Is Gary David Goldberg Jewish?

Gary David Goldberg was Jewish. Famous for being an American writer and producer for television and film, Goldberg was best known for his work on Family Ties (1982–89), Spin City (1996–2002), and his semi-autobiographical series Brooklyn Bridge (1991–93).

Gary David Goldberg was born on June 25, 1944, in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Anne (née Prossman) and George Goldberg, a postal worker. Goldberg attended and graduated from Lafayette High School in Brooklyn. He studied at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, and San Diego State University, ultimately deciding to become a writer. In 1969, he met the woman who would become his wife, Diana Meehan.

Gary David Goldberg died June 22, 2013 after a long battle with brain cancer in Moticedo, California. 

Is Michael J. Fox Jewish?

Michael J. Fox is not Jewish, but his wife Tracey Pollan is Jewish. The actor, born Michael Andrew Fox on June 9, 1961, is a Canadian American actor, author, producer, activist and voice-over artist. He is famous for Marty McFly from the Back to the Future trilogy (1985–1990); Alex P. Keaton from Family Ties (1982–1989); and, Mike Flaherty from Spin City (1996–2000).

Michael Andrew Fox was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the son of Phyllis (née Piper), an actress and payroll clerk and William Fox, a police officer and member of the Canadian Forces.

Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991, and disclosed his condition to the public in 1999. Fox semi-retired from acting in 2000 as the symptoms of his disease became more severe. He has since become an activist for research toward finding a cure. This led him to create the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

According to Nate Bloom:

At the Union for Reform Judaism's biennial convention last month, actor Michael J. Fox, 47, was the co-winner of the Maurice N. Eisendrath Bearer of Light Award. Fox's body shook from Parkinson's disease as he accepted the award on Dec. 14 in San Diego.

The former star of TV's "Family Ties" and "Spin City" has been tireless in his work for Parkinson's disease research and has been a strong advocate for stem cell research. The Michael J. Fox Foundation, which the actor started, has raised and spent over $50 million for Parkinson's research in the last three years. His work was praised by Union President Rabbi Eric Yoffie as "in keeping with the highest ideals of Judaism."

Fox told the Union convention that he was helping his twin daughters with their Torah homework when they came across a passage about David's fight with Goliath. Other Israelites wanted to give David a sword and armor for the fight, but David refused. Fox, making an analogy to misinformation about stem cell research, said, "I think David understood something fundamental about the deepest ideals of repairing the world. The armor, the weapons, the swords, they're just distraction--and distraction is not what wins the battle. You just need the truth."

So far as I know, Fox, who was not born Jewish, has not converted to Judaism (although that is possible). He belongs to a Reform synagogue in Manhattan, which he attends with his Jewish wife, actress Tracy Pollan, 47, and their four children (They have an 18-year-old son, twin 12-year-old daughters, and another 6-year-old daughter).

Pollan and Fox have a marriage that confounds the stereotype of Hollywood marriages as shallow and short-term. The couple met when Pollan, a teen actress, played Fox's girlfriend in several episodes of "Family Ties." They met again on a movie set a few years after "Family Ties" ended. A real-life romance ensued, and they married in 1988. In his autobiography, Fox credits Pollan as being amazingly steadfast as he conquered a problem with alcohol and as battled Parkinson's disease.

An acquaintance of mine happened to be present at the synagogue that Fox belongs to when the Foxes' son was bar mitzvah. He was seated not far from Fox and Pollan. After the ceremony was over, he overheard Michael say to some well-wishers, "This is the proudest day of my life."

Is Huell Howser Jewish?

Huell Howser was not Jewish. He was a Methodist. Born Huell Burnley Howser on October 18, 1945 in Gallatin, Tennessee, American television personality was best known for California's Gold, his travel show based in Los Angeles at KCET for California PBS stations. Howser received his first name from a portmanteau of his parents' names, Harold and Jewell.

 

Matt Groening, Simpsons creator was a fan of Howser and featured him in two episodes of The Simpsons. In 2011, Howser voiced The Backson in the post-credits scene of Walt Disney Animation Studios's 2011 feature film, "Winnie the Pooh."

Howser mentioned his being a Methodist during his episode covering the Nevada County Fair on California's Golden Fairs.

Is Jon Stewart Jewish?

Jon Stewart is a Jew. Stewart is the host of The Daily Show, a talk show on Comedy Central, which he began hosting in 1999.

Stewart was born Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz in New York City, to a Jewish family. He grew up in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, where he attended Lawrence High School. Jon's mother, Marian (née Laskin), is an educational consultant and teacher and his father, Donald, is a professor. According to Stewart, he was subjected to anti-Semitic bullying as a child and he describes himself in high school as "very into Eugene Debs and a bit of a leftist."

Stewart graduated in 1984 from The College of William & Mary in Virginia, where he played on the soccer team and initially majored in chemistry before switching to psychology. While at William & Mary, Stewart became a brother of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Before becoming the host of The Daily Show, Stewart hosted The Jon Stewart Show on MTV and has released a couple books and voiced a few audiobooks.

Is David Gregory Jewish?

Yes, David Gregory, a journalist and host of NBC's Meet the Press, is Jewish. Gregory was born to a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother, but was raised in the Jewish faith and now lives an active Jewish life.

Gregory told the Washington Jewish Week that he says a bedtime Sh'ma prayer with his children as a way to model Judaism for them and "create a Jewish narrative in their lives that's not just obligatory." In the same article, he said that he has studied Torah with Erica Brown, scholar-in-residence of the Greater Washington Jewish Federation.

David Gregory was born in Los Angeles, California to Carolyn Surtees, an account manager, and Don Gregory, a film and theatrical producer. Gregory has been the NBC chief White House correspondent and is an occasional personality on NBC's Today Show.

Gregory is married to former federal prosecutor and former Fannie Mae executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, Beth Wilkinson, who is not Jewish. The couple met while Gregory was covering the Oklahoma City bombing as a reporter and Wilkinson was serving as prosecutor on the case. The couple has a son and twins — one daughter and one son.

According to Wikipedia, Gregory was assigned by NBC to the press corps covering George W. Bush when he ran for president in 2000. During the campaign, Bush threw a party for Gregory's 30th birthday, complete with cake, on the campaign plane. Bush has nicknamed Gregory "Stretch" because of his height (6'5") and also "Dancing Man," for Gregory's occasional propensity to display his dance moves.

Is Jerry Nelson Jewish?

Jerry Nelson was not a Jew. The puppeteer behind the Sesame Street character "Count Von Count" died of emphysema in August 2012.

Nelson was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and raised in Washington, D.C. He had a daughter who died of Cystic Fibrosis at a young age.

Is Regis Philbin Jewish?

Regis Philbin is not a Jew. Philbin was raised Roman Catholic.

Regis Philbin was born in New York City to an Irish father and an Arbëreshë  mother. His parents Francis "Frank" Philbin, a U.S. Marine who served in the Pacific and Filomena "Florence" Boscia raised Philbin in The Bronx, New York.