Profile Text
Birth Name: Samuel Burl Kinison
Date of Birth: December 8, 1953
Place of Birth: Yakima, Washington, U.S.
Date of Death: April 10, 1992
Place of Death: Needles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: English, some Welsh, Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, and German
Sam Kinison was an American stand-up comedian and actor. He appeared in the films Savage Dawn and Back to School .
Sam was the son of Marie Florence (Morrow), a pastor, and The Rev. Samuel Earl Kinison, a Pentecostal preacher. He was raised in East Peoria, Illinois. He was a Pentecostal preacher himself for a time, having studied at Pinecrest Bible Training Center. Sam was married to dancer Malika Souiri, until his death. He had a daughter.
Sam’s paternal grandfather was Samuel Richard Kinison (the son of Francis Marion Kinison and Sarah Gates). Samuel was born in Illinois. Francis was the son of Richard Stephen Kinison and Matilda Cook.
Sam’s paternal grandmother was Ida M. Cates (the daughter of Isaiah J. Cates and Rebecca Jane Brooks). Ida was born in Illinois. Isaiah was the son of James Lindsey Cates and Nancy Shelton. Rebecca was the daughter of John S. Brooks and Frances Allen.
Sam’s maternal grandfather was Mattison/Matison Neal “Matt” Morrow (the son of Ira James Morrow and Margaret Ann Calvert). Mattison was born in Fountain Run, Monroe County, Kentucky. Margaret was born in Barren County, Kentucky.
Sam’s maternal grandmother was Mella Berdus Simmons (the daughter of Harrison Franklin Simmons and Christine “Florence” Jordan). Mella was born in Fountain Run, Monroe County, Kentucky. Harrison was born in Tracy, Kentucky, the son of Samuel F. “Sam” Simmons and Malinda Eaton. Sam’s great-grandmother Christine was born in Monroe County, the daughter of James Riley Jordan and Adeline Emily Huffman.
Sources: Genealogy of Sam Kinison – https://www.findagrave.com
Genealogy of Sam Kinison (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com