Birth Name: Richard Charles Rodgers
Date of Birth: June 28, 1902
Place of Birth: Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Death: December 30, 1979
Place of Death: New York City, New York, U.S.
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
Richard Rodgers was an American composer. He was one of the best-known composers of the 20th century. He was part of a songwriting partnership with lyricist Lorenz Hart, known as Rodgers and Hart. His musicals with Hart included A Connecticut Yankee, On Your Toes, Babes in Arms, and Pal Joey. He was later the professional partner of Oscar Hammerstein II. His musicals with Hammerstein II included Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, Flower Drum Song, and The Sound of Music.
Richard was the son of Mamie (Levy) and Dr. William Abraham Rodgers, a well-known physician. His father was born in Holden, Johnson County, Missouri, to a Polish Jewish father and an Alsatian Jewish mother. His mother was born in New York City, New York, to Russian Jewish parents.
Richard was married to writer, inventor, businessperson, and philanthropist Dorothy Belle Feiner, until his death. The couple had two children, composer, screenwriter, and author Mary Rodgers, and songwriter Linda Rodgers. Mary wrote the novel Freaky Friday, which inspired the films of the same name. Linda was married to film producer Daniel Melnick. Among Richard’s grandchildren is composer-lyricist of musical theatre and opera Adam Guettel, who is Mary’s son; and author and composer Peter Rodgers Melnick, who is Linda’s son.
Richard’s paternal grandfather was Morris/Marcus Rodgers/Rogazinsky (the son of Kallmann Rogozinski and Keile Caroline Dzialyner). Morris was born in Gniezno, Wielkopolskie, Poland.
Richard’s paternal grandmother was Sarah Jalkut (the daughter of Jacob Jalkut and Temma Riva Salvetschick). Sarah was born in Saverne, Bas-Rhin, Grand Est, France. Jacob was born in Raczki, Suwałki County, Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland, the son of Samuel Jalkut and Mathilde.
Richard’s maternal grandfather was Jacob Koppel Levy (the son of Louis Levy and Charlotte Schoenkoff).
Richard’s maternal grandmother was Rachel/Rachael Lewine/Levine (the daughter of Hersh/Lazarus Lewine and Sarah Apel). Hersh was born in Laszkowo, Horodec, Belarus.
Sources: Genealogies of Richard Rodgers – https://www.geni.com
https://www.findagrave.com
Richard Rodgers on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
The post Richard Rodgers appeared first on Ethnicity of Celebs | EthniCelebs.com.