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White in 2009, photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: Vanna Marie Rosich
Place of Birth: North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, U.S.
Date of Birth: February 18, 1957
Ethnicity: * biological father – Puerto Rican [Spanish, possibly other] * mother – publicly unknown
Vanna White is an American television personality and film actress. She is known for her work on the game show Wheel of Fortune .
Vanna is the daughter of Miguel Angel García Rosich and Joan Marie (Nichols) White. Miguel left the family when Vanna was still a child. Vanna was eventually adopted by her stepfather, Herbert Stackley White, Jr. She has two children with her former husband, restaurant owner George Santo Pietro.
Vanna’s biological father was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, with Spanish ancestry. Vanna’s mother is from the continental United States. Vanna is often described as also having Croatian, English, Italian, German, and Greek ancestry. It is not clear if this is accurate. It appears that Vanna’s mother was adopted.
Vanna is often described as the niece of actor Christopher George, who was of Greek descent. Vanna has clarified the matter, saying , “he wasn’t a blood brother [of my mother], but my mother grew up with his family. Years later in L.A., he and his wife took me under their wing.”
Vanna’s biological paternal grandfather was Carlos Miguel Benigne/Benigno Tomás Rosich y Pasarell (the son of José Rosich y Alomar and Eudoxia Pasarell y Torres). Carlos was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico. José was born in Puerto Rico, to Spanish parents. He had roots on Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands.
Vanna’s biological paternal grandmother was named Gloria Maria García.
One of Vanna’s ancestors may have had the surname Barnes and been one of the first mayors of Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Sources: https://www.youtube.com
Genealogy of Vanna White – https://www.geni.com
Genealogy of Vanna’s father – https://familysearch.org
Vanna’s father on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Birth record of Vanna’s paternal grandfather, Carlos Miguel Benigne/Benigno Tomás Rosich y Pasarell – https://familysearch.org
Vanna’s paternal grandfather, Carlos Miguel Benigne/Benigno Tomás Rosich y Pasarell, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org Carlos Miguel Benigne/Benigno Tomás Rosich y Pasarell on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org Carlos Miguel Benigne/Benigno Tomás Rosich y Pasarell on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Vanna’s mother on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org