Gilbert Gottfried
Gottfried in 2008, Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com
Date of Birth: February 28, 1955
Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Death: April 12, 2022
Place of Death: Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
Gilbert Gottfried was an American stand-up comedian and actor. Known for his distinctive voice, his work included the film Problem Child, voice roles in Aladdin (1992), as Iago, the series Cyberchase and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and as the Aflac Duck, and the podcast Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast. He was a cast member on the show Saturday Night Live.
Gilbert was the son of Lillian and Maximilian/Max Gottfried. His father was a Polish Jewish emigrant, from Galicia, who came to the U.S. in 1912. His mother was born in New York, to Jewish parents from Odessa, now Ukraine. His sister was New York street photographer Arlene Gottfried.
Gilbert was married to Dara Kravitz, until his death, with whom he had two children. Dara is also Jewish.
Gilbert’s paternal grandfather was named Abraham Hersch Gottfried.
Gilbert’s paternal grandmother was named Esther Frey.
Gilbert’s maternal grandfather was Charles Zimmerman (the son of Louis Zimmerman and Minnie Vert). Charles was born in Odessa.
Gilbert’s maternal grandmother was Minnie Worthman (the daughter of Fischel/Fishel “Philip” Worthman/Werthman and Anya/Amiel/Anna/Annie Needleman/Nudleman). Minnie was born in Odessa. Philip was born in Odessa, the son of Joseph Worthman and Ida. Annie was also born in Odessa.
Sources: Interviews about Gilbert’s Jewish upbringing – http://www.jewishjournal.com
https://www.jta.org
Information about Gilbert’s family history (mentioning Gilbert’s sister, Arlene) – http://www.seniorsmatter.com
Genealogy of Gilbert Gottfried – https://www.findagrave.com
Genealogy of Gilbert Gottfried (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Gilbert’s mother on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Gilbert’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Marriage record of Gilbert’s maternal grandparents, Charles Zimmerman and Minnie Worthman – https://www.familysearch.org
Lillian’s parents were actually both from Odessa in Ukraine
Gilbert’s maternal grandfather
https://pt.findagrave.com/memorial/253378297/charles-zimmerman
Gilbert’s maternal grandmother
https://pt.findagrave.com/memorial/253407108/minnie-zimmerman
@andrew, how does he look North African? He doesn’t look like the Berber face morph on HumanPhenotypes.
That website has some bizarre examples, though some are spot on too. Man looked incredibly North African IMO.
R.I.P
He was a funny guy. I remember being really sad when he passed.