Tim Robbins

Robbins in 2006, photo by s_bukley/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Timothy Francis Robbins

Place of Birth: West Covina, Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Birth: October 16, 1958

Ethnicity: English, one eighth Norwegian, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, German, and French/French-Canadian, distant Dutch

Tim Robbins is an American actor, writer, director, producer, musician, and activist. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Mystic River (2003). His roles also include the films No Small Affair, The Sure Thing, Fraternity Vacation, Top Gun, Howard the Duck, Bull Durham, Tapeheads, Miss Firecracker, Cadillac Man, Jacob’s Ladder, Jungle Fever, The Player, Bob Roberts, which he also directed and wrote; Short Cuts, The Hudsucker Proxy, The Shawshank Redemption, I.Q., Ready to Wear (Prêt-à-Porter), Nothing to Lose, Arlington Road, Mission to Mars, High Fidelity, Antitrust, Human Nature (2001), The Truth About Charlie, Code 46, The Secret Life of Words, War of the Worlds (2005), Zathura: A Space Adventure, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, Catch a Fire, Noise (2007), The Lucky Ones (2008), City of Ember, Green Lantern (2011), Back to 1942, Thanks for Sharing, Life of Crime, Welcome to Me, A Perfect Day, Marjorie Prime, VHYes, and Dark Waters (2019); the made-for-tv movies Malice in Wonderland and Cinema Verite; and the series Portlandia, The Spoils of Babylon, The Brink, Here and Now, Castle Rock, and Silo. He also directed and wrote the films Dead Man Walking and Cradle Will Rock.

Tim is the son of Mary Cecelia (Bledsoe), an actress, and Gilbert Lee “Gil” Robbins, a folk singer, musician, and actor. Many of his ancestral lines have been in the U.S. since the 1600s. He has two children, filmmaker Jack Henry Robbins and actor and musician Miles Robbins, with his former partner, actress and activist Susan Sarandon.

Tim’s patrilineal line can be traced to Joshua Robbins, who was born, c. 1651, in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, to English parents, John Robbins, who was born in Theddingworth, Leicestershire, and Mary Welles, who was from Tidmington, Worcestershire.

Tim’s paternal grandfather was Richard Leewilsie/Lee Robbins (the son of Walter A. Robbins and Mary Judith Taylor). Richard was born in Pullman, Whitman, Washington. Walter was born in Iowa, the son of Albert C. Robbins and Cynthia Olive Wilsie. Mary was born in Pullman, the daughter of Benjamin Franklin Taylor and Judith Bradley.

Tim’s paternal grandmother was Agnes Josephine Hughes (the daughter of James Ambrose Hughes and Clara M. Helgeson). Agnes was born in Spokane, Spokane Co., Washington. James was born in Fremont, Sandusky, Ohio, the son of John Hughes, who was born in Ireland; and of Caroline/Carolyn Walker. Tim’s great-grandmother Clara was born in Vincent, Webster, Iowa, the daughter of Norwegian parents, Halvor/Henry/Christopher Helgeson and Anna/Annie Johnson.

Tim’s maternal grandfather was Maynard Tevis Bledsoe (the son of James William Bledsoe and Martha Alice/Ameda Pursell). Maynard was born in California. James was born in Jefferson City, Cole, Missouri, the son of William H./P. Bledsoe and Margaret Minerva Skaggs. Tim’s great-grandmother Martha was born in National City, San Diego, California, the daughter of James Pursell and Rachel Rice Coshow.

Tim’s maternal grandmother was Thelma Cecilia Matthews (the daughter of Albert/Bert/Alberto Tilden Matthews and Letitia/Laetitia/Lettie Marie Johnson). Thelma was born in Indiana, and was a violinist with the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra. Albert was born in Iowa, the son of Jacob Matthews and Cinderella Utter. Tim’s great-grandmother Lettie was the daughter of Francis Xavier/Frank/Franklin Charles Johnson, whose mother was of French descent; and of Frances Hunot, who was of French/French-Canadian ancestry.

Sources: Genealogies of Tim Robbins – http://www.wikitree.com
https://famouskin.com

Tim’s paternal grandmother, Agnes Josephine Hughes, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Tim’s paternal great-grandmother, Clara M. Helgeson, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Genealogies of Tim Robbins (incorrectly identify his maternal ancestry) – http://www.wargs.com
https://www.geni.com