Bill Goldberg

Goldberg in 2006, photo by s_bukley/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: William Scott Goldberg

Place of Birth: Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.

Date of Birth: December 27, 1966

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Bill Goldberg is an American professional wrestler, actor, and professional football player. He is known for his work in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and WWE. A defensive tackle, he played for the Los Angeles Rams, the BC Lions, the Sacramento Surge, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He has appeared on the series The Goldbergs, The Flash, and NCIS: Los Angeles, and in the films Universal Soldier: The Return, Ready to Rumble, Looney Tunes: Back in Action, The Longest Yard, Santa’s Slay, Half Past Dead 2, Kill Speed, and American Satan; and has hosted Forged in Fire: Knife or Death. He has also been credited as Goldberg and Bill Gold. He is 6′4″.

Bill is the son of Ethel, a classical violinist, and Jed Goldberg, an OB-GYN. His mother created an award-winning hybrid orchid in 2000, which she named after him. His father was born in Tulsa. His mother was born in Florida. He was was raised in Reform Judaism. Bill is married to stunt double Wanda Ferraton, with whom he has a son.

Bill’s paternal grandfather was William M. Goldberg (the son of Judel/Yudel/Yidel Edward Goldberg and Bessie/Pessell/Pessel Edith Tannenbaum). William was born in Denver, Colorado, to Russian Jewish parents. Judel emigrated from Radomsko, Lodzkie, Poland, then in the Russian Empire, and was the son of Moses Eli Goldberg and Fannie/Faga/Feiga Getz. Pessel was the daughter of David Dov Tannenbaum/Tenenbaum and Ester Kruegel, who were born in Seidlce, Poland.

Bill’s paternal grandmother was Ethel B. Leavitt/Levitt (the daughter of Abraham Jacob Leavitt/Levitt and Sophie Pollack). Ethel was born in Minsk, Belarus, then in the Russian Empire, and emigrated with her parents. Abraham was born in Minsk, the son of Arye Leavitt. Sophie was born in Minsk, the daughter of Zeev Pollack.

Bill’s maternal grandfather was named Marcel Kasner. Marcel emigrated to the U.S. from Iaşi, Romania.

Bill’s maternal grandmother was Irene Renee Wolfson (the daughter of Morris D. Wolfson and Sarah Goldberg). Irene was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Morris was from Kovna, Lithuania, then in the Russian Empire, and was the son of Dora. Sarah was born in Baltimore.

Sources: Article about Bill’s Jewish heritage – https://www.washingtonpost.com

Genealogies of Bill’s parents – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Bill Goldberg (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Genealogy of Bill’s maternal grandmother, Irene Renee Wolfson (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com