Samuel Goldwyn

Goldwyn was born as Szmuel Gelbfisz in Warsaw to Hasidic Jewish parents, Aaron Dawid Gelbfisz, a peddler, and Hanna Frymet (née Fiszhaut). He was likely born in July 1879, although he claimed his birthday to be August 27, 1882. At the time, most Jews fabricated their ages to prevent future conscription for the Imperial Russian Army.

He left Congress Poland penniless after his father's death and made his way from Warsaw to Hamburg. There he stayed with acquaintances of his family where he trained as a glove maker. On November 26, 1898, Gelbfisz left Hamburg for Birmingham, England, where he remained with relatives for six weeks under the name Samuel Goldfish. On January 4, 1899, he sailed from Liverpool, arrived in Philadelphia on January 19, and went to New York. He found work upstate in Gloversville, New York, in the bustling glove business. Soon, his marketing skills made him a very successful salesman at the Elite Glove Company. After four years as vice-president of sales, he moved to New York City and settled at 10 West 61st Street.

In 1910, Goldwyn married Blanche Lasky, a sister of Jesse L. Lasky. The marriage produced a daughter, Ruth Goldfish Coates, who was born in 1912. The couple divorced in 1915. In 1925, he married actress Frances Howard, to whom he remained married for the rest of his life. Their son, Samuel Goldwyn Jr., eventually joined his father in the business.

Despite his marriages, Samuel Goldwyn was known as a ladies' man in social circles. Goldwyn Girl Jean Howard was quoted saying, "Sam Goldwyn was not a fellow to make a pass in public; he had too much taste for that," but his dalliances were many, even as his wife Frances Howard turned a blind eye.

Grandchildren

Samuel Goldwyn's grandchildren include:

Francis Goldwyn, founder of the Manhattan Toy Company and managing member of Quorum Associates

Tony Goldwyn, actor, producer, and director, best known for starring as President Fitzgerald Grant III in the TV series Scandal

John Goldwyn, film producer

Peter Goldwyn, the current president of Samuel Goldwyn Films

Catherine Goldwyn, creator of Sound Art, a non-profit that teaches popular music all over Los Angeles

Liz Goldwyn, with a film on HBO called Pretty Things, featuring interviews with queens from the heyday of American burlesque; her book, an extension of the documentary titled Pretty Things: The Last Generation of American Burlesque Queens, was published in 2006 by HarperCollins

Rebecca Goldwyn (August 15, 1955 – September 1, 1955)

Samuel Goldwyn's will created a multimillion-dollar charitable foundation in his name. Among other endeavors, the Samuel Goldwyn Foundation funds the Samuel Goldwyn Writing Awards, provides construction funds for the Frances Howard Goldwyn Hollywood Regional Library, and provides ongoing funding for the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital.