Profile Text
Shire in 2006, photo by s_bukley /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Talia Rose Coppola
Place of Birth: Lake Success, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: April 25, 1946
Ethnicity: Italian
Talia Shire is an American actress.
All of Talia’s grandparents were Italian. Talia is the daughter of arranger/composer Carmine Coppola and Italia Pennino. Her uncle was opera conductor and composer Anton Coppola. She is the sister of academic and author August Coppola and director Francis Ford Coppola . She has a son with her first husband, songwriter and composer David Shire; and two children, actor and musicians Jason Schwartzman and Robert Schwartzman , with her late second husband, producer Jack Schwartzman. She is the aunt of actor Nicolas Cage and director and actress Sofia Coppola . Her great-niece is actress and singer Romy Mars .
Talia’s paternal grandfather was Agostino/August Nicola Coppola (the son of Carmine Coppola and Filomena Coppola). Agostino was from Bernalda, Province of Matera, Basilicata, Italy. The Coppola family owns a luxury resort in Bernalda.
Talia’s paternal grandmother was Maria/Mary Lillian Zasa (the daughter of Pancrazio Zasa and Antonia/Antoinette Montesano). Maria was born in Tunis, Tunisia, of Italian descent. Antonia was the daughter of Joseph Montesano and Carolina Mezzarone. Talia’s brother Francis has said :
My father’s mother, Maria Zasa, was an Italian born in Tunisia, a French protectorate at the time. It was a treat to grow up with a grandmother who spoke English, Italian, Arabic and French. I remember the little French songs she would sing to us about the marionettes, and also her toast when she was about to sip a glass of wine. She would always say, ‘à votre santé’-to your health.
My father’s mother, Maria Zasa, was an Italian born in Tunisia, a French protectorate at the time. It was a treat to grow up with a grandmother who spoke English, Italian, Arabic and French. I remember the little French songs she would sing to us about the marionettes, and also her toast when she was about to sip a glass of wine. She would always say, ‘à votre santé’-to your health.
Talia’s maternal grandfather was named Francesco “Frank” Pennino. Francesco was a composer, who was born, c. 1880, in Naples, Campania, Italy.
Talia’s maternal grandmother was named Anna Giaquinto.
Sources: Genealogy of Talia Shire – https://www.geni.com
Marriage record of Talia’s paternal grandparents, Agostino/August Nicola Coppola and Maria/Mary Lillian Zasa – https://www.familysearch.org