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Top 50 Most Popular Jewish Actors Of All Time

Shivam ParasharShivam-Updated Jan 22, 2024


Top 50 Most Popular Jewish Actors Of All Time

 

Motion pictures that thrive on their diverse characters and authentic stories have always managed to strike a chord with the audience.

 

Therefore, it is only fitting that such distinct characters are portrayed by actors who belong to different communities to ensure that they come across as even more authentic and relatable.

 

Sure enough, diversity in any profession does pave the way for new and refreshing perspectives. Also, it allows creativity to blossom in the most constructive ways possible.

 

It wouldn't be an exaggeration then to conclude that cinema is one such medium that has taken a lot of pride in its diverse state of being ever since its very inception.

 

So, today, we’ll be doing our best to get you acquainted with some of the best-known Jewish screen performers who have managed to make it big in the entertainment industry over the years despite the initial odds stacked against them.

 

 

 

1. Robert Downey Jr.

 

Robert John Downey Jr.

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth April 4, 1965
Place of Birth Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States of America
Height 177 centimeters
Debut Year 1970
Debut Film Pound

 

One of the biggest box office stars on the planet, Robert Downey, Jr. describes himself as Jewish-Buddhist. This is because his father was half-Jewish.

 

A dynamic screen performer with remarkable range, the actor has faced several ups and downs in his career.

 

However, he ultimately came out on top and turned out to be a force to be reckoned with at the ticket windows; thanks to his portrayal of Tony Stark in the smash-hit films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

 

In addition, he has been seen delivering outstanding performances in other notable features such as Chaplin, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and Sherlock Holmes.

 

 

 

2. Dustin Hoffman

 

Dustin Lee Hoffman

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth August 8, 1937
Place of Birth Los Angeles, California, United States of America
Height 167 centimeters
Debut Year 1961
Debut TV Show Naked City

 

Known for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and emotionally unguarded characters, Dustin Hoffman is yet another celebrated Jewish actor to make it to our story.

 

His breakthrough role came in Mike Nichols' critically acclaimed and iconic film The Graduate. However, he was soon making headlines by appearing in other film projects such as Midnight Cowboy, Kramer vs. Kramer, Tootsie, and Rain Man.

 

Hoffman has been a recipient of two Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, four British Academy Film Awards, three Drama Desk Awards, and two Primetime Emmy Awards, respectively.

 

 

 

3. Joaquin Phoenix

 

Joaquin Rafael Phoenix

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth October 28, 1974
Place of Birth San Juan, Puerto Rico
Height 173 centimeters
Debut Year 1982
Debut TV Show Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

 

Joaquin Phoenix is quite simply among the best performers working in Hollywood today. Best known for playing dark and unconventional characters both in independent flicks and mainstream hits, he has been called one of the greatest actors of the 21st century by The New York Times.

 

The actor started his acting career by appearing on television. He ventured into the movies soon after by participating in projects such as SpaceCamp and Parenthood.

 

Today, Phoenix is known to have delivered fantastic performances in cult classic feature films such as Joker, The Master, Walk the Line, Quills, Her, and Gladiator.

 

He has received an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Grammy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards, respectively.

 

 

 

4. Michael Douglas

 

Michael Kirk Douglas

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth September 25, 1944
Place of Birth New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
Height 173 centimeters
Debut Year 1966
Debut Film Cast a Giant Shadow

 

Michael Douglas has had the experience of performing in theater, screen, and television for over fifty years now. The respected cine star, who now identifies himself as a Reform Jew, was born to a Jewish father and an Anglican (Church of England) mother.

 

He has received two Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and the AFI Life Achievement Award in his esteemed career so far.

 

Some of Michael's best performances came in titles such as The Game, Fatal Attraction, and Wall Street. In addition, the veteran star won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy for his performance in the Netflix comedy series The Kominsky Method.

 

 

5. Harrison Ford

 

Harrison Ford

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth July 13, 1942
Place of Birth Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
Height 185 centimeters
Debut Year 1966
Debut Film Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round

 

Reportedly the seventh-highest-grossing actor of all time in North America, Harrison Ford has been a film icon for decades now.

 

A leading man of feature films pertaining to different genres, he has been a recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award and the Cecil B. DeMille Award.

 

While he started his acting career by playing either uncredited or tiny roles, Ford shot to fame after having portrayed Han Solo in the epic space opera film Star Wars.

 

Better still, he went on to reprise his role in its subsequent sequels over the next four decades. The superstar is also known for his remarkable character projection in the Indiana Jones franchise.

 

 

6. Paul Newman

 

Paul Leonard Newman

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth January 26, 1925
Place of Birth Shaker Heights, Ohio, United States of America
Height 177 centimeters
Debut Year 1952
Debut TV Show The Aldrich Family

 

Hollywood superstar Paul Newman was a multi-talented personality. Aside from being a mainstream actor, he was also a film director, race car driver, philanthropist, and entrepreneur.

 

The decorated star, whose father was of Jewish-German descent, was a recipient of an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, three Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award, respectively.

 

Best known for his performances in motion pictures such as The Hustler, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Color of Money, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Newman won several national championships as a driver in Sports Car Club of America road racing.

 

 

7. Kirk Douglas

 

Kirk Douglas

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth December 9, 1916
Place of Birth Amsterdam, New York, United States of America
Height 175 centimeters
Debut Year 1946
Debut Film The Strange Love of Martha Ivers

 

Kirk Douglas was a fantastic screen performer and a bonafide superstar who embraced his Jewish heritage in his later years.

 

Aside from his undeniable screen presence and explosive acting style, the actor was known for being cleft-chinned and steely-eyed.

 

Douglas soon headlined quite a few box office hits during the 1950s that belonged to different genres.

 

Named the 17th-greatest male star of Classic Hollywood cinema by the American Film Institute, he turned into a bankable actor post the success of the 1949 motion picture Champion.

 

 

8. Daniel Day-Lewis

 

Daniel Day-Lewis

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth April 29, 1957
Place of Birth Greenwich, London, England, United Kingdom
Height 186 centimeters
Debut Year 1971
Debut Film Sunday Bloody Sunday

 

The phenomenal Daniel Day-Lewis is often called one of the greatest actors of his generation. He was born to a Jewish mother and raised in England.

 

He is the only performer to have won the Academy Award for Best Actor thrice, and has received a knighthood for his services to drama.

 

Over the years, the Phantom Thread star has developed a reputation for being an intense method actor.

 

His constant devotion towards the characters that he plays has been on full display in notable feature films such as My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood, and Lincoln.

 

 

9. Jake Gyllenhaal

 

Jake Gyllenhaal

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth December 19, 1980
Place of Birth Los Angeles, California, United States of America
Height 182 centimeters
Debut Year 1991
Debut Film City Slickers

 

Jake Gyllenhaal is a supremely talented and ridiculously good-looking actor who made his debut as an eleven-year-old in the 1992 feature film City Slickers.

 

He managed to grab eyeballs after having delivered praiseworthy performances in titles such as October Sky and Donnie Darko.

 

Wider acclaim followed as Gyllenhaal continued to star in some critically and commercially successful ventures such as Love & Other Drugs, Zodiac, Brokeback Mountain, and Source Code.

 

The spectacular performer displayed his versatility in acclaimed feature films such as Prisoners, Wildlife, and Spider-Man: Far From Home.

 

He received well-deserved nominations for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performances in Nocturnal Animals and Nightcrawler.

 

 

10. Andrew Garfield

 

Andrew Russell Garfield

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth August 20, 1983
Place of Birth Los Angeles, California, United States of America
Height 179 centimeters
Debut Year 2005
Debut TV Show Sugar Rush

 

Included in Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people in the world in 2022, Andrew Garfield is a British-American actor who is well-known for playing Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man film series.

 

The incredibly talented actor has been a recipient of a Tony Award, a BAFTA TV Award, and a Golden Globe Award in his career so far.

 

Furthermore, his caliber was recognized in the drama miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven; a show that earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

 

Andrew put his versatility on display by delivering an outstanding performance in the Mel Gibson-helmed war drama Hacksaw Ridge. 

 

 

11. Adam Sandler

 

Adam Richard Sandler

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth September 9, 1966
Place of Birth Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States of America
Height 177 centimeters
Debut Year 1987
Debut TV Show The Cosby Show

 

Adam Sandler was first seen participating in The Cosby Show during the second half of the 1980s. He is a popular comedian, actor, and filmmaker.

 

One of the richest movie stars in the world, he has been a part of Hollywood features that have gone on to amass over $4 billion at the global box office.

 

While he has received widespread critical acclaim for some of his roles, he is also known to have headlined quite a few slapstick comedies over the years.

 

Some of his better-known performances came in titles such as Uncut Gems, Punch-Drunk Love, Hustle, Grown Ups, and The Longest Yard.

 

 

12. Sean Penn

 

Sean Justin Penn

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth August 17, 1960
Place of Birth Santa Monica, California, United States of America
Height 173 centimeters
Debut Year 1974
Debut TV Show Little House on the Prairie

 

Sean Penn belongs to the Jewish community and is known to have been raised in a secular home in Malibu, California.

 

The actor made his debut in the series Little House on the Prairie during the first half of the 1970s, and is best-known for portraying unsympathetic characters on celluloid.

 

A recipient of two Academy Awards, some of Penn's finest film projects are Mystic River, Milk, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Carlito's Way, She's So Lovely, and 21 Grams.

 

 

13. Daniel Radcliffe

 

Daniel Jacob Radcliffe

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth July 23, 1989
Place of Birth Fulham, London, England, United Kingdom
Height 165 centimeters
Debut Year 1999
Debut TV Show David Copperfield

 

Daniel Radcliffe shot to global fame after he began playing the much-loved character of Harry Potter in the blockbuster Harry Potter franchise of feature films.

 

A recipient of numerous accolades, he made his professional acting debut at the age of 10 in the BBC One television drama David Copperfield.

 

Radcliffe's stint as Harry Potter not only turned him into one of the highest-paid actors in the world at the time but also made him a youth icon for thousands across the globe.

 

He can also be seen in other acclaimed titles such as Swiss Army Man, The Woman in Black, and Escape from Pretoria.

 

 

14. Ben Stiller

 

Ben Stiller

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth November 30, 1965
Place of Birth New York City, New York, United States of America
Height 171 centimeters
Debut Year 1986
Debut TV Show Kate & Allie

 

Benjamin Edward Meara Stiller, better known as Ben Stiller, is the son of the comedians and actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara.

 

He made his acting debut in 1986 on the television series Kate & Allie. Mostly known for starring in motion pictures that have comedic undertones, he is an important member of a group of comedic actors known as the Frat Pack.

 

Stiller, who has been a recipient of an Emmy Award, multiple MTV Movie Awards, a Britannia Award, and a Teen Choice Award, made his directorial debut with Reality Bites.

 

 

15. James Franco

 

James Edward Franco

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth April 19, 1978
Place of Birth Palo Alto, California, United States of America
Height 180 centimeters
Debut Year 1997
Debut TV Show Pacific Blue

 

James Franco made his debut on the television series Pacific Blue in 1997. He is yet another popular actor who proudly identifies himself as Jewish.

 

The star is best known for his roles in popular feature films such as Spider-Man, Pineapple Express, This Is the End, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and The Disaster Artist.

 

Franco received a well-deserved Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance in 127 hours.

 

 

16. Seth Rogen

 

Seth Aaron Rogen

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth April 15, 1982
Place of Birth Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Height 180 centimeters
Debut Year 1999
Debut TV Show Freaks and Geeks

 

Seth Rogen is a Canadian-American actor, comedian, and filmmaker who originally started his career as a stand-up comedian. He was first seen participating in Judd Apatow's series Freaks and Geeks and the sitcom Undeclared.

 

Even though he commenced his film career by portraying a minor role in Donnie Darko, he soon made a name for himself by appearing in projects such as Superbad, Pineapple Express, The Green Hornet, This Is the End, and The Interview, among others.

 

He has served as an acclaimed writer, producer, and director as well.

 

 

17. Jonah Hill

 

jonah hill

 

If you didn't already know, the very talented Jonah Hill also happens to be Jewish. Born to Jewish parents in Los Angeles, he is known to have attended religious school at Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, where he eventually became a bar mitzvah.

 

An actor and screenwriter, he is known to have appeared in a ton of comedic roles in titles such as Superbad, Knocked Up, Get Him to the Greek, This Is the End, and 21 Jump Street and its sequel.

 

The man received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his character projection in the critically and commercially successful The Wolf of Wall Street.

 

 

18. Paul Rudd

 

Paul Stephen Rudd

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth April 6, 1969
Place of Birth Passaic, New Jersey, United States of America
Height 178 centimeters
Debut Year 1992
Debut TV Show Sisters

 

Paul Rudd was first seen making an appearance on the television show Sisters in 1992. He went on to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015 for his contribution to the entertainment industry.

 

Named the "Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine in 2021, Rudd has been featured in several television shows and motion pictures throughout his career.

 

Best known for playing the role of Ant-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), he can also be seen in titles such as Clueless, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, Romeo + Juliet, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and Knocked Up.

 

 

19. Bryan Cranston

 

Bryan Lee Cranston

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth March 7, 1956
Place of Birth Hollywood, California, United States of America
Height 179 centimeters
Debut Year 1980
Debut Television Film To Race the Wind

 

Bryan Lee Cranston has been actively participating in television shows and feature films ever since the beginning of the 1980s.

 

The versatile actor and filmmaker is best known for his character projection in well-regarded television shows such as Breaking Bad and Malcolm in the Middle.

 

For his performance in Breaking Bad, Cranston won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series four times.

 

He has also participated in feature films such as Saving Private Ryan, Little Miss Sunshine, Drive, Argo, and Godzilla.

 

 

20. Adrien Brody

 

Adrien Nicholas Brody

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth April 14, 1973
Place of Birth Woodhaven, Queens, New York City, New York, United States of America
Height 185 centimeters
Debut Year 1988
Debut Television Film Home At Last

 

Known for his intense physical and mental commitment to his roles, Adrien Brody was born to a father of Polish-Jewish descent.

 

The actor shot to global fame after having played the character of Władysław Szpilman in Roman Polanski's The Pianist.

 

For his performance in the same, he became the youngest actor (aged 29) to have ever won the Best Actor trophy at the Academy Awards.

 

Brody can be seen performing in other successful features such as The Village, The French Dispatch, The Thin Red Line, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Blonde.

 

 

21. Miles Teller

 

Miles Alexander Teller

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth February 20, 1987
Place of Birth Downingtown, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Height 185 centimeters
Debut Year 2009
Debut TV Show The Unusuals

 

The talented and handsome Miles Teller has been truly killing it of late. He finds a spot on our list since his paternal grandfather was of Russian Jewish descent.

 

Widely remembered for his extraordinary portrayal of a jazz drummer in Whiplash, he also went on to surprise many with his character projection in the much-awaited sequel to Top Gun.

 

The Spectacular Now actor started playing lead roles after his performance in the Academy Award-winning film Whiplash was greatly acknowledged.

 

 

22. James Caan

 

James Edmund Caan

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth March 26, 1940
Place of Birth The Bronx, New York, United States of America
Height 176 centimeters
Debut Year 1961
Debut TV Show Naked City

 

Bronx-born James Caan, who was a part of the entertainment industry since the onset of the 1960s, was the child of Jewish immigrants from Germany.

 

The actor gained recognition worldwide over the years following his mind-blowing portrayal of the reckless Sonny Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 classic The Godfather.

 

The aforementioned performance fetched him Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor.

 

Before The Godfather, Caan had received a nomination for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his character projection in the television movie Brian's Song.

 

 

23. Shia LaBeouf

 

Shia LaBeouf

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth June 11, 1986
Place of Birth Los Angeles, California, United States of America
Height 176 centimeters
Debut Year 1998
Debut Television Film Breakfast with Einstein

 

Known for his raw energy and natural talent, Shia LaBeouf is an actor who always strives to do full justice to his characters.

 

He was born to a Jewish mother and Christian father, and was a recipient of a Daytime Emmy Award in 2003 for his performance in the Disney Channel series Even Stevens.

 

LaBeouf has been a part of some critically or commercially successful ventures such as Disturbia, Transformers, The Peanut Butter Falcon, Lawless, and Nymphomaniac, among others.

 

 

24. Jason Segel

 

Jason Jordan Segel

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth January 18, 1980
Place of Birth Los Angeles, California, United States of America
Height 192 centimeters
Debut Year 1998
Debut Film Can't Hardly Wait

 

Jason Segel has gone on record to confess that he was raised Jewish. He made his feature film debut in 1998's Can't Hardly Wait.

 

Besides being an actor, he is also a comedian, screenwriter, singer, songwriter, author, and producer. He rose to prominence after playing Marshall Eriksen in the much-loved CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother.

 

Furthermore, Segel is also known for his work with the director and producer Judd Apatow on the television series Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared.

 

He has participated in popular film projects such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Bad Teacher, Knocked Up, The Muppets, and Jeff, Who Lives at Home, among others.

 

The actor received critical acclaim for his starring role in the comedy-drama series Shrinking.

 

 

25. Joseph Gordon-Levitt

 

Joseph Leonard Gordon-Levitt

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth February 17, 1981
Place of Birth Los Angeles, California, United States of America
Height 176 centimeters
Debut Year 1998
Debut Television Film Stranger on My Land

 

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is an actor and filmmaker who is best known for his work in motion pictures such as 50/50 and 500 Days of Summer.

 

For his leading performance in both the aforementioned feature films, he received nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.

 

Gordon, who is also the founder of the online media platform HitRecord, is an Ashkenazi Jewish. In fact, his beloved parents were among the founders of the Progressive Jewish Alliance.

 

 

26. Oded Fehr

 

Oded Fehr

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth November 23, 1970
Place of Birth Tel Aviv, Israel
Height 187 centimeters
Debut Year 1994
Debut TV Show The Knock

 

This Israeli actor, who is now based in the United States of America, was first seen on the television show The Knock in 1994.

 

Oded Fehr is known to have played a ton of roles in several Hollywood productions. Some of his better-known performances came in popular mainstream projects such as The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Resident Evil: Extinction, and Resident Evil: Retribution.

 

He has also been seen playing pivotal roles in television shows such as Charmed, Covert Affairs, NCIS, and Star Trek: Discovery, to name a few.

 

 

27. Andy Samberg

 

Andy Samberg

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth August 18, 1978
Place of Birth Berkeley, California, United States of America
Height 177 centimeters
Debut Year 2003
Debut TV Show The 'Bu

 

The talented Andy Samberg made his awaited debut appearance on the television show The 'Bu in 2003. Aside from being an actor, he is also a comedian, musician, producer, and writer.

 

Also, he happens to be a member of the comedy music group The Lonely Island. Samberg truly set the stage on fire when he starred as Jake Peralta in the hugely popular police sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

 

For his performance in the show, he earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy in 2013.

 

 

28. Jesse Eisenberg

 

Jesse Adam Eisenberg

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth October 5, 1983
Place of Birth New York City, New York, United States of America
Height 171 centimeters
Debut Year 1999
Debut TV Show Get Real

 

Jesse Eisenberg made his acting debut on the television show Get Real in 1999. He was raised in a secular Jewish household and his ancestry traces back to Poland and Ukraine.

 

After having played his debut leading role in the comedy-drama film Roger Dodger, the actor could be seen in other projects such as The Squid and the Whale and The Village.

 

However, it was his outstanding character projection in David Fincher's acclaimed movie The Social Network that fetched him fame.

 

His performance earned him Best Actor nominations at the BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Academy Awards, respectively. Following his role in the Fincher film, Eisenberg went on to star in well-known features such as Zombieland and the Now You See Me franchise.

 

 

29. Jerry Seinfeld

 

Jerry Seinfeld

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth April 29, 1954
Place of Birth Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States of America
Height 180 centimeters
Debut Year 1980
Debut TV Show Benson

 

Jerry Seinfeld was raised in Judaism by his Jewish parents and is known to have dated mostly Jewish women.

 

A stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer, he is best known for having played a semi-fictionalized version of himself in the famous sitcom Seinfeld; a show that he created and wrote along with Larry David.

 

He has received an insane twenty Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his work on both Seinfeld and Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.

 

 

30. Jon Bernthal

 

Jon Bernthal

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth September 20, 1976
Place of Birth Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
Height 180 centimeters
Debut Year 2002
Debut Film Mary/Mary

 

Jon Bernthal is another established performer who was born into a Jewish family. He is majorly known for playing short-tempered and reckless characters in both his film and television projects.

 

The actor rose to prominence after having portrayed one of the main leads in The Walking Dead. He gained further recognition as The Punisher in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

 

Bernthal has also marked his presence in full-length features such as Sicario, Fury, Baby Driver, Wind River, Ford v Ferrari, Snitch, and Shot Caller.

 

 

31. Jack Black

 

Jack Black

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth August 28, 1969
Place of Birth Hermosa Beach, California, United States of America
Height 168 centimeters
Debut Year 1984
Debut TV Show The Fall Guy

 

Jack Black has been a part of the entertainment industry since the first half of the 1980s.

 

The actor has been a part of mainstream movies such as High Fidelity, Orange County, Bernie, School of Rock, The Holiday, Gulliver's Travels, and the Jumanji franchise.

 

Black, who is also known for his numerous voice-acting roles, has been nominated for the Golden Globe Awards twice.

 

In addition, the actor received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in 2018.

 

 

32. David Lawrence Schwimmer

 

David Lawrence Schwimmer

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth November 2, 1966
Place of Birth Astoria, New York, United States of America
Height 185 centimeters
Debut Year 1982
Debut TV Show Police Squad!

 

There is no denying the fact that David Schwimmer gained worldwide recognition after having played the much-admired role of Ross Geller in arguably the most popular sitcom of all time, Friends.

 

For his performance in the aforementioned show, he received a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1995.

 

Soon after, he was seen performing in motion pictures such as The Pallbearer, Picking up to Pieces, Big Nothing, and Nothing but the Truth, to mention a few.

 

He has also directed the 2010 thriller/drama film Trust.

 

 

33. Gene Wilder

 

Gene Wilder

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth June 11, 1933
Place of Birth Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
Height 179 centimeters
Debut Year 1961
Debut TV Show Play of the Week

 

Jerome Silberman, who was best known as Gene Wilder to the cinematic universe, was an actor, comedian, writer, and filmmaker par excellence.

 

He went on to openly acknowledge how proud and grateful he was to be a Jew. Widely recognized for his character play of Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, he could also be seen in other prominent feature films such as Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein.

 

Wilder, who directed and wrote several of his own projects, made his final screen appearance in the sitcom Will & Grace; a show for which he received a deserving Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor.

 

 

34. Jerry Lewis

 

Jerry Lewis

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth March 16, 1926
Place of Birth Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
Height 183 centimeters
Debut Year 1949
Debut Film My Friend Irma

 

Nicknamed "The King of Comedy", Jerry Lewis was an American comedian, actor, singer, director, producer, writer, and humanitarian. Today, he is considered to be one of the most important cultural figures in American entertainment.

 

He started his career by performing with singer Dean Martin in the famous duo Martin and Lewis. His contributions to comedy, television, cinema, and charity helped him turn into a global figure in pop culture.

 

 

35. Alan Wolf Arkin

 

Alan Wolf Arkin

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth March 26, 1934
Place of Birth Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States of America
Height 175 centimeters
Debut Year 1957
Debut Film Calypso Heat Wave

 

Alan Arkin, whose family members were Jewish emigrants from Russia and Germany, is an actor, director, and screenwriter known for his performances on stage and screen.

 

He is a recipient of an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Tony Award, respectively.

 

He has delivered terrific performances in feature films such as Argo, The Russians Are Coming, Little Miss Sunshine, and Get Smart.

 

Arkin received nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Series or Movie for his performances in Escape from Sobibor and The Pentagon Papers.

 

 

36. Harvey Keitel

 

Harvey Keitel

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth May 13, 1939
Place of Birth Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
Height 173 centimeters
Debut Year 1966
Debut TV Show Hogan's Heroes

 

Harvey Keitel was the youngest child of two Jewish immigrants. Known for repeatedly playing violent characters with deep-seated moral values, he made his professional acting debut in 1966 in the television series Hogan's Heroes.

 

The actor, who burst onto the mainstream during the New Hollywood movement, is best known for his association with top director Martin Scorsese.

 

Keitel's performance as "Mr. White" in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs gave a massive and much-needed push to his screen career during the early 1990s.

 

 

37. Jeff Goldblum

 

jeff goldblum

 

Don't be surprised to learn that Jeff Goldblum was born to Jewish folks in West Homestead, Pennsylvania. While his father was of Russian Jewish descent, his mother was of Austrian Jewish ancestry.

 

The actor made his acting debut in 1974's Death Wish. He started to gain attention following his roles in projects such as Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Big Chill, and The Fly.

 

In the 1990s, he was seen in top-grossing motion pictures such as Jurrasic Park and Independence Day.

 

While his career spiralled down with the onset of the 21st century, he had a revival of sorts after he appeared in titles such as The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Asteroid City.

 

That said, he has also been seen playing a part in the Disney+ series What If...? in 2021.

 

 

38. Billy Crystal

 

Billy Crystal

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth March 14, 1948
Place of Birth Yorkville, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States of America
Height 168 centimeters
Debut Year 1976
Debut TV Show All in the Family

 

Billy Crystal may be known for his life-long imitation of Stefan Gierasch, but he is someone who first gained recognition in the 1970s and 1980s courtesy of his involvement with programs such as Soap and Saturday Night Live.

 

He then went on to star in a string of feature films during the 1980s and 1990s. Some of his better-known performances came in titles such as The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally..., and Analyze This.

 

 

39. Lior Raz

 

Lior Raz

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth November 24, 1971
Place of Birth Jerusalem, Israel
Height 170 centimeters
Debut Year 2000
Debut Film Delta Force One: The Lost Patrol

 

Lior Raz has got to be one of the most popular Israeli actors working today. Also a screenwriter, he made his feature film debut in the movie Delta Force One: The Lost Patrol in 2000.

 

He is best known to film buffs worldwide for his portrayal of Doron Kabilio in the political thriller television series Fauda.

 

Fauda won the Best Drama Series award at the Israeli Academy Awards. Furthermore, it was voted the finest international show of 2017 by The New York Times.

 

Raz can also be seen playing a significant part in another Netflix series, Hit & Run.

 

 

40. Sean Astin

 

Sean Astin

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth February 25, 1971
Place of Birth Santa Monica, California, United States of America
Height 168 centimeters
Debut Year 1981
Debut Television Film Please Don't Hit Me, Mom

 

Sean Astin is an actor, producer, and director who happens to be of German and Irish ancestry through his mother and Austrian Jewish and Polish Jewish through his father.

 

Best known for playing the part of Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings trilogy of motion pictures, he can also be seen participating in projects such as 50 First Dates, Click, and The Goonies, among others.

 

Astin's television credits include projects such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, 24, and Stranger Things, to mention a few.

 

 

41. William Alan Shatner OC

 

William Alan Shatner OC

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth March 22, 1931
Place of Birth Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height 175 centimeters
Debut Year 1951
Debut Film The Butler's Night Off

 

William Shatner, who was born and raised in a Conservative Jewish household, has been a part of the entertainment industry for over 70 years now.

 

The actor is perhaps best known for his portrayal of James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise. He started his professional acting career in Canadian films and television productions.

 

Aside from the aforementioned series, Shatner is also known to have played the eponymous veteran police sergeant in T. J. Hooker and hosted the reality-based television series, Rescue 911.

 

That said, not many people are aware of the fact that he has had a not-so-popular career as a recording artist as well.

 

 

42. Zac Efron

 

Zac Efron

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth October 18, 1987
Place of Birth San Luis Obispo, California, United States of America
Height 173 centimeters
Debut Year 2002
Debut TV Show Firefly

 

Zachary David Alexander Efron, better known as Zac Efron, gets his surname from Hebrew. Even though he was raised agnostically and did not practice religion as a child, it's no secret that his paternal grandfather is Jewish.

 

The actor gained recognition after having played a significant part in the High School Musical trilogy. Mainstream success followed as he continued to partake in feature films such as New Year's Eve, The Lucky One, The Paperboy, and Neighbors, among others.

 

The year 2021 saw Efron winning a Daytime Emmy Award for the Netflix web documentary series, titled Down to Earth with Zac Efron.

 

 

43. Edward Asner

 

Edward Asner

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth November 15, 1929
Place of Birth Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
Height 170 centimeters
Debut Year 1957
Debut TV Show Studio One

 

Ed Asner was a competent screen performer who was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family. He was also originally given the Hebrew name Yitzhak.

 

The actor served as the president of the Screen Actors Guild, and was best known for his character projection of Lou Grant on both The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Lou Grant throughout the 1970s and early 1980s.

 

He is the most celebrated male performer in the history of the Primetime Emmy Awards with a total of seven major wins.

 

 

44. Woody Allen

 

Woody Allen

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth December 1, 1935
Place of Birth Bronx, New York City, New York, United States of America
Height 165 centimeters
Debut Year 1965
Debut Film What's New Pussycat

 

Woody Allen might have earned a notorious reputation in the recent past but it is difficult to deny that he has been among the most admired film directors of the 20th century; being able to successfully carve a niche of his own.

 

The actor, writer, and filmmaker has both helmed and starred in multiple Academy Award-winning projects. Recognized as part of the New Hollywood wave of movie-makers, Allen has been a part of acclaimed films such as Annie Hall, Zelig, Manhattan, and Stardust Memories, to mention a few.

 

 

45. Mel Brooks

 

Mel Brooks

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth June 28, 1926
Place of Birth Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States of America
Height 165 centimeters
Debut Year 1950
Debut TV Show Your Show of Shows

 

Mel Brooks began his career as a comic and writer for Sid Caesar's variety show Your Show of Shows. He is an actor, comedian, and filmmaker whose career has spanned over seven significant decades.

 

During the 1970s, he went on to direct several feature films that turned out to be huge money-spinners in the respective years that they were released.

 

As an actor, one could find Brooks performing in titles such as The Muppet Movie, Dracula: Dead and Loving It, and Robin Hood: Men in Tights, to name a few.

 

 

46. Seth Green

 

Seth Green

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth February 8, 1974
Place of Birth Overbrook Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Height 160 centimeters
Debut Year 1984
Debut Film The Hotel New Hampshire

 

Seth Green was raised Jewish and had a Bar Mitzvah ceremony. He is an actor, producer, writer, and director who was first seen making an appearance in the 1984 feature film The Hotel New Hampshire.

 

He performed in a string of comedy flicks during the 1990s and 2000s. Some of his better-known performances come in titles such as Can't Hardly Wait and the Austin Powers film franchise.

 

Green has also been the voice behind the character of Chris Griffin in the animated sitcom Family Guy.

 

 

47. Alon Moni Abutbul

 

Alon Moni Abutbul

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth May 28, 1965
Place of Birth Kiryat Ata, Israel
Height N/A
Debut Year 1980
Debut Film Morning Star

 

This seasoned Israeli actor made his feature film debut with Morning Star in 1980. He has been a recipient of the IFFI Best Actor Award (Male) at the 44th International Film Festival of India.

 

Alon Abutbul's first major role was in the popular 1986 Israeli movie, titled Shtei Etzbaot Mi'Tzidon (Two Fingers from Sidon).

 

Set during the time of the 1982 Lebanon War, it earned him the Best Actor award at the Jerusalem Film Festival.

 

The actor has also been seen making his presence felt in major Hollywood motion pictures such as Munich, The Dark Knight Rises, and Body of Lies, to mention a few.

 

 

48. Robert Michael Schneider

 

Robert Michael Schneider

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth October 31, 1963
Place of Birth San Francisco, California, United States of America
Height 161 centimeters
Debut Year 1989
Debut TV Show 227

 

Rob Schneider, who was born to a Jewish and Catholic mother, is best known for playing comedic characters that are habituated to uttering the famous line, "You can do it." 

 

A stand-up comedian and an experienced Saturday Night Live performer, he went on to prove his mettle by appearing in feature films such as Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, The Animal, The Hot Chick, and Big Stan.

 

Schneider has starred in several projects alongside his former SNL buddy Adam Sandler as well.

 

 

49. Bob Saget

 

Bob Saget

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth May 17, 1956
Place of Birth Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Height 192 centimeters
Debut Year 1980
Debut Film Devices

 

Bob Saget, born Robert Lane Saget, was an established stand-up comedian, actor, and television host. He was best known for being the exceptional voice behind the "narrator" Ted Mosby in How I Met Your Mother.

 

Also known for his adult-oriented stand-up comedy, he is known to have played the part of Danny Tanner both on the ABC sitcom Full House and its Netflix sequel Fuller House.

 

A lot many of you would remember him for being the original host of America's Funniest Home Videos.

 

 

50. Rick Moranis

 

Rick Moranis

 

Entity Detail
Date of Birth April 18, 1953
Place of Birth Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 168 centimeters
Debut Year 1980
Debut TV Show Second City Television (SCTV)

 

Rick Moranis, who made his acting debut on the television show Second City Television (SCTV) in 1980, was born into a Jewish family.

 

He is known to have featured in motion pictures such as Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters II, Spaceballs, Parenthood, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and its sequels, among others.

 

After a hiatus of nearly 23 years from live-action feature films, Moranis signed to headline yet another sequel to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, titled Shrunk.

 

 

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