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

A Jewish royal wedding?

Prince Harry is reportedly thinking matrimony with Meghan Markle.

MAY 22, 2017ByAMY SPIRO

Wedding

Meet the Meyerowitzs: Hoffman, Stiller and Sandler seek highbrow laughs

The movie got plenty of laughs at the press screening and the first reviews were good.

MAY 21, 2017ByREUTERS

"The Meyerowitz Stories"

Eight Jewish TV moms who are smashing stereotypes this Mother's Day

When it comes to television shows, too often Jewish moms have been depicted as a burden to their children.

MAY 14, 2017ByLIOR ZALTZMAN

Actress Becky Ann Baker attends the 5th Annual Critics' Choice Television Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on May 31, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California

Center Field: Mayim Bialik -The making of a heroic feminist Zionist

May their examples be infectious and teach cowardly Jewish enablers to stand up for themselves.

MARCH 28, 2017ByGIL TROY

Actress Mayim Bialik arrives at the 21st Annual Critics' Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California January 17, 2016.

Mayim Bialik's 'Big Bang' on Palestinian activist's claim: Feminism, Zionism can coexist

The actress defined both Zionism and feminism, stating that she adheres to both.

MARCH 18, 2017ByLAURA SIGAL

Mayim Bialik outside house of relative and poet Hayim Bialik

Chosen people chosen for nominations in 2017 Academy Awards

Jewish stars - and characters - are among those nominated for major awards.

JANUARY 24, 2017ByJTA

Natalie Portman at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards show in Beverly Hills, California, US, January 8, 2017

Jewish-American Scarlett Johansson is 2016 top-grossing movie star

The actresses movies brought in $1.2 billion (USD) at the box office around the world.

DECEMBER 29, 2016ByREUTERS

SodaStream pitchwoman Scarlett Johansson

Books: Joke’s on us

Radio host Michael Krasny delves into the wealth of Jewish humor.

NOVEMBER 3, 2016ByAMY SPIRO

Theatrical mask

Jewish stars win big at 68th Emmy Awards

Several members of the tribe took home Emmy awards for their talents.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2016ByJTA

Julia Louis-Dreyfus poses in the press room with the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for "Veep"

Holocaust denial film unveiled at Toronto International Film Festival

Rachel Weisz starts in 'Denial,' about American Jewish historian Deborah Lipstadt’s real-life legal battle with prominent Holocaust denier British historian David Irving in the 1990s.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2016ByREUTERS, JTA

Actress Rachel Weisz (L) and writer, historian Deborah Lipstadt at the 'Denial' premiere