Many people have trouble telling Rachel Dratch and Amy Poehler apart when watching SNL skits, leading them to wonder if the two comedians are related.
However, despite their similar appearance, they are not related.
Key Takeaways
- While digging into Rachel’s family, we learned she has roots in Ukraine and Poland.
- Amy Poehler’s roots are connected to modern Ireland.
To determine if Rachel Dratch and Amy Poehler might be related, we conducted thorough research on both individuals’ families.
First, we looked into Rachel Dratch’s background.
Rachel Dratch was born on February 22, 1966, in Lexington, Massachusetts, to Elaine Ruth (mother) and Paul Dratch (father).
Her paternal grandfather, Benjamin Dratch, was originally from Zashkiv, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine. After migrating to the United States, Benjamin married Clara Finkelstein, who was originally from Poland.
Despite an extensive search into Rachel’s paternal lineage, we found no connections to Amy Poehler or her family, leading us to conclude that Amy is unrelated to Rachel’s father.
Next, we explored Rachel’s maternal side.
Rachel’s mother, Elaine, was born to David Soloway and Golde Hoffman.
David Soloway, Rachel’s maternal grandfather, was originally from New York with roots connecting back to Russia. Golde Hoffman, Rachel’s maternal grandmother, was born and raised in London, Ontario, Canada.
Even after examining Rachel’s maternal lineage, we found no connections to Amy Poehler. This reinforced our conclusion that Rachel Dratch and Amy Poehler are not related.
Looking Closely At The Family Of Amy Poehler
Amy was born on September 16, 1971, in Newton, Massachusetts, to Eileen Frances (mother) and William Grinstead Poehler (father). Her paternal grandparents were Carl Poehler, Jr. and Anna Marie Andrews.
Carl Poehler, Jr., a native of Massachusetts, had roots in Germany, and his mother’s maiden name was Julia Elizabeth Kampe. Anna Marie Andrews, Amy’s paternal grandmother, was also from Massachusetts with roots connecting to Portugal.
These details made it clear that Rachel Dratch is not related to Amy Poehler on her paternal side.
Next, we looked into Amy’s maternal side of the family. Amy’s maternal grandparents, Stephen M. Milmore and Helen Marie MacDonald, were both born and raised in Massachusetts, with roots tracing back to Ireland.
After thoroughly examining Amy’s maternal lineage, we found no connections to Rachel Dratch or her family. Therefore, we conclude that Rachel Dratch and Amy Poehler are not related.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Rachel Dratch’s ethnicity is Ashkenazi Jewish.
- Any Poehler has roots connecting Germany, Ireland, and England, which makes her ethnicity mixed.