Anne Meara

Meara in 2007, photo by Prphotos

Date of Birth: September 20, 1929

Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.

Date of Death: May 23, 2015

Place of Death: Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.

Ethnicity: Irish

Anne Meara was an American actress and comedian. She was married to comedian Jerry Stiller, until her death. The couple were part of a comedic act together, Stiller and Meara.

Anne was the daughter of Mary T. (Dempsey) and Edward Joseph Meara, a lawyer. She was of Irish descent.

Anne and Jerry had two children, actors and comedians Ben Stiller and Amy Stiller. She converted from Catholicism to Judaism early on in her marriage to Jerry Stiller, around 1961. The decision to convert was her own.

Anne’s paternal grandfather was James Meara (the son of Michael Meara and Julia Harty). James was born in Borrisokane, County Tipperary, Ireland. Her parents were also born in Tipperary.

Anne’s paternal grandmother was Annie Breslin (the daughter of James Breslin and Elizabeth McLaughlan). Annie was born in Ireland.

Anne’s maternal grandfather was John Joseph Dempsey (the son of Cornelius Dempsey and Ellen Driscoll). John was born in New York, to Irish parents.

Anne’s maternal grandmother was Mary Elizabeth Shine (the daughter of Timothy Shine and Mary Reilley/Reilly/Riley). Anne’s grandmother Mary Elizabeth was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. Timothy was Irish. Anne’s great-grandmother Mary was born in New York, the daughter of Irish parents, Michael Reilley/Reilly/Riley and Catherine Garrity/Gerety.

Sources: Essay by Ben Stiller on his heritage – https://time.com

Family history of Anne Meara, by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak, at The Huffington Post – http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Genealogy of Anne Meara – https://www.findagrave.com

Anne’s father on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Genealogy of Anne Meara (focusing on her mother’s side) – http://www.geni.com

Anne’s mother on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org