Lisa Kudrow’s Polish Roots: “Friends” Star Finds Relative in Gdańsk

Lisa Kudrow traced her family history back to Eastern Europe, uncovering Holocaust losses and discovering a living relative in Gdynia whom she previously believed was dead, according to documentation of her ancestral journey. The actor, born in Encino, Los Angeles, undertook the heritage trip to verify stories told by her grandmother, who fled Eastern Europe for Brooklyn, New York.

Tracing Holocaust History in Eastern Europe

Lisa Kudrow’s ancestral roots extend across Belarus, Germany, Hungary, and Poland, according to background details from her documentary exploration. During a 2008 organized travel project through Eastern Europe, the actor confronted dramatic historical chapters involving family members who perished during the Holocaust. One significant stop on the journey was the town of Ilia in modern-day Belarus, where records and findings indicated her great-grandmother was murdered by Nazis during World War II. Kudrow stated that in her youth, she resisted confronting this history, preferring to imagine alternative outcomes for her relative’s life.

Discovering a Living Relative in Gdynia

The expedition shifted when Kudrow traveled to Gdynia, Poland, where she learned that Bolesław Barudin, a distant cousin from her father’s side of the family, was still alive. According to the actor’s accounts in the documentary project, she had previously suspected the man had died. “I suspected that he died. After one by one I was discovering more sad facts from the life of my family, when suddenly it turned out that Bolesław is alive,” Kudrow said in the program. She emphasized that locating and meeting her relative personally provided an emotional conclusion to her difficult archival exploration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did Lisa Kudrow’s family originate?

According to biographical documentation, her ancestors came from regions that include modern-day Belarus, Germany, Hungary, and Poland. Her grandmother escaped Eastern Europe and settled in Brooklyn, New York.

What did Lisa Kudrow discover during her 2008 trip?

She verified that her great-grandmother was killed by Nazis in Ilia, Belarus, during World War II, and she discovered that her distant cousin Bolesław Barudin was living in Gdynia, contrary to her belief that he had passed away.