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Birth Name: Steven Ralph Schirripa
Place of Birth: Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: September 3, 1957
Ethnicity: * father – Italian * maternal grandfather – Ashkenazi Jewish * maternal grandmother – likely Polish
Steve Schirripa is an American actor, producer, and author. He is known for his roles on the series The Sopranos , The Secret Life of the American Teenager , and Blue Bloods , in voice-over, in the Open Season films, and for hosting Karma’s A B*tch! and Nothing Personal , on Investigation Discovery.
He is the son of Lorraine Helen Bernstein and Ralph Schirripa. His paternal grandparents were from Riace, Province of Reggio Calabria, Italy. Steve was raised Catholic. He is married to Laura Lemos, with whom he has two children.
He has said :
…my father’s family came from Calabria. My grandmother and grandfather on his side were from the same town, and my mom is Jewish. My parents had gotten married fairly young. My mother was adopted and raised more or less by Italians. She, and my grandmother, who lived around the corner from us, did most of the cooking. In those days you woke up to the smell of fried meatballs.
…my father’s family came from Calabria. My grandmother and grandfather on his side were from the same town, and my mom is Jewish. My parents had gotten married fairly young. My mother was adopted and raised more or less by Italians. She, and my grandmother, who lived around the corner from us, did most of the cooking. In those days you woke up to the smell of fried meatballs.
Steve’s paternal grandfather was named Ilario “Larry” Schirripa (the son of Franceso Schirripa). Francesco was born in Riace.
Steve’s paternal grandmother was Maria Dionisia “Mary” Capeci/Capacci (the daughter of Cosimo Capeci and Caterina Polito). Cosimo and Caterina were born in Riace. Cosimo was the son of Gapadfo Vinezo Capeci.
Steve’s maternal grandfather was surnamed Bernstein. Steve has stated that his maternal grandfather wass a “Jewish wiseguy” who was a part of organized crime group Murder, Inc., which was composed of both Jewish-American and Italian-American members. Steve has said that his mother was born out-of-wedlock to his grandfather and to his then-partner. His grandfather later married to Sally Moskowitz.
Steve’s biological maternal grandmother evidently was Catherine Teresa/Theresa Dziubek/Dziobek (the daughter of Tomasz/Thomas Dziubek/Dziobek/Dziubeck and Ludovica/Ludwega/Louise Kukulski/Kukulska). Catherine was born in Sayreville, Middlesex, New Jersey, to Polish parents. Thomas was born in Jamy, Rzeszów, the son of Jan/John/Joannes Dziubek and Marianna Czapiga. Ludovica was born in Brzyście, Gawłuszowice, Rzeszow, the daughter of Walenty/Valentine Kukulski and Helena/Helen Tymuła.
Sources: http://www.calabriansmostfamous.com https://www.google.ca https://jewishjournal.com
Death records of Steve’s parents – https://www.findagrave.com
Genealogy of Steve Schirripa (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Steve’s father on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Steve’s mother – http://www1.gmnews.com
Marriage record of likely Steve’s biological maternal grandmother, Catherine Teresa/Theresa Dziubek/Dziobek – https://www.familysearch.org