Birth Name: David Friedman
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: September 25, 1970
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
David Benioff is an American novelist, screenwriter, television producer, and director. He is known for being the co-creator and showrunner of HBO series Game of Thrones along with D. B. Weiss.
David is the son of Barbara (Benioff) and Stephen “Steve” Friedman, who was the Chairman of the U.S. President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, from 2005 to 2009. David has two sisters, Susan and Caroline.
David is married to actress Amanda Peet. Through his mother, David is a distant cousin of entrepreneur and author Marc Benioff.
David’s parents are Jewish. All of his great-grandparents were Jewish immigrants, from Romania, Austria, Russia, and Poland/Germany.
David’s paternal grandfather was Maurice Friedman (the son of Jonas Friedman and Ray). Jonas and Ray were both from Romania.
David’s paternal grandmother was Hilda Kaufman (the daughter of Jacob Kaufman and Clara). Jacob was originally from Romania. Clara was born in Austria.
David’s maternal grandfather was Shim Simon Benioff (the son of Isaac Benioff and Ida Baylis/Bayliss). Isaac and Ida were both born in Russia.
David’s maternal grandmother was Florence Annette Edelson (the daughter of Samuel H. Edelson and Bessie Wender). Samuel and Bessie were both born in either Germany or Poland.
Sources: David’s paternal grandfather, Maurice Friedman, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of David’s paternal grandfather, Maurice Friedman – http://www.nytimes.com
David’s paternal grandmother, Hilda Kaufman, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of David’s paternal grandmother, Hilda (Kaufman) Friedman – http://www.legacy.com
David’s maternal great-grandfather, Isaac Benioff, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of David’s maternal grandmother, Florence (Edelson) Benioff – http://www.nytimes.com
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