Profile Text
Birch in 2012, photo by kathclick /Bigstock.com
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: March 11, 1982
Ethnicity: Polish (maternal grandmother), French-Canadian, German, Irish, possibly Ashkenazi Jewish, Italian, and Scandinavian
Thora Birch is an American actress. She is known for her roles in the films All I Want for Christmas (1991), Hocus Pocus , Monkey Trouble , American Beauty , Ghost World , Silver City , and Affairs of State .
Thora is the daughter of former adult film actors Jack Birch and Carol Connors. Among Thora’s verified ancestry is Polish (from her maternal grandmother), French-Canadian, German, and Irish. She has also stated :
My ancestors were mostly from different parts of Europe, a bit of German Jewish, a little Italian and also some Nordic. Birch comes from Biersch, German. My name, Thora, is the goddess of thunder and lightning, Thor’s sister, in Norse mythology. If I’d been a boy I would have been Thor.
My ancestors were mostly from different parts of Europe, a bit of German Jewish, a little Italian and also some Nordic. Birch comes from Biersch, German. My name, Thora, is the goddess of thunder and lightning, Thor’s sister, in Norse mythology. If I’d been a boy I would have been Thor.
It is not clear if Thora’s Ashkenazi Jewish, Italian, and Scandinavian ancestries have been verified/documented.
Thora is married to talent manager and philanthropist Michael Benton Adler.
Thora’s maternal grandfather was Victor Joseph Campau (the son of Philip/Phillip/Philemon/Philomon/Philomo Joseph Campau and Mary Ellen Wilds). Victor was born in Michigan. Philip was of French-Canadian descent, the son of Jovite/Jovitus David Faustinus Campeau and Marie-Philomena/Philomene Adeline Roger Joinville. Thora’s great-grandmother Mary Ellen was the daughter of Edward Wilds, who was born in Michigan, to German parents, and of Roseanne/Rosann/Rosey Loy, who was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, to Irish parents.
Thora’s maternal grandmother was Violet Carol “Vi” Basiaga (the daughter of Jozef/Joseph “Joe” Basiaga/Basinga/Basaiga and Anna/Annie/Ann M. Wiesko/Bielczko/Wencko). Violet was born in Michigan, to Polish parents. Jozef was the son of Joannes/John Basiaga/Basinga/Basaiga and Sofie/Sophie/Sophia/Sofia Christian/Krzyszton/Megacz. Anna was the daughter of Adam Wiesko and Cositunery Vinnytho.
Sources: Marriage record of Thora’s maternal grandparents, Victor Joseph Campau and Violet Carol “Vi” Basiaga – https://familysearch.org
Thora’s maternal grandfather, Victor Joseph Campau, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Thora’s maternal great-grandmother, Mary Ellen Wilds, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Thora’s maternal grandmother, Violet Carol “Vi” Basiaga, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of Thora’s maternal grandmother, Violet Carol “Vi” (Basiaga) Campau – http://martenson.tributes.com
Marriage record of Thora’s maternal great-grandparents, Jozef/Joseph “Joe” Basiaga/Basinga/Basaiga and Anna/Annie/Ann M. Wiesko/Bielczko/Wencko – https://familysearch.org
Thora’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Joannes/John Basiaga/Basinga/Basaiga and Sofie/Sophie/Sophia/Sofia Christian/Krzyszton/Megacz, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org