Celebrity Genealogy      Research - My Family Ancestry

My Connection to Sarah Jessica Parker: A Family History

Several years ago, while watching an episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, I discovered that Sarah Jessica Parker and I shared an intriguing historical connection: both of us had ancestors accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. This revelation sparked a curiosity—could we possibly share other ancestors? In Colonial New England, families often intermarried due to the limited population, so the idea was plausible. It was just a passing thought at the time, but the seed was planted.

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Our Shared Ancestry

Sarah Jessica Parker and I are distantly related through her maternal family line. Our common ancestor is King John I (Plantagenet), my 24th paternal great-grandfather and Sarah’s 27th maternal great-grandfather. From there, our family lines diverged: my paternal lineage descends through King Henry III, while Sarah’s line follows Joan Plantagenet (Lady of Wales and Lady Snowden), an illegitimate daughter of King John I. While historical, this fact highlights the complexity—and occasional surprises—of family genealogy.

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Sarah Jessica Parker’s Early Life

Sarah Jessica Parker was born on March 25, 1965, in Nelsonville, Ohio, to Stephen Parker and Barbara Keck, my 25th cousin, twice removed. Her parents divorced when she was just three and a half years old. Sarah grew up in a blended family with seven siblings from her mother’s two marriages. According to biographical sources, her childhood was “ordinary” in many ways—financial struggles, but also enough love and support to provide a solid foundation.

From a young age, Sarah displayed remarkable talent. She trained in singing and ballet and made her Broadway debut at age 11 in The Innocents (1976). Her family later moved to New York, where she landed the lead role in the Broadway musical Annie in 1979, a role she held for a year.

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Rise to Stardom

I first noticed Sarah Jessica Parker on the television show Square Pegs. Although I didn’t follow the show regularly, her performance was memorable enough that I recognized her in later roles. Her breakthrough, however, came with the iconic role of Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City. The series achieved a cult-like following, influencing television and pop culture while addressing issues that were groundbreaking for the time. Carrie Bradshaw became a role model for millions of young women seeking their place in the world.

Sarah’s versatility extends beyond drama. She shone in the family-friendly Halloween film Hocus Pocus, sharing the screen with Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy, and starred in Tim Burton’s cult classic Mars Attacks, a campy film beloved for its humor and star-studded cast.

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Entrepreneurial Ventures and Fashion

Beyond acting, Sarah Jessica Parker is a fashion icon and entrepreneur. She has served as a spokesperson for multiple fashion brands, launched successful fashion lines, developed her own perfume collection, and runs the production company Pretty Matches. Founded in 2005 with partner Alison Benson, Pretty Matches has produced content for HBO and other broadcasters, focusing on increasing female representation in media and production.

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Family Life

On May 19, 1997, Sarah married actor Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Glory, WarGames). The couple has three children: James (born October 28, 2002) and twin daughters Marion and Tabitha (born June 22, 2009). Interestingly, Marion and Tabitha’s middle names—Elwell and Hodge—reflect family surnames Sarah discovered during her Who Do You Think You Are? research, which overlap with my own family history.

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Reflections on a Famous Distant Cousin

Although I’ve never met Sarah Jessica Parker, I’ve followed her work on screen and through genealogical research. She is a shining star in our extended family tree, and I am proud to share a distant but meaningful connection with such a talented and accomplished woman.