Lisa Ann Walter In Tears Over Shocking Connection To Parent Trap Co-Star

Ancestry launched “unFamiliar™” – a new YouTube series that drops celebrities and their relatives into untold stories of their past as they visit meaningful locations and see what they can learn about even their closest family members when they simply ask.

In the first episode, Lisa Ann Walter (Chessie from the iconic ‘90s film The Parent Trap) embarked on a discovery journey in NYC with her three sons in the Lower East Side of NYC – learning about her family history along the way. 

Lisa’s Family History is Connected to her Best Friend

Lisa is moved to tears by a surprise visit from former on-screen enemy and real life longtime BFF, Elaine Hendrix (aka Meredith Blake), who reveals a century old connection that binds the pair and describes it as “fate”.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the cult-classic film, but it turns out Lisa and Elaine have a connection that goes back even further…both of their great-grandparents lived on the same street in NYC – mere steps away from each other in the early 1900s.

Upon learning this, Lisa and Elaine agree they must have known each other, as their families likely went to the same church and presumably even socialized together in public community spaces in what is now the Elizabeth Street Garden. Over a hundred years later, their great-grandchildren would reunite in that garden as best friends to remember their ancestors. 

Lisa’s maternal great-grandparents, Franceso Mansueto and Clotilda Vinetti, came from Italy to the U.S. – with Francesco listing his address as 250 Elizabeth Street in a 1911 marriage record. 

Elaine’s ancestors also have Italian roots – her paternal great-grandparents, Dominick DePersio listed his residence as at 190 Elizabeth Street, as seen in this 1913 marriage record.

Watch the full episode and subscribe to the Ancestry YouTube channel to keep track of the full series!