Ashby Family Genealogy & History

Linden Ashby, born Clarence Linden Garnett Ashby III on May 23, 1960, is a renowned American actor celebrated for his roles in television and film. He gained fame portraying Brett Cooper in "Melrose Place" and Sheriff Noah Stilinski in MTV's "Teen Wolf." Ashby also starred as Johnny Cage in the cult classic "Mortal Kombat" and appeared in the CBS soap opera "The Young and the Restless." His notable film roles include Morgan Earp in "Wyatt Earp" and Chase in "Resident Evil: Extinction." With a career spanning decades, Ashby has showcased his versatility across various genres, earning a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 43rd Saturn Awards for "Teen Wolf."

Born in Atlantic Beach, Florida, Linden Ashby is the son of Eleanor (Johnson), a civic organizer, and Clarence Linden Garnett Ashby Jr., a pharmaceuticals manufacturer. He attended The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, before pursuing acting at Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City. Ashby's family roots and educational background have played a significant role in shaping his successful acting career.

Hal Ashby was a renowned American film director and editor, celebrated for his contributions to the New Hollywood wave. Known for his countercultural style, Ashby's career highlights include directing iconic films such as "Harold and Maude," "The Last Detail," and "Being There." He earned critical acclaim and an Academy Award for Best Editing with "In the Heat of the Night," and received a nomination for Best Director for "Coming Home." His films often explored themes of social dynamics and outsider narratives, marking his enduring legacy in cinema.

Born in Ogden, Utah, on September 2, 1929, Hal Ashby was the youngest of four siblings. His parents, Eileen Ireta (née Hetzler) and James Thomas Ashby, divorced in 1936. Following the divorce, Ashby and his siblings lived with their mother in Portland, Oregon, before returning to Ogden. His father, a dairy farm owner, tragically committed suicide when Ashby was 12.

Godfrey William Ernest Candler Ashby (1930–2023) was a distinguished British Anglican bishop, theologian, and academic, known for his significant contributions to the church and theology. He served as the Bishop of St John's in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa from 1980 to 1985 and as the Assistant Bishop of Leicester from 1988 to 1995. Throughout his career, Ashby held various academic and clerical roles, including positions at Rhodes University and the University of the Witwatersrand, where he was a professor of Divinity. His work as a scholar is reflected in his publications on theology and biblical studies, enhancing his reputation in ecclesiastical and academic circles.

Bishop Ashby was married to Valerie "Sally" Ashby, née Hawtree, and together they raised six children: Garmon, John Mark, Mary, Philip, Ruth, and Charles.

Dorothy Ashby, born Dorothy Jeanne Thompson, was a pioneering American jazz harpist, singer, and composer known for her groundbreaking work in jazz from the 1950s to the 1970s. Defying conventions, Ashby elevated the harp from a classical novelty to a bebop staple, recording with jazz legends like Jimmy Cobb and Frank Wess. Her innovative 1970 album, "The Rubaiyat of Dorothy Ashby," showcased her skill on the Japanese koto, blending soul, world music, and free jazz. Despite challenges as an African-American woman in a male-dominated industry, Ashby's fearless musical explorations earned her critical acclaim, including awards from Down Beat magazine.

Dorothy Ashby grew up in Detroit's jazz community, influenced by her father, Wiley Thompson, a self-taught jazz guitarist. Her early exposure to music at home and her education at Cass Technical High School and Wayne State University laid the foundation for her illustrious career.