Profile Text
Fields from the George Grantham Bain collection, the Library of Congress
Birth Name: William Claude Dukenfield
Date of Birth: January 29, 1880
Place of Birth: Darby, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Date of Death: December 25, 1946
Place of Death: Pasadena, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: * father – English * mother – German, Swiss-German
W. C. Fields was an American comedian, actor, juggler, and writer.
He was the son of Kate Spangler (Felton) and James Lydon Dukenfield. His father was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. His mother was of German and Swiss-German descent, with roots in Pennsylvania going back to the early 1700s. W. C. was married to vaudevillian chorus girl Harriet “Hattie” Hughes, until his death, with whom he had a son.
W. C.’s paternal grandfather was named John L. Dukenfield.
W. C.’s paternal grandmother was named Anna/Ann W. Lyden.
W. C.’s maternal grandfather was Thomas Jones Felton (the son of Godfrey Felton and Catherine Fulmer). Thomas was born in Pennsylvania. Godfrey was the son of Gottfried Felton and Elizabeth Page. Catherine was the daughter of John Fulmer and Anna Maria Krauskop.
W. C.’s maternal grandmother was Anna/Ann Eliza Miller (the daughter of John Miller and Catherine/Catharine Ominsetter). John was the son of Abraham Miller and Mary Peck. Catharine was the daughter of Christopher Ominsetter and Maria Catharina.
Sources: Genealogy of W. C. Fields – https://www.findagrave.com
Genealogy of W. C. Fields (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com