I’ve been a fan of Kiernan Shipka since the premiere of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina aired in 2018. The Illinois-born actress did a phenomenal job portraying the iconic half-witch, half-mortal teenager, torn between her supernatural and human life.
As a relatively new fan of the actress, I took it upon myself to look up Kiernan’s life beyond the glaring spotlight. I found that she came from a mostly Irish family with a father who’s half-Slovak and a quarter German.
If you’re curious about the man who raised the Mad Men star, here’s everything you need to know about John Young Shipka.
Who Is John Young Shipka?
While “Kiernan” in Irish means “son of a lord,” and a fitting name for the Sabrina actress, John Young Shipka didn’t exactly come from a royal lineage.
Early Life
He was born on January 17, 1966, making him 59 years old at the time of this writing. His parents, Ronald and Laverne, settled in Illinois when he was young.
John grew up in some part of Chicago and spent most of his teenage years there. Later, after graduating from high school, he attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to earn his degree in finance.
After completing his studies, John made a bold move to relocate to Los Angeles to pursue a career in real estate financing.
Career and Family
Several years later, with know-how in place, John decided to start his own real estate firm, JYS Development. His company would later become one of the most respected firms in Los Angeles.
John’s real estate developer career has been a tremendous success, gaining him several accolades and awards. He also explored other ventures, including investing in startups.
Eventually, John met Erin Ann Brennan, a former actress, sometime in the ‘90s, and dated for several years before tying the knot. They had Kiernan in November of 1999.
Relationship With the Mad Men Star
While Sally Dapper suffered from her parents’ divorce, real-life Kiernan’s parents have stayed strong together.
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John is also incredibly supportive of the Sabrina actress. Although his family history has deep ties with Illinois, they decided to relocate to Los Angeles to support the young Kiernan’s acting career.
Of course, Kiernan never failed to convey her gratitude. She frequently posts about John with words of appreciation and love.
“My parents are my friends,” the actress expressed in an interview. “They were so wonderful with me as a kid, as I was in this situation they had no blueprint for.”
Final Thoughts
Now one of the most prominent award-winning stars in this generation, Kiernan is poised to have a long and flourishing career on TV and the big screen. And that’s thanks to a supportive father who’s been there for her daughter since day one.
Featured image source: Google
