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

Orthodox Jewish 'Law & Order 'actor Steven Hill dies at 94

The actor also starred in the original version of the TV series 'Mission Impossible.'

AUGUST 26, 2016ByJTA

Steven Hill in 1960s show Mission Impossible

Who was the most influential Jew in entertainment this past year? Vote Now!

Helps us choose who makes the cut for The Jerusalem Post's prestigious most influential Jews list.

AUGUST 15, 2016ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Top influential Jews in culture

Emmy nominations are out — these are the Jews we want to win

Here are 5 Jewish stars and shows we hope will take home a statuette in September.

JULY 17, 2016ByJTA

Larry David as Senator Bernie Sanders during a “Saturday Night Live” sketch, March 12, 2016.

Douglas at Jpost Conference: I want to be a part of this tribe

“This has been an extraordinary year,” Douglas marveled during a sit-down interview with former Post Editor-in-Chief Steve Linde.

MAY 22, 2016ByNOA AMOUYAL

Michael Douglas at JPost Annual Conference

The new Han Solo is Jewish – and he was discovered at a bat mitzvah

The new Han Solo film, announced in 2013, is scheduled to be released in May 2018.

MAY 8, 2016ByJULIE WIENER

Princess Leia, a.k.a. Fleur Hassan-Nachum, and a Stormtrooper at the VIP screening of ‘Star Wars’ in Jerusalem

Steven Spielberg set to direct ‘The Kidnapping Of Edgardo Mortata’

APRIL 12, 2016BySHAWN RODGERS

spielberg

'Screech' from Saved by the Bell released from prison

Diamond, 38, began serving a four-month jail sentence on Jan. 15 after he was convicted last year of carrying a concealed weapon and disorderly conduct.

APRIL 12, 2016ByREUTERS

Actor Dustin Diamond is seen in an undated booking photo released by the Ozaukee County Sheriff's Office, in Port Washington, Wisconsin

Spielberg and Ford back together again for 5th Indiana Jones movie

The film will be in theaters in July 2019, the Walt Disney Co. announced Tuesday.

MARCH 16, 2016ByJTA

US director Steven Spielberg (L) positions cast member Harrison Ford at a photocall for the film "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" at the 61st Cannes Film Festival May 18, 2008.

Adam Sandler buys ‘plumber’s menorah’ at Jewish-owned NY hardware store

Stark’s brother and store co-owner Bruce Stark personally thanked Sandler for the purchase when he spotted the actor leaving his makeup trailer.

MARCH 12, 2016ByJTA

Actor Adam Sandler

Amy Schumer Twitter joke insults Jews, Gossip Cop says

Gossip Cop, which says it polices Hollywood and celebrity news to separate what’s real from rumor, slammed the tweet.

MARCH 4, 2016ByJTA

Actress Amy Schumer poses during the CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas