General Discussion

NewDeal_Dem

(1,049 posts)

171. I can pull out 5 actors from privileged backgrounds too. doesn't prove that's the norm.

Fri Jan 2, 2015, 11:35 PM

Jan 2015

1. Julia-Louis Dreyfus: father has about 3 billion dollars in net worth ultimately derived from the multi-generation Dreyfus grain business.

2. Ed Norton: grandson of real estate developer and mall owner james rouse (rouse company) and nephew of real estate developer William g rouse (one liberty place)

3. Robert Wagner: son of Detroit steel exec Robert wagner sr.
http://www.tv.com/people/robert-wagner/biography/

4. spike jonze: Spiegel catalog family, father an executive ; net worth 40 million
http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=13401153&ticker=ACHI&previousCapId=7842634&previousTitle=GEMALTO

5. Paul Giamatti: father president of yale, baseball commissioner. giamatti went to yale with ed Norton.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Giamatti

6. Chevy Chase: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevy_Chase

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How Benedict Cumberbatch's family made a fortune from slavery [View all] NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 OP

Whatever. Who cares? Frank Cannon Jan 2015 #1

Exactly. This is all becoming really silly. WillowTree Jan 2015 #4

Posting this crap, as though it is somehow important, ChairmanAgnostic Jan 2015 #11

It's where his position in life came from. But of course it's unimportant to some. NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #15

Really? Takket Jan 2015 #16

Slave profits, for example, gave many the freedom to achieve in the arts. Most people don't find NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #58

I find all of this history interesting Boreal Jan 2015 #211

I wasn't talking about Bernard as you call him, but you. ChairmanAgnostic Jan 2015 #18

You're laboring under a misapprehension. Nowhere have I said that anyone is resonsible for the NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #63

your "cold fact" has some sort of virus. ChairmanAgnostic Jan 2015 #237

You know. My ancestors came from Norway. Savannahmann Jan 2015 #53

I'm not sure how many times I have to patiently explain: I've done no such thing. NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #65

great response. Pity the logic is lost on the original poster. ChairmanAgnostic Jan 2015 #238

Oh no, my ancestors may have cheered watching Arkana Jan 2015 #161

Time to bring back UNREC!!!! You can pick your friends, you can't pick your relatives!!! MADem Jan 2015 #22

I'd rather stone "Mycroft". greatauntoftriplets Jan 2015 #62

Hahaha! nt MADem Jan 2015 #106

What's with the "so what" mentality? Afraid of the truth? Dont call me Shirley Jan 2015 #32

W h a t. . . T r u t h ? ? ChairmanAgnostic Jan 2015 #35

Posting famous people's ancestries is not a stupid thing, especially when those famous people Dont call me Shirley Jan 2015 #45

Letting actors "influence our lives" is kinda stupid. arcane1 Jan 2015 #54

Actors like Sydney Poitier? Dont call me Shirley Jan 2015 #61

Why Sidney Poitier and not other actors? Crunchy Frog Jan 2015 #214

As a now banned member once wrote, "The technique is called "zealotry trolling" FSogol Jan 2015 #239

Makes sense. ChairmanAgnostic Jan 2015 #247

Part of the reason I'm spending less time here Crunchy Frog Jan 2015 #204

FSM help me if I'm ever in the public eye Sen. Walter Sobchak Jan 2015 #68

Well, that's what white people today often say. closeupready Jan 2015 #109

I bet even lots of non-white people have some pretty shady ancestry. Crunchy Frog Jan 2015 #212

So what is he supposed to do? (It's Benedict, by the way; not Bernard) The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2015 #2

I think its great that he's making a film about that very subject, the slave trade. NYC_SKP Jan 2015 #7

He already made one movie about slavery Bjorn Against Jan 2015 #82

Love, love, love Sherlock! Laffy Kat Jan 2015 #112

I watched the pilot and then I was HOOKED. I wish there were more episodes! NYC_SKP Jan 2015 #118

Season 4 article. greatauntoftriplets Jan 2015 #121

I CAN'T WAIT THAT LONG!!! NYC_SKP Jan 2015 #128

One of the local PBS stations here showed some Sherlock episodes yesterday and Wednesday. greatauntoftriplets Jan 2015 #130

I put Sign of Three down as one of the best, most cleverly written episodes of television... LanternWaste Jan 2015 #243

Absolutely. greatauntoftriplets Jan 2015 #246

I believe they intend to continue the series. Laffy Kat Jan 2015 #124

He's not supposed to do anything and pardon for misspelling his name. NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #8

Are you saying that he wouldn't be an acclaimed actor TexasMommaWithAHat Jan 2015 #9

Things have changed since richard burton was a lad, m'dear. You look at most of the renowned NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #14

Tell that to the cast of East Enders... nt MADem Jan 2015 #24

You think because actors appeared in a drama about east enders, they were born in the east end? NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #70

And you think they went to Oxford and Cambridge? MADem Jan 2015 #99

I know what east enders is, and i've seen a few episodes. I also looked through the list of stars NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #137

Well, I've never thought of folks like Adele and TexasMommaWithAHat Jan 2015 #25

Yeesh. enlightenment Jan 2015 #27

Don't forget Idris Elba haha TexasMommaWithAHat Jan 2015 #57

I could never forget him - enlightenment Jan 2015 #170

Yeah, me, too TexasMommaWithAHat Jan 2015 #231

Tom Hardy, Toby Kebbell, Tom Mison... WorseBeforeBetter Jan 2015 #150

thank you. elehhhhna Jan 2015 #29

You mean famous actors like James McAvoy, Gerard Butler, Charlie Hunnam, Ben Whishaw, hughee99 Jan 2015 #38

Charlie Hunnam? Did you see what his mom, Katie Sagal, did to his wife the doctor? NYC_SKP Jan 2015 #46

I started taking a look through your list but stopped at orlando bloom. You can't seriously think NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #47

There's a range between "working class" and "posh". hughee99 Jan 2015 #191

Scotland is part of Great Britain--you're good. MADem Jan 2015 #103

Yes, but some of the Scots I know take offense to calling them British hughee99 Jan 2015 #192

Better safe than sorry~! nt MADem Jan 2015 #225

You can source this allegation with objective source, yes? LanternWaste Jan 2015 #244

You seem to be implying that only wealthy people are able to become actors . . . markpkessinger Jan 2015 #92

I didn't imply any such thing. But I'll bet there are more upper middle to upper class people who NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #94

I may have been wrong about Everett . . . markpkessinger Jan 2015 #100

and i could make a list of actors who came from great wealth, starting with julia louis-dreyfus of NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #145

Oh, wow! NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #199

Post removed Post removed Jan 2015 #200

Oh, yes, I did notice. NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #205

Post removed Post removed Jan 2015 #207

Welcome to DU! zappaman Jan 2015 #209

Right? cyberswede Jan 2015 #210

The OP has gotten so far from the original point cwydro Jan 2015 #230

The author of the OP has been flagged for review. zappaman Jan 2015 #233

So you gave up on your slavery tirade cwydro Jan 2015 #229

He should quit his career, give away all his ill gotten wealth, Crunchy Frog Jan 2015 #213

This made me laugh out loud! cwydro Jan 2015 #234

Ah, the Daily Mail, aka the Daily Fail. Staph Jan 2015 #3

Well, here's a confirmation from the Guardian. NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #10

You highlighted "was an arts scholar". Why then say "I don't see anything about a scholarship"? muriel_volestrangler Jan 2015 #75

being a scholar means you got a scholarship? not where i come from. being a arts scholar means NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #80

Well, you don't come from the UK. It does mean you got a scholarship here. muriel_volestrangler Jan 2015 #86

well, thank you for the reference. partial scholarship, by other accounts. NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #110

"It was a huge stretch for them." muriel_volestrangler Jan 2015 #115

According to him, his grandmother paid 2/3 of his fee at Harrow. That's about 20K a year. I know NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #119

Benedict Cumberbatch, star of Sherlock, has talked about posh-bashing in the UK. NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #123

... tammywammy Jan 2015 #85

... NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #116

Neither would I give up the money or position in life. NYC_SKP Jan 2015 #5

I've seen Sherlock; I like it. I like Cumberbach (or at least his persona). But I'll say it's damn NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #12

You've really hit a raw nerve with your ancestry posts NewDeal_Dem. A lot of peeps have their Dont call me Shirley Jan 2015 #48

The only 'undies' at risk here ... NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #60

If they're really twisted in a knot, nothing can evacuate Dont call me Shirley Jan 2015 #77

New flash: NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #97

Ok so, let me get this: history is insignificant Dont call me Shirley Jan 2015 #98

Yeah. That's EXACTLY what I said. NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #107

Thanks Nancy, you're so kind Dont call me Shirley Jan 2015 #111

Not holier than thou ... NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #117

I love facts. I love reading facts. I love learning facts. Dont call me Shirley Jan 2015 #122

What you're missing entirely ... NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #133

BUT, that 1830s fortune can be the foundation of the rest of the family fortune kwassa Jan 2015 #144

I think people generally take it for granted that capitalists reinvest their capital. To make more NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #148

why would you think the proceeds from slavery wouldn't be reinvested? In industry, for example? NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #136

Of course it was reinvested. NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #141

So, the money is clean because it was laundered by generations after it? kwassa Jan 2015 #146

The proceeds of slavery ... NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #158

You can't separate the two, and if you think you can .... kwassa Jan 2015 #165

Cumberbatch's inheritance ... NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #173

Like I said, the money is laundered. kwassa Jan 2015 #182

I didn't say ... NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #198

How can the money become legitimate if the source was dirty? kwassa Jan 2015 #228

you don't know how it was invested. maybe it was invested in child labor or textile sweatshops NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #188

you apparently don't know what 'laundered money' is, despite your vast knowlege (which i bow to, NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #187

Money laundering ... NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #196

slavery became illegal in england and its possessions in 1833. The cumberbatches owned NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #201

LOL. So say drug dealers everywhere. Yet they still go to prison. NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #149

Post removed Post removed Jan 2015 #169

no, i'm just too dumb to understand the english language well as you do, miz nance NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #172

You apparently think ... NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #175

and you apparently think that moving ill-gotten money around cleans it. NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #181

what a stupid claim. the slave trade was the source of any money the family had to invest. it was NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #151

You still haven't explained ... NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #162

but miz nance, you've already explained to us illiterates that invested dirty money becomes clean NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #174

Post removed Post removed Jan 2015 #186

I don't give a fig about your stupid grandfather and his lousy $10. NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #189

As I don't give a fuck ... NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #197

Then why are you here dispensing your venomous literary droppings? For someone who NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #203

I am here posting replies ... NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #208

wow, another country heard from. i guess i really -have- hit a nerve. NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #81

The only 'nerve' you're hitting ... NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #90

It is pretty damned hilarious. eom MohRokTah Jan 2015 #96

ironic NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #152

It's called the funny bone. greatauntoftriplets Jan 2015 #91

+1,000,000,000,000 eom MohRokTah Jan 2015 #95

to be fair DonCoquixote Jan 2015 #6

To be fair; he's in a position to make so much money because he's the several times removed NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #13

Sorry but that supposition is total bullshit Takket Jan 2015 #20

To be fair; GeorgeGist Jan 2015 #30

It's not personal. But people without such advantages should understand how things really work NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #49

how much did he actually get? DonCoquixote Jan 2015 #127

Your claim is one of the classic logical fallacies markpkessinger Jan 2015 #93

In fairness... Dr. Strange Jan 2015 #113

how much money did her acyually GET though? DonCoquixote Jan 2015 #126

2/3 of his tuition at harrow was paid by his grandma. that was about 20K/year for about 4 years. NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #155

Easily one of the silliest OPs I've seen in awhile LordGlenconner Jan 2015 #17

This? joeybee12 Jan 2015 #23

exactly, those with connections and family name/money without talent would do some shitty reality JI7 Jan 2015 #37

Shitty reality shows pay well; better than 90-95% of the working population, I'd bet. NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #83

Funny how 'talent' seems to accrue more to those who come from 30,000/year schools than NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #52

Am I suppose to be mad at Benedict because of something his great, great, great, great grandfather Pisces Jan 2015 #19

So we're now punishing people for the sins of the father? MohRokTah Jan 2015 #21

the OP thinks people like cumberbatch are more to blame for emmett till's death, racist cops JI7 Jan 2015 #41

I remember -YOU- attributing that view to me, but I don't remember espousing it. NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #156

I find the responses to your recents posts quite curious for a "progressive" political board. Trillo Jan 2015 #26

We'll probably die completely broke TexasMommaWithAHat Jan 2015 #64

I don't think there's an easy answer. Trillo Jan 2015 #71

I have friends ... NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #125

Absolutely. I'm saying that it is a form, one of many Trillo Jan 2015 #143

My goal isn't equality of results TexasMommaWithAHat Jan 2015 #154

The level of venom is kind of surprising, yes. You'd think some of the posters had a vested NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #157

I partially agree with you, and partially don't. Your point of view is valid ... kwassa Jan 2015 #164

Noting those who are lining up to take a whack at you... grasswire Jan 2015 #176

Thanks. It's disheartening to see on a democratic board. For a tired idealist. NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #179

You're right (nt) CrawlingChaos Jan 2015 #219

Very, very, very true. CrawlingChaos Jan 2015 #220

Hey, let's go back to the Roman Empire and trace descendants of those slave owners. eShirl Jan 2015 #28

Or go back to the original sellers of the slaves, the one which captured the slaves and sold them. Thinkingabout Jan 2015 #33

The Roman army? eShirl Jan 2015 #43

Is this who you think raided other tribes and captured them to sell? Thinkingabout Jan 2015 #44

good grief, read what you are replying to eShirl Jan 2015 #67

Pot, meet kettle! MohRokTah Jan 2015 #72

I would request the same of you, in post #33 you posted Thinkingabout Jan 2015 #76

try #28; #33 was *your* reply to my #28 eShirl Jan 2015 #105

And then you replied to post #33 "The Roman army", you wanted to go back to the Roman Empire Thinkingabout Jan 2015 #114

One of Cumberbatches grandfathers likely was a slave Renew Deal Jan 2015 #184

I personally feel tremendous guilt as to what my ancestors did to the Neanderthals. Throd Jan 2015 #31

My great-great-something-ridiculous-grandfather... DeadLetterOffice Jan 2015 #34

My greatgranddad ran a house of pleasure in Paris. ChairmanAgnostic Jan 2015 #40

My Great Great Great Grandfather Abraham Souls.. trumad Jan 2015 #36

Ok...I thought he was phenomenal in The Imitation Game BeyondGeography Jan 2015 #39

So what do you suggest? SomethingFishy Jan 2015 #42

Somehow, I think this is the end game - "Or take away all their money." n/t djean111 Jan 2015 #69

He should win the Oscar mcar Jan 2015 #50

Why is GD suddenly full of slavery threads? LittleBlue Jan 2015 #51

I think this is partly a recent outgrowth of the policing issues, Ferguson, Trillo Jan 2015 #120

Benedict Cumberbatch needs to stop shooting unarmed black men. Crunchy Frog Jan 2015 #227

Because this brand new poster, who just joined this month, is starting them. MADem Jan 2015 #226

I'm a descedant of Aaron Burr BainsBane Jan 2015 #55

who accumulated the capital? who invested in cotton mills and textiles? NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #159

You entirely missed the point BainsBane Jan 2015 #180

I didn't miss the point at all, and nothing you say in your post is news to me. and as a matter NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #185

"if he'd been a nobody it's likely he'd have not gotten into the acting trade" arcane1 Jan 2015 #56

"all over the place"? really? I'm not seeing all these nobodies in the acting trade. anna nicole NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #59

Are you being deliberately obtuse? Maedhros Jan 2015 #78

I can pull out 5 actors from privileged backgrounds too. doesn't prove that's the norm. NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #171

Ok, so you are being deliberately obtuse. Maedhros Jan 2015 #216

when i think of a "nobody," i think of someone working at mcdonalds etc, not a college educated NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #217

Sir Patrick Stewart was a nobody and from an undistinguished family csziggy Jan 2015 #89

Some of my ancestors were smugglers in the 18th century. The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2015 #66

I'm tired of trying to clarify the point with people who clearly have no interest and in fact NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #73

Maybe, maybe not. The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2015 #84

I think Cumberbach is a good actor and probably a decent person (at least, his persona seems NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #87

If he benefited at all from his family history, it's because his parents are actors renate Jan 2015 #74

i'm not sure you can say he wouldn't have ended up an actor. connections help, but takes talent. unblock Jan 2015 #79

Rupert Murdoch's right-wing Daily Mail is just pissed at Cumberbatch Bjorn Against Jan 2015 #88

And there you have it. The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2015 #102

Bingo. Cumberbatch is phenomenal in The Imitation Game, abt a brilliant gay man persecuted to death Hekate Jan 2015 #135

I wish I could rec a response, sir. eom MohRokTah Jan 2015 #138

I do have another response you can recommend Bjorn Against Jan 2015 #140

and the guardian is pissed at him because....? NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #190

I wonder what your next OP will be about... and I'm waiting with breathless anticipation. cherokeeprogressive Jan 2015 #101

Perhaps Tom Hiddleston? He boarded at -- gasp! -- Eton. WorseBeforeBetter Jan 2015 #147

Who is Bernard? nt valerief Jan 2015 #104

much more current is when slavery continued from Americas prison system. Hardcore from after slaves Sunlei Jan 2015 #108

Here is slavery of thousands of Americans, much more current. All documented from official records. Sunlei Jan 2015 #134

Does nobody get that we're creating the future's Benedict...... Red Mountain Jan 2015 #129

Thread trashed. nt TeamPooka Jan 2015 #131

"So?"~~~GWB. WinkyDink Jan 2015 #132

I posted another thread to show why this smear against Cumberbatch is so wrong Bjorn Against Jan 2015 #139

Everybody's family prospered because their ancestors owned their wives. MohRokTah Jan 2015 #142

Yawn. You've only been doing this a few days, and your shtick's already gotten old. NuclearDem Jan 2015 #153

So? Arkana Jan 2015 #160

I hope you don't live in a country that ever had slavery, or traded with nations that did mythology Jan 2015 #163

Or, for that matter, gotten a mortgage after WWII Recursion Jan 2015 #168

the op didn't like when i brought that up JI7 Jan 2015 #194

oh for god's sake. it's so thick around here. thanks for the lecture, i'm so dumb i just didn't NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #177

Benedict. Not Bernard. shenmue Jan 2015 #166

Thanks. I've already been corrected multiple times, though "Benedict" is in the title and "Bernard" NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #178

My ancestor was a pirate who ran slaves from West Africa to Mobile through the British blockade Recursion Jan 2015 #167

I think this is about trying to tear down someone who is both a super talent and clean. Renew Deal Jan 2015 #183

What a stupid thread. Of course it uses Murdoch's Daily Mail as a source. dballance Jan 2015 #193

here's the guardian NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #195

His seventh great grandfather. Shocking. Crunchy Frog Jan 2015 #202

WTH is this (been gone for holidays, where's DU?) n/t Nevada Blue Jan 2015 #206

He got into the acting trade through his parents, both of whom are actors. knitter4democracy Jan 2015 #215

How many logical fallacies can I count in this OP......? defacto7 Jan 2015 #218

I subscribe to the Honore de Balzac quote CrawlingChaos Jan 2015 #221

I can document my ancestors back to the Plantagenet kings HeiressofBickworth Jan 2015 #222

actually the op does not support reparations JI7 Jan 2015 #223

Most of us have ancestors who engaged in reprehensible behavior. 6 generations back, who cares? Shrike47 Jan 2015 #224

I hope you find some kind of peace. A-Schwarzenegger Jan 2015 #232

what was the previous name they posted under ? JI7 Jan 2015 #235

I had several ancestors who knitted socks for zombies. Warren DeMontague Jan 2015 #236

Perhaps you'd prefer to he give all his money away, forget he went to a posh school.. Adrahil Jan 2015 #240

Everybody who has had any ancestor who did anything immoral and profited from it should live in el_bryanto Jan 2015 #241

In 'Amazing Grace', he played Will Pitt the Younger, and assisted MP William Wilburforce in abolishi LanternWaste Jan 2015 #242

Who is Bernard? Benedict is a great actor, and shouldn't be blamed for his ancestors' actions. n/t Avalux Jan 2015 #245