Erika Eleniak

Eleniak in 2011, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: Erika Maya Eleniak

Place of Birth: Glendale, Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Birth: September 29, 1969

Ethnicity:
*father – Rusyn/Ukrainian
*mother – Russian, as well as Estonian, German

Erika Eleniak is an American model and actress. Her roles include Shauni on the series Baywatch, and the films E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Blob (1988), Under Siege, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Tales from the Crypt Presents: Bordello of Blood. She was Playboy Playmate for July 1989.

She is the daughter of Iris and Dale Eleniak. Her father was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, of Rusyn/Ukrainian descent. Her mother was born in Flensburg, Germany, of Russian, as well as Estonian and German, ancestry. Erika is married to key grip Roch Daigle, with whom she has a daughter.

She is a relative of actor and comedian Eddie Carroll (born Edward Eleniak).

Erika is descended from Wasyl Eleniak and Anna/Annie Roshko/Roszko. Wasyl and Anna were born in Nebyliv, Ukraine, and were Rusyn. Wasyl was said to have been one of the first Ukrainian pioneers in Canada.

Erika’s maternal grandfather was Viktor/Victor Woldemar Pessegov, later Neggo (the son of Mihhail Pessegov and Bertha Clara Louise/Luise Neggo). Viktor was born in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. His brother was Estonian film producer Arkadi Pessegov, who was married to actress Lulo Purre-Pessegov. Mihhail was born in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, and was the son of Jakov Pessegov. Bertha was Estonian, born in Valjala, Saaremaa, and was the daughter of Karl-Aleksander Nõgu/Neggo, a farmer, and of Caroline/Karoline Elisabeth Perker. Her brother, Erika’s great-great-uncle, was educator, politician, and diplomat Victor Neggo. Victor was executed by the Soviet authorities in 1942.

Erika’s maternal grandmother was Irina/Irene Büttner/Bütner (the daughter of Georg Büttner and Anna Zorubina). Irene was born in Reval/Tallinn, Estonia, to an Estonian father and a Russian mother.

Sources: Erika’s paternal ancestors, Wasyl Eleniak and Anna Roshko/Roszko, on the 1911 Canada Census –

Erika’s paternal ancestors, Wasyl Eleniak and Anna Roshko/Roszko, on the 1916 Canada Prairie Provinces Census –

Death records of Erika’s paternal ancestors, Wasyl Eleniak and Anna (Roshko/Roszko) Eleniak –

Genealogy of Erika’s mother (focusing on her own father’s side) –

Obituary of Erika’s mother –

U.S. Naturalization record of Erika’s maternal grandfather, Viktor/Victor Woldemar Pessegov/Neggo –

Death record of Erika’s maternal grandfather, Viktor/Victor Woldemar Pessegov/Neggo –

U.S. Naturalization record of Erika’s maternal great-grandmother, Bertha Clara Louise/Luise (Neggo) Pessegov –