-grandfather James was the son of Henry Shelton White and Margaret Elizabeth Wells.
Mike’s paternal grandmother was Faythe Alvera Rear (the daughter of Melvin Bennet Rear and Ruth Lillian Nelson). Faythe was born in Montevideo, Minnesota, and was of half Norwegian and half Swedish descent. Melvin was the son of Halvor E. Rear, who was born in Wisconsin, to Norwegian parents; and of Mina/Minne Christiansdatter Peterson Skjerva, who was born in Clayton, Iowa, to parents from Oppland, Norway. Mike’s great-grandmother Ruth was born in Minnesota, to Swedish parents.
Mike’s maternal grandfather was Lyle Verne/Vern Loehr (the son of Verne Frank Loehr and Lilian/Lillian Winifred Jennings). Lyle was born in California. Mike’s great-grandfather Verne was the son of Frank Loehr, whose parents were from Baden, Germany; and of Annettie/Nettie Alice Smith. Lillian was English, born in Balsall Heath, Worcestershire, the daughter of Alfred Jennings, whose parents were from St Ives, Cornwall; and of Anne Maria Scott.
Mike’s maternal grandmother was Marjorie E. Rhoades Smith (the daughter of Thomas A. Rhoades and Ruby Estella Norene). Marjorie was born in California. Thomas was the son of John Nathaniel Rhoades and Nancy Josephine Gifford/Walker. Ruby was born in Oregon, the daughter of Edward O. Norene, who was of Swedish descent, and of Linnie Blanche Belding.
Sources: https://www.washingtonpost.com http://www.chicagotribune.com https://www.latimes.com
Obituary of Mike’s paternal grandfather, Olin “Carl” White – https://www.legacy.com
Mike’s maternal grandfather, Lyle Verne/Vern Loehr, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Mike’s maternal grandmother, Marjorie E. Rhoades, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org