Michelle Trachtenberg
byethnic ·April 20, 2009
Trachtenberg in 2011, photo by s_bukley / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Michelle Christine Trachtenberg
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: October 11, 1985
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish, possibly other
Michelle Trachtenberg is an American actress and model. She has starred onBuffy the Vampire Slayer and in the filmsHarriet the Spy,Inspector Gadget,EuroTrip,Mysterious Skin,Ice Princess,Beautiful Ohio,Black Christmas (2006),17 Again, andTake Me Home Tonight, among others.
She is the daughter of Ilana/Lana and Michael Trachtenberg.
Michelle’s mother is from Russia. Many sources state that Michelle’s father is from Germany.
Michelle is of Jewish heritage. It is not clear if both of her parents are Jewish. Her surname, Trachtenberg, is usually Jewish. Michelle has also referred to her “Jewish mother guilt.” She has stated that she celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah, and that her grandparents live in Israel.
Michelle can speak Russian fluently. She stated in an interview that this was the only way she could communicate with her grandparents.
Michelle’s maternal grandfather’s surname is Kotlyar.
Tags:Ashkenazi Jewishb1985GermanGerman JewishJewishRussianRussian Jewish
ethnic
Curious about ethnicity
84 Responses
River9says:
I guess this site’s finally sank. Like her date of death isn’t indicated yet, no RIP to indicate her new passing. In fact, till date Donald Trump’s page hasn’t also be updated as the current US president.
grafikerdarsays:
Interesting. I guess they didn’t go bankrupt, but the site administrators aren’t doing their jobs well.
passingtime85says:
Is there any reason why her death date hasn’t been added?
Jonassays:
So sad the way she passed, and SO YOUNG too… Just heartbreaking, may she rest in peace. She looked very germanic in my opinion but Ashkenazi Jews can definitely look like that as well.
jackson9says:
Father… Michael Saul Trachtenberg was the son of Jules H. Tratchenberg and Phyllis Rhoda Birkenbaum. Jules was born in Brooklyn, the son of Philip Tratchenberg and Matilda Lieder. Philip was born in NYC, the son of Rebecca and Hyman Tratchenberg. They were Russian Jewish. Matilda was born in NY, the daughter of Minnie and Samuel Lieder. Austrian Jewish.
Phyllis (the paternal grandmother) was the daughter of Mark Birkenhaum and Bertha Bieber. Mark was born in England to Ukrainian Jewish parents, Samuel Birkenhaum and Freida Cohen.
Blessingsalexgxosays:
RIP. Loved her in Buffy and Gossip Girl. Always thought she was fully Jewish though.
I thought she looked very Slavic/Eastern European. Not one of the Ashkenazi Jews who has more West Asian or Southern Euro-esque vibes.
l!ttletimmysays:
I agree with you. She could pass for Polish or something like that. Another Slavic looking Ashkenazi is Alexander Beider.
Beider is a linguist by the way who’s done research on Jewish surnames
italiano90says:
Interestingly enough Trachtenberg is a surname in Poland as well. Obviously uncommon though.
happyejyksays:
There are plenty of Ashkenazi looking just like that. And nevertheless DNA tests show belonging to ancient population of middle east. Not lesser than of those jews who stayed for last two thousand years in middle east in Israel or Arabic countries. They have very similar amount of non-jew genes, and not a big one. Info is available to everyone. Michelle was extremely attractive woman, imho. Old Hollywood style. Rest in peace. You won’t be forgotten.
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