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

Roseanne Barr to attend anti-BDS conference in Israel

Barr, who starred in the long-running sitcom “Roseanne,” will tour the country for two weeks prior to the conference and will be accompanied by her mother.

FEBRUARY 27, 2016ByJTA

Roseanne Barr

5 incredible Jewish stories behind this year’s Oscars

As it happens, several Oscar-nominated films have unusually triumphant, behind-the-scenes Jewish stories worth celebrating.

FEBRUARY 27, 2016ByGABE FRIEDMAN/JTA

Oscar statues are painted outside the entrance to the Dolby Theatre

NO HOLDS BARRED: Honoring Hollywood celebrities we may not always agree with

Many have already been in touch asking me about Yoko Ono and some of her controversial postures toward Israel.

FEBRUARY 11, 2016BySHMULEY BOTEACH

Las Vegas gaming tycoon and Israel Hayom proprietor Sheldon Adelson

WATCH: Mayim Bialik puts Jewish modesty aside, flashes Piers Morgan

In the past, Bialik has spoken and written publicly about the challenges of maintaining faith and modesty in Hollywood.

FEBRUARY 10, 2016ByJTA

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

Woody Allen casts pop star Miley Cyrus for Amazon series

Cyrus will star alongside Allen and Elaine May in the six half-hour-episode series that will take place in the 1960s, Hollywood

JANUARY 26, 2016ByREUTERS

Woody Allen on July 17, 2014

Details of Jerry Lewis’ secret Holocaust film revealed in BBC documentary

BBC documentary released on film includes behind-the-scenes footage of production.

JANUARY 6, 2016ByJTA

Comedian Jerry Lewis clowns around after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12th annual American Comedy Awards, February 22, 1998, in Los Angeles

Co-stars Kirsten Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg team up to tackle sexist interviewing

While promoting their new movie 'American Ultra', actors shine a spotlight on intrusive questions female stars often grapple with.

AUGUST 6, 2015ByJPOST.COM STAFF

Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg

Gal Gadot: 'Serving in the IDF prepared me for Hollywood'

The Israeli actress opens up about how she does it all as a real-life Wonderwoman.

JULY 7, 2015ByMICHELLE MALKA GROSSMAN

GAL GADOT plays the iconic heroine Wonder Woman in the upcoming ‘Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice’

Natalie Portman to star as former first lady in 'Jackie'

The biopic details the first four days of Jacqueline Kennedy's life in the wake of President John F. Kennedy's assassination.

MAY 14, 2015ByJPOST.COM STAFF

Jackie Kennedy

Lena Dunham stirs pot with controversial 'dog or Jewish boyfriend' magazine piece

Dunham penned a piece entitled "Dog or Jewish Boyfriend? A Quiz," in which she lists a number of attributes that the reader must guess is either referring to her pet or her companion.

MARCH 27, 2015ByJPOST.COM STAFF

Actress Lena Dunham arrives at the 71st annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California