Sean Penn

Birth Name: Sean Justin Penn

Place of Birth: Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Birth: August 17, 1960

Ethnicity:*Ashkenazi Jewish (father)*Italian, Irish (mother)

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Sean Penn is an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and political activist. He has twice won the Academy Award for Best Actor, for Mystic River (2003) and Milk (2008).

He is the son of actor and director Leo Penn and actress Eileen Ryan (born Eileen Annucci). He is the brother of musician Michael Penn and actor Chris Penn. His father was Jewish, the son of emigrants from Russia and/or Lithuania. His mother, who was raised Catholic, was of half Italian and half Irish ancestry.

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Sean is married to actress Australian-American actress Leila George. Leila is the daughter of actors Vincent D’Onofrio and Greta Scacchi. Sean has two children, model Dylan Penn and actor Hopper Penn, with his former wife, actress Robin Wright. Sean’s brother Michael is married to singer and songwriter Aimee Mann.

Sean’s mother had said that his father could have had Sephardi Jewish ancestry, as the family’s original surname is said to be Pinon.

Sean’s paternal grandfather was named Moische/Maurice Daniel Penn (the son of Bebka or Lillian). Moische was a Jewish emigrant from Merkinė, Lithuania.

Sean’s paternal grandmother was named Elizabeth M. Melincoff (the daughter of Maurice Melincoff/Malinikoff and Sarah). Elizabeth was a Jewish emigrant, from Russia or Lithuania.

Sean’s maternal grandfather was Americus William Annucci (born Amerigo Giuseppe Annucci, the son of Federico/Francisco Annucci and Sofia/Sophia Bettini). Americus was born in New York, to Italian parents. Federico was born in Potenza, Basilicata, the son of Antonio Annucci and Gratzia Cappobianco. Sofia was the daughter of Luigi Bettini and Vincenza D’Antonio.

Sean’s maternal grandmother was Rose Isabel Ryan (the daughter of Thomas Ryan and Mary Sheehan). Rose was born in New York, to an Irish father and to a mother who was born in New York, to Irish parents.

Sources: Genealogies of Sean Penn –

Sean’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census –

Sean’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census –

Marriage record of Sean’s maternal great-grandparents, Federico/Francisco Annucci and Sofia/Sophia Bettini –

Sean’s maternal grandmother, Rose Isabel Ryan, on the 1910 U.S. Census –