Ka cika wannan jumla: An haifi Mathisen a Arlington, Virginia a shekara ta 1954. Mahaifinsa, Chris, ya kasance wakilin yaki yayin da yake cikin Rundunar Sojan Ruwa ta Amurka a lokacin Yaƙin Duniya na II kuma ya rufe
Bayar da Japan a kan jirgin USS Missouri kuma daga baya ya kasance mai taimakawa na gudanarwa ga Burr Harrison. Mahaifiyarsa, Maryamu, ta kasance mai zane. Ya kammala karatunsa daga Jami'ar Virginia a shekarar 1976.