Biography
Chelsea Handler — comedian with roots in the Russian Empire
Chelsea Handler is an American comedian, actress and author who hosted the late-night show Chelsea Lately on E! from 2007 to 2014. Six of her books have reached No. 1 on The New York Times Best Seller list.
Russian Connection
Tracing the roots — Russia (Jewish)
Her father, Seymour Handler, a used-car dealer, was an Ashkenazi Jew; her mother, Rita Stoecker, was a Mormon who immigrated in 1958. No Russian or Russian-Empire origin of the father's family is documented.
Family Tree
Subject
Chelsea Handler🇺🇸 USA
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Father
Seymour Handler
Rita Stoecker
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Origin
Russia (Jewish)🇷🇺 Russian Empire
Historical context
Russian Empire · c. 1721–1917
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Russia (Jewish). At the time, this region lay within the Russian Empire, which spanned from Poland to the Pacific.
Map: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
Key Achievements
A career defined by ambition
01
Hosted Chelsea Lately on E! (2007–2014)
02
Six books that reached No. 1 on The New York Times Best Seller list, including Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea
03
Chelsea Netflix stand-up specials
04
Time 100 Most Influential People (2012)
05
Outspoken LGBTQ+ rights and political activist
"My mother had to send me to the movies with the money she kept hidden from my father. I learned very early the power of money in the hands of women."
Chelsea Handler
Sources