Jewish actors in hollywood

Hollywood has boasted a strong Jewish presence since its earliest days, due to the mass migration of European Jewry to America during the early twentieth century.

By the 1930s, six out of eight major Hollywood studios were owned and managed by Jews, and although many were secular and had distanced themselves from religious lifestyles, they still were often unashamedly Jewish.

Jewish Hollywood in the twentieth century has been described as being very socially Jewish, if not culturally. Jewish people in Hollywood often formed their own social circles, separate from the wider groups of colleagues and associates.

Some of the most notable Hollywood Jews from the last century include Marilyn Monroe, Lenny Bruce, and Groucho Marx.

Today, Hollywood has as strong a Jewish presence as ever, with many Jews who even speak openly about their Jewish identities, such as Beanie Feldstein, Ben Platt, and Mayim Bialik.

The loud, the quiet, and the hateful: Inside Hollywood's war over Israel

As Hollywood turns on Israel, some stars speak up, while claims of a pro-Israel blacklist collide with reality

SEPTEMBER 28, 2026|ByHANNAH BROWN

Lawrence Bender, pictured here with Israeli actress Rotem Sela, producer of ‘Red Alert,’ is among other Hollywood figures involved with The Brigade, a group formed by Jewish entertainment figures and allies, who have challenged antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment within the industry.

Actor Lizzy Caplan appears on an episode of PBS' "Finding Your Roots."

Jewish actor Lizzy Caplan discovers her family's unknown Holocaust story in 'Finding Your Roots'

In Tuesday’s episode of the PBS celebrity genealogy series “Finding Your Roots,” Caplan learns that one of her ancestors survived four camps - and that his wife and baby were murdered.

JANUARY 27, 2026|ByJACKIE HAJDENBERG/JTA

Hollywood star chosen as an ambassador for the Kérastase hair brand

American actress Sidney Sweeney, known for her roles in "The White Lotus" and "Euphoria", chosen as global ambassador for luxury hair brand Kérastase.

FEBRUARY 20, 2024|ByLEE SIVILIA

Alex Borstein, left, and Rachel Brosnahan in a scene from Season 3 of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."

‘Mrs. Maisel,’ ‘Fleishman,’ Natasha Lyonne among Jewish nominees at strike-delayed Emmys

The awards come in a new context for show business and the Jewish world: one in which parts of Hollywood are wearing pins in support of Israeli hostages while the other criticizes Israel.

JANUARY 12, 2024|ByANDREW LAPIN/JTA

These 7 Jewish actresses shaped Hollywood as we know it

Jewish directors, producers and writers are credited with developing the Hollywood system as we know it today.

FEBRUARY 28, 2020ByHANNAH STEINKOPF-FRANK/JTA

A view of the iconic Hollywood sign

Ben Schwartz, voice of Sonic, worries he might not fit in in Hollywood

“I’m a Jewish man from Riverdale. There will always be anxiety,” he said.

FEBRUARY 25, 2020ByCURT SCHLEIER/JTA

Cast member Ben Schwartz poses at the premiere of "Sonic the Hedgehog" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 12, 2020

Screen legend Kirk Douglas turns 103

Becoming a star in Hollywood's golden age and appearing in nearly 100 movies since, he rediscovered Jewish spirituality late in life, following a visit to Jerusalem that moved him.

DECEMBER 11, 2019ByHANNAH BROWN

Actor Michael Douglas poses with his father Kirk Douglas and son Cameron Douglas during the unveiling of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California, U.S., November 6, 2018

Jewish ‘Game of Thrones’ actress reports antisemitic abuse in social media

The abuse, she said, is “mostly to do with Israel, and it’s completely uncalled for because I tend to post pretty pictures, of rehearsal, of work that I do.”

JANUARY 30, 2019ByCNAAN LIPHSHIZ/JTA

The Iron Throne is seen on the set of the television series Game of Thrones

Harvey Weinstein's motion for criminal case dismissal denied

The accusations led to the #MeToo movement in which hundreds of women have publicly accused powerful men in business, politics and entertainment of sexual harassment and abuse.

DECEMBER 20, 2018ByREUTERS

Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein gestures during the Allen and Co. media conference in Sun Valley

'Sex and the City's' Chris Noth visits Israel for filming

The actor is shooting an episode of the Israeli TV series 'Very Important Person'

OCTOBER 24, 2018ByAMY SPIRO

Actor Chris Noth poses at the GQ Men of the Year Party in West Hollywood, December 8, 2016

Gal Gadot speaks out against U.S. child separation policy

"This picture breaks my heart... Can you imagine how this little girl feels? How scared she is..?"

JULY 1, 2018ByAMY SPIRO

Demonstrators protest during a national day of action called "Keep Families Together" against the Trump administration's 'Zero Tolerance' policy in Los Angeles, California, U.S. June 30, 2018.

Scarlett Johansson to play German mom who hides Jewish girl from Nazis

"Jojo Rabbit" centers on a young German boy who finds out about his mother’s heroism.

APRIL 1, 2018ByJTA

Actress Scarlett Johansson

Israeli actress to star in NBC drama

Moran Atias lands a role in upcoming series 'The Village'

FEBRUARY 7, 2018ByAMY SPIRO

Actress Moran Atias, a member of the jury at the 71st Venice Film Festival, poses during a photo call for the event in Venice August 27, 2014

What's Liev Schreiber doing in Israel?

The actor and director is ready to take in the sun - and hummus.

FEBRUARY 5, 2018ByAMY SPIRO

Liev Schreiber