Sossamon in 2010, marcello farina / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Shannon Marie Kahololani Sossamon
Place of Birth: Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Date of Birth: October 3, 1978
Ethnicity:
*father – French, Irish
*mother – Native Hawaiian, Filipino, English, German
Shannyn Sossamon is an American actress, director, and musician. Her roles include the films A Knight’s Tale, 40 Days and 40 Nights, The Rules of Attraction, Undiscovered, One Missed Call, Life Is Hot in Cracktown, Our Family Wedding, The Day, Sinister 2, Ghost Light, and Grimcutty, and the shows Wayward Pines and Sleepy Hollow.
She is usually described as being of French and Irish ancestry on her father’s side, and of Native Hawaiian, Filipino, English, and German ancestry on her mother’s.
Shannyn changed her name from Shannon to Shannyn in high school. Her surname is from her mother, Sherry Sossamon, who gave birth to Shannyn when she was seventeen. The surname Sossamon is German. Her sister is musician Jenny Lee Lindberg. Shannyn has two children, including a son with her former partner, children’s book illustrator and author Dallas Clayton.
Shannyn’s maternal grandfather is the son of Edward Thornton “Eddie” Sossamon and Ola Pearl Smith. Edward was the son of Marion Harvey Sossamon and Mary Ellen Storie. Ola was the daughter of Tilman Washington Smith and Emma M. Stone.
Shannyn’s maternal grandmother is Ethel Mangalao (the daughter of Meliton/Meleton Mangalao and Helen Ahialani Uina). Meliton was born in the Philippines. Helen was born in Hawaii, of Hawaiian descent, and was the daughter of John Uina and Keala Mary Kaaimoku/Kaiamoku/Kauaohilo.
Sources: http://www.theage.com.au
Shannyn’s maternal great-grandparents, Edward Thornton “Eddie” Sossamon and Ola Pearl Smith, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Shannyn’s maternal great-grandparents, Meliton/Meleton Mangalao and Helen Ahialani Uina, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of Shannyn’s maternal great-grandmother, Helen Ahialani (Uina) Mangalao – https://library.byuh.edu
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