Rae Dawn Chong
Chong in 2004, photo by Prphotos
Place of Birth: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Date of Birth: February 28, 1961
Ethnicity:
*25% Chinese
*25% Scottish, English
*50% African-American
Rae Dawn Chong is a Canadian actress.
Rae is the daughter of Maxine Sneed and comedian and actor Tommy Chong. Her sister is actress and model Robbi Chong and her half-siblings are actors Precious Chong and Marcus Chong. Her uncle was drummer Floyd Sneed. She has a son with her former husband, stockbroker Owen Bayliss.
Her father is of half Chinese and half Scottish and English descent. Her mother is from an African-American family that moved to Canada.
Rae is often stated to have Cherokee, or another type of Native American, ancestry on her mother’s side. It is not clear if this ancestry has been verified/documented. All four of Rae’s maternal great-grandparents were African-American.
Rae’s paternal grandfather was named Stanley Chong. Stanley was Chinese, and spoke Cantonese.
Rae’s paternal grandmother was Lorna Jean Gilchrist (the daughter of Samuel Gilchrist and Emma Woodcock). Lorna was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. Samuel likely was the son of William Gilchrist, who was Scottish, and of Mary Graham.
Rae’s maternal grandfather was Napoleon Sneed (the son of George Washington Sneed and Pearl Anna Risby). Napoleon was born in Alberta, Canada. George was born in Louisiana. Pearl was born in Kansas, the daughter of Samuel Henry Risby and Margaret Wharton.
Rae’s maternal grandmother was Willa Carothers (the daughter of Samuel Arthur Carothers/Carrothers and Beulah Heslep). Willa was born in Amber Valley, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada. Samuel and Beulah were born in Texas. Samuel was the son of Reddie Carothers and Ella. Beulah was the daughter of Bemjamin Heslep and Emily.
Sources: Interview with Rae about the family’s heritage – https://web.archive.org/web/20100609190311/http://www.asianweek.com
Genealogy of Rae Dawn Chong (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Death record of Rae’s paternal grandmother, Lorna Jean (Gilchrist) Chong – https://www.familysearch.org
Rae’s maternal great-grandparents, Samuel Arthur Carothers/Carrothers and Beulah Heslep, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Samuel Arthur Carothers/Carrothers and Beulah Heslep on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Rae’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Reddie Carothers and Ella, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Rae’s maternal great-grandmother, Beulah Heslep, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
ncG1vNJzZmidpJ27qq%2FEpZybq16YvK570ZqcZpyRrLtur8eopaA%3D