Profile Text
Birth Name: Thomas Noel Rettig
Date of Birth: December 10, 1941
Place of Birth: Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Death: February 15, 1996
Place of Death: Marina del Rey, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: * father – Ashkenazi Jewish * mother – Italian/Sicilian
Tommy Rettig was an American actor, computer software engineer, and author. He starred as Jeff Miller in the 1950s series Lassie , and as Bartholomew Collins in the film The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. His roles also included the films Panic in the Streets , The Jackpot , Two Weeks with Love , For Heaven’s Sake (1950), The Strip , Elopement , Week-End with Father , Gobs and Gals , Paula (1952), The Lady Wants Mink , So Big (1953), River of No Return , The Raid , The Egyptian (1954), The Cobweb (1955), At Gunpoint , and The Last Wagon (1956); and the shows Kraft Television Theatre , Studio One , The Ford Television Theatre , Chevron Theatre , Never Too Young , and This Is the Life .
Tommy was the son of Rosemary and Elias Rettig. His father was born in New York, to Russian Jewish parents. His mother was also born in New York, to Italian (Catholic) immigrants. He had two children with his former wife Darlene Portwood.
Tommy’s paternal grandfather was named Isaac Rettig (the son of Lazarus Rettig and Sarah).
Tommy’s paternal grandmother was named Ida Eisenberg/Cantor.
Tommy’s maternal grandfather was Gaetano Tom Nibali (the son of Signorino Conti Nibali and Rosaria Bevacqua). Gaetano was born in Tuscany, Italy. Signorino was the son of Vincenzo Nibali and Rosina Calabrezi. Rosaria was the daughter of Gaetano Franchina and Francesca Calameri.
Tommy’s maternal grandmother was Francesca Triscari “Frances” Benemavo (the daughter of Friscari Benemavo and Rosaria Continglio). Francesca was born in Tortorici, Messina, Sicily, Italy. Rosaria was the daughter of Antonio Benemavo and Francesca Fiumari.
Sources: Genealogies of Tommy Rettig (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com https://www.findagrave.com
Tommy’s father on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Death record of Tommy’s paternal grandfather, Isaac Rettig – https://www.familysearch.org