Robin Thede

Thede in 2019, photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Robin A. Thede

Place of Birth: Spencer, Iowa, U.S.

Date of Birth: July 27, 1979

Ethnicity:
*father – German
*mother – African-American

Robin Thede is an American actress, writer, and sketch and improvisational comedian. She was head writer for The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore; creator and presenter of, and writer for, The Rundown with Robin Thede; and creator and star of, and writer for, A Black Lady Sketch Show. She has also appeared on the shows All of Us, Buppies, In the Flow with Affion Crockett, Clunkers, Second Generation Wayans, and The Great North, and in the films A Haunted House and Candy Cane Lane.

Her father, Dave Thede, an educator, is of German descent. Her mother is Democratic Party politician and union worker Phyllis Thede, who is African-American. Phyllis was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives, from January 12, 2009 to January 8, 2023.

Robin’s paternal grandfather was Lloyd G. Thede (the son of Albert George John Thede and Laura Francis Katherine Sporleder). Lloyd was born in Iowa. Albert was born in Iowa, the son of John Peter Thede, who was German, and of Anna Henrietta Jacobs, whose parents were German. Laura was born in Iowa, to German parents, Henry Carl Peter Sporleder and Wilhelmine Fernandine Marie Caroline Boell.

Robin’s paternal grandmother was Marian/Marion Margaret Ranniger (the daughter of Ferdinand Ranniger and Lena Opperman). Marian was born in Iowa. Ferdinand was born in Iowa, to German parents, John Jasper Ranniger and Antji/Antje Hadenfeld. Lena was born in Iowa, also to German parents, Hartwig Wilhelm Oppermann and Magdalena Karsten.

Sources: Genealogies of Robin’s paternal grandparents, Lloyd G. Thede and Marian/Marion Margaret Ranniger – http://www.familysearch.org

Obituary of Robin’s paternal grandfather, Lloyd G. Thede – http://iagenweb.org