Pamela Adlon

Life & family

Pamela Adlon, previously credited under her maiden name Pamela Segall, is an American actress, screenwriter, producer, and director.

Pamela is the daughter of Marina and Donald Maxwell “Don” Segall, a television writer and producer, and comic book author. Her father was American and her mother is English. Pamela’s father was from a Jewish family. Pamela’s mother is of English, along with Irish, Northern Irish, and Welsh, descent; originally a Protestant, she converted to Judaism upon their marriage. Pamela has three children, including actresses Gideon Adlon and Odessa Adlon/Odessa A’zion, with her former husband, Felix O. Adlon. Felix is the son of German director Percy Adlon. Felix appears to have stated that he converted to Judaism, as well.

A DNA test whose results were displayed on the show Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2022) stated that Pamela’s genetic ancestry consists of:

*50% Ashkenazi Jewish
*18% England & Northwestern Europe
*16% Ireland
*8% Wales
*6% Scotland
*2% Italian

Genetically, she was found to have a common ancestor with actress Meryl Streep, through her mother’s side.

Pamela’s paternal grandfather was Harry Segall (the son of Frank Morton Segall and Fanny/Fannie Gussinoff/Gusenoff). Harry was born in Massachusetts, to parents from the Russian Empire. Frank was born in Gritsev, Ukraine, the son of Itsak/Yitzhak/Isack/Isaac “Issac” Segal/Segall, a rabbi, and of Malke/Malka Polonsky. Fanny was the daughter of Shaye Gussinoff and Dobbie.

Pamela’s paternal grandmother was Esther Fox (the daughter of Morris Fox and Bessie/Rebecca Kantrovitz/Fine). Esther was born in Palonia, Wolyn, Poland.

Pamela’s maternal grandmother was Phyllis Sarah Jane Smith (the daughter of Philip Smith and Mary Handerson). Phyllis was born in Tyldesley, Lancashire, England.

Genetic testing conducted by Finding Your Roots established that Pamela’s maternal grandfather, Leonard Robert Leece, was not her biological grandfather. Pamela’s biological grandfather was Joseph Walthew (the son of Benjamin Walthew and Rose Drew). Joseph was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England. Benjamin was the son of Absalom/Absolom Walthew, whose mother was born in Caernarvonshire, Wales, and of Frances Croffs Molloy, whose father was born in Westmeath, Ireland. Rose was the daughter of Charles Drew, whose mother was born in Down, Northern Ireland, and of Bridget McNulty, who was born in Newry, Down, Northern Ireland.

Pamela’s legal grandfather Leonard Robert Leece was the son of Thomas Leece and Lucy Chapman. Leonard was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England. Thomas was the son of James Leece and Margaret Ann Chapman. Lucy was the daughter of Robert Chapman and Alice Somerville.