Place of Birth: Paddington, London, England, UK
Date of Birth: 2 May, 1946
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish, English (maternal grandmother)
David Suchet is an English actor, known for his brilliant television performances as Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot.
He was born to English actress Joan Patricia Jarché and South African-born gynaecologist Jack Suchet, who immigrated to England from Johannesburg in 1932.
David’s father was of Lithuanian Jewish descent, from a family from Memel (now Klaipėda, Lithuania). David’s maternal grandfather was of Latvian Jewish and Belarusian Jewish descent (although it appears David may not have been aware his maternal grandfather was Jewish until he was an adult). David’s maternal grandmother was of English (non-Jewish) background. At some point, the family name had been recorded to be Schohet, a Yiddish word defining the profession of a kosher butcher. Suchet’s father changed his surname to Suchet while living in South Africa.
David was raised without religion, but has been a practising Anglican since 1986, having been confirmed in 2006.
David’s paternal grandfather was Isidor Suchedowitz (the son of Yankel Suchedowitz and Beila). Isidor was a Lithuanian Jew, from Krottingen.
David’s maternal grandparents were James Jarché (the son of Arnold Jarché/Jarchy and Amelie Salomon/Solomon) and Elsie Gladys Jezzard (the daughter of Walter Jezzard and Martha Finch). James was born in England, to a Latvian Jewish father (from Dunabourg) and a Belarusian Jewish mother (from Grodno). Elsie was of English descent.
Sources: http://www.bbc.co.uk
Genealogy of David’s mother – http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com
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