The Two Grandfathers: Unpacking Hailee Steinfeld's Powerful Dual Heritage From Ricardo Domasin And Herbert Steinfeld
Hailee Steinfeld’s family history is a fascinating tapestry woven from two distinct and powerful cultural threads, a fact the actress herself has openly embraced and credited for shaping her identity and career. As of December 2025, a deep dive into her ancestry reveals that the global superstar is the product of two very different, yet equally influential, grandfathers who represent her rich, multiracial background.
This article provides an in-depth look at the lives of her maternal grandfather, Ricardo Domasin, and her paternal grandfather, Herbert Melvin Steinfeld, and how their unique stories—from Filipino and Black roots to Jewish-American heritage—have profoundly impacted one of Hollywood’s most versatile talents, from her Oscar-nominated start in True Grit to her current roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Kate Bishop in Hawkeye.
A Complete Look at Hailee Steinfeld's Grandfathers' Biographies
Hailee Steinfeld’s family tree is defined by a beautiful blend of cultures, stemming from her mother, Cheri Domasin, and her father, Peter Steinfeld. Her grandfathers are the cornerstone of this diverse heritage.
Maternal Grandfather: Ricardo Domasin
- Full Name: Ricardo Domasin
- Heritage: Filipino and Black (Half-Filipino, Half-Black)
- Career: Worked as an Engineer
- Family Origin: His side of the family has roots in the Philippines; Hailee has mentioned her maternal great-grandfather came from Bicol. Ricardo himself was noted to be from Bohol, Philippines.
- Influence: His heritage became a deeply personal connection for Hailee when she took on the role of a character with a half-Black grandfather in the 2020 film Sinners.
- LSI Keywords: Filipino-American, Cheri Domasin, Cultural Identity, Bohol, Engineer.
Paternal Grandfather: Herbert Melvin Steinfeld
- Full Name: Herbert Melvin Steinfeld
- Born: 1935
- Died: 2002
- Heritage: Jewish-American
- Career: A confirmed Veteran
- Family Origin: His parents were Shmuel (Samuel “Sam”) Steinfeld and Brindel Chaimovna Zelenetskaya, who were Jewish immigrants.
- Connection: He is the father of Peter Steinfeld (Hailee’s father) and the brother of fitness guru Jake Steinfeld (Hailee’s great-uncle).
- LSI Keywords: Jewish heritage, Peter Steinfeld, Veteran, Steinfeld family, Jake Steinfeld.
Ricardo Domasin: The Filipino and Black Roots That Inspired an Actress
Ricardo Domasin, Hailee Steinfeld’s maternal grandfather, is the source of her proud Filipino and Black heritage. This side of her family, particularly her mother Cheri Domasin, has been crucial in the actress’s life and career.
Hailee has frequently discussed her maternal roots, highlighting the fact that her grandfather was half-Filipino and half-Black, a mix that is not commonly represented in mainstream media. She has spoken about how her family history served her in a way she "didn't know I needed" when she played a character with a similar background in the film Sinners.
The cultural awakening that came from this role allowed her to better connect with and understand her own multiracial identity, an experience she has called "deeply personal." While his specific career was in engineering, Ricardo Domasin’s most enduring legacy is the rich cultural identity he passed down to his daughter and granddaughter, fostering a strong sense of pride in her Filipino-American background.
This connection to the Philippines is something Hailee has publicly celebrated, expressing a desire to visit the country and embrace the culture of her family’s origins, specifically mentioning Bohol and the Bicol region.
Herbert Melvin Steinfeld: The Jewish-American and Veteran Legacy
On her paternal side, Hailee Steinfeld's heritage is rooted in the Jewish-American experience through her grandfather, Herbert Melvin Steinfeld. Born in 1935, Herbert was the son of Jewish immigrants, Shmuel Steinfeld and Brindel Chaimovna Zelenetskaya, who came to America from Eastern Europe.
This lineage grounds the actress in a strong Jewish tradition, completing the dual-heritage narrative that defines her family. The Steinfeld name itself is prominent in the entertainment and fitness worlds, most notably through Herbert’s brother, Jake Steinfeld, the founder of the "Body by Jake" fitness empire, making him Hailee’s great-uncle.
While specific details about Herbert Melvin Steinfeld's civilian career are less public, records confirm his status as a Veteran, indicating a period of military service and sacrifice to the United States. His life, spanning from 1935 to 2002, represents the classic American story of an immigrant family establishing roots and contributing to society, a theme that resonates deeply with the core values Hailee often exhibits in her public persona and work ethic.
The combination of these two distinct backgrounds—the vibrant, multiracial roots of Ricardo Domasin and the established Jewish-American legacy of Herbert Melvin Steinfeld—gives Hailee a unique perspective, which she has channeled into her diverse acting roles, from the period drama of Dickinson to her superhero role in the MCU.
The Profound Impact of Dual Heritage on Hailee's Career and Identity
Hailee Steinfeld’s success is often attributed to her ability to portray diverse and complex characters, a versatility that is arguably a direct reflection of her own rich family history. She has consistently used her platform to speak about the importance of embracing all facets of one's background.
The actress has openly shared that she "celebrates it all"—her Christian mother’s side and her Jewish father’s side—seeing her heritage not as a conflict, but as a source of strength and deep personal connection.
This family history has provided a foundation of empathy and understanding, which she has leveraged in her professional life. For instance, her role in Sinners, where she portrayed a character with a background similar to her maternal grandfather, was a transformative experience that pushed her to explore her own Filipino and Black ancestry more deeply.
In a world where cultural identity is increasingly valued, Hailee Steinfeld’s story serves as a powerful example of how embracing one’s entire family history—from the engineer Ricardo Domasin to the veteran Herbert Melvin Steinfeld—can fuel a career and provide a profound sense of self. Her grandfathers’ legacies are not just footnotes in her biography; they are the essential building blocks of her global stardom.
Ultimately, the story of Hailee Steinfeld's grandfathers is a testament to the American melting pot, where two vastly different cultural narratives converge to create a modern icon, proving that the deepest connections often lie in the richness of one's own family history.
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