Is Katie Holmes Jewish?

Katie Holmes is not Jewish.

Holmes is of Russian, German, English and Irish ancestry and was baptized a Roman Catholic. She attended Christ the King Church and parochial schools in Toledo. Holmes was born in Toledo, Ohio to Kathleen (née Stothers), a homemaker and philanthropist, and Martin Joseph Holmes, Sr., an attorney specializing in divorces. She has three older sisters and one older brother.

Katie Holmes is currently married to actor Tom Cruise, who affiliates with the Scientology movement. The couple announced they are divorcing.

Is Nora Ephron Jewish?

Nora Ephron was Jewish. However, she was not religious. In an NPR interview she said, "You can never have too much butter – that is my belief. If I have a religion, that's it."

Nora Ephron was born on May 19, 1941 and she died on June 26, 2012.

Source: AP

She was born in New York City to Phoebe (née Wolkind) and Henry Ephron, who were both screenwriters. Both of Ephron's parents were Jewish. When she was four years old, the family moved to Beverly Hills, California.

Is Leona Helmsley Jewish?

Leona Helmsley was Jewish. Leona Helmsley was born Lena Mindy Rosenthal.

Both of her parents were Polish Jewish immigrants. Her father was a hatmaker. She was born in Marbletown, New York.

Her family moved to Brooklyn while she was still a girl, and moved six more times before settling in Manhattan. She dropped out of Abraham Lincoln High School to seek her fortune.[3] In a short time, she changed her name several times—from Lee Roberts, Mindy Roberts and Leni Roberts. Eventually, she decided on Leona Mindy Roberts.

According to her Wikipedia entry, her first husband was attorney Leo Panzirer, whom she divorced in 1952. Their only son was Jay (1940–1982), who had four children with his wife, Mimi. Leona was twice married to and divorced from her second husband, garment industry executive Joseph Lubin. After a brief stint at a sewing factory, she joined a New York real estate firm, where she eventually became vice-president.

Is Zac Efron Jewish?

Zac Efron is a Jew. The actor was born Zachary David Alexander Efron. While he is Jewish and born to a Jewish mother, he grew up agnostic and has never practiced Judaism.

According to Wikipedia, Efron was “born in San Luis Obispo, California and later moved to Arroyo Grande, California. His father, David Efron, is an engineer at a power plant, and his mother, Starla Baskett, is a former secretary who worked at the same power plant as Efron’s father. Efron had a self-described “normal childhood” in a middle class family, and has a younger brother, Dylan. Efron is of Jewish ancestry and is an agnostic, having never been religious.”

Zac Efron and Lily Collins were dating, but as of June 2012 the couple has parted ways.

“Efron” in Hebrew means “lark,” as in the singing bird.

Is David Arquette Jewish?

David Arquette is Jewish.

David Arquette was born in a Virginia Subud commune, which had no electricity, bathrooms or running water. His mother, Brenda Olivia "Mardi" (née Nowak), is Jewish. She is an actress and poet. His father Lewis converted to Islam.

His mother is the daughter of a Polish Holocaust refugee. His siblings are Rosanna, Alexis (born Robert), Richmond, and Patricia Arquette.

In June 2012 David Arquette celebrated his bar mitzvah at a ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Is Ray Bradbury Jewish?

Ray Bradbury was not Jewish. The famous author was born in 1920 in Waukegan, Illinois and died on June 5, 2012.

Bradbury was born to to Esther Moberg Bradbury and Leonard Spaulding Bradbury. His mother was a Swedish immigrant. His father worked as a power and telephone lineman. Bradbury was married for 56 years to his muse and late wife, Maggie.

Ray Bradbury was descended from Mary Bradbury, who was tried at Salem witch trials in 1692.

In interviews, Ray Bradbury claimed to be a "delicatessen religionist" and not a member of one particular faith. He explained that he drew from many faiths and credited God for being such an amazing and prolific writer. In a 2010 interview with CNN, he said he decided to write his first short story at 12his friendships with everyone from Walt Disney to Alfred Hitchcock—is based on love.

Is Penny Marshall Jewish?

Penny Marshall is not a Jew. Penny Marshall was born Carole Penelope Marshall on October 15, 1942.

The actress, producer and director is the daughter of Marjorie Irene (née Ward), a tap dance teacher, and Anthony Wallace Marshall, a director and producer. Penny Marshall is the sister of the famous actor/director/TV producer Garry Marshall.

Penny Marshall's father was of Italian descent and her mother was of English and Scottish descent.

Is Tim Cook Jewish?

Tim Cook is not Jewish. The CEO of Apple Co. is not a Jew.

Tim Cook grew up in Robertsdale, Alabama, near Mobile. His father was a shipyard worker. He graduated from Robertsdale High School and Auburn University. He earned a MBA from Duke University.

Is Doc Watson Jewish?

Doc Watson was not Jewish. Born Arthel Lane Watson, the American guitar player, songwriter and singer died on Tuesday, May 29 2012.

Doc Watson sang bluegrass, folk, country, blues and gospel music. He won seven Grammy awards in his lifetime. Watson was was born in Deep Gap, North Carolina. He was married to Rosa Lee Carlton and they had two children.

Is Robin Gibb Jewish?

Robin Gibb was a Jew, but not practicing. He and his brothers Maurice, Brian, and Andrew were born to a Jewish mother, Barbara Pass and a non-Jewish father Hugh Gibb.

The member of the Bee Gees was born in Isle of Man. He died on May 20, 2012.

Is Priscilla Chan Jewish?

Priscilla Chan is not Jewish. She is now married to Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook.

The couple dated for many years before marrying on Saturday, May 19, 2012 in a small ceremony in the backyard of Mark Zuckerberg's Palo Alto, California home. Zuckerberg and Chan met while students at Harvard University. 

Chan is a Chinese-American and the two began dating before Zuckerberg founded Facebook. 

While Mark Zuckerberg is Jewish, he has stated that he is now an atheist.

Is Mark Zuckerberg Jewish?

Mark Zuckerberg is a Jew. The Facebook founder was born to Karen and Edward Zuckerberg in 1984.

Zuckerberg's mother is a psychiatrist, and his father is a dentist. Zuckerberg has three sisters, Randi, Donna, and Arielle. Randi worked at Facebook during the early years. She is now married to Brent Tworetzky and the couple has a son, Asher.

Zuckerberg and his sisters were raised Jewish in Dobbs Ferry, New York and they attended Temple Beth Abraham, a Reform temple in Tarrytown, New York. Mark Zuckerberg celebrated his bar mitzvah at Temple Beth Abraham, which Rabbi David Holtz recalls had a "Star Wars" theme at the bar mitzvah party.

As an adult, Zuckerberg has described himself as an atheist. On Saturday, May 19, 2012 Mark Zuckerberg married his longtime girlfriend Priscilla Chan. The couple married in a small ceremony in Zuckerberg's back yard of his Palo Alto, California home. The wedding took place just days after Priscilla Chan graduated from UCSF Medical School, which was coincidentally Mark Zuckerberg's 28th birthday. The wedding also took place the day after Facebook's IPO.

Is Jamie Dimon Jewish?

Jamie Dimon is not Jewish. The JPMorgan Chase CEO is married to a Jewish woman, but Dimon did not convert to Judaism before their wedding or during their marriage.

Dimon is married to Judith Kent; they have three children: Julia, Laura, and Kara Leigh.

Is Howard Stern Jewish?

Howard Stern is a Jew. Howard Stern was born on January 12, 1954 to a Jewish family in Jackson Heights, Queens. His father Ben and mother Ray Schiffman are of Austro-Hungarian immigrants.

The supermodel Elle MacPherson recently called Howard Stern "absolutely Jewish" on his Sirius Radio talk show.

Is Vidal Sassoon Jewish?

Vidal Sassoon was Jewish. According to the JTA, Vidal Sassoon grew up in a Jewish orphanage from the age of 3 after his father left the family. He is a native of London and both of his parents were Jewish.

He left school at 14 to become an apprentice hairdresser and at the age of 20, he joined the Haganah and fought in Israel's War for Independence.

Sassoon was a celebrity hairstylist. For much of his life he was committed to fighting anti-Semitism. He was married and had four children.

Sassoon died on May 9, 2012 in Los Angeles at the age of 84 due to complications of leukemia. Coincidentally, Sassoon died on the Jewish holiday Lag BaOmer, when it is customary for Jews to get their first haircuts following Passover.

Is John Travolta Jewish?

John Travolta is not a Jew. Travolta currently affiliates with the Scientology movement.

Travolta was born and raised in Englewood, New Jersey. His father, Salvatore Travolta was a semi-pro football player . His mother, Helen Cecilia Burke Travolta was an actress. Travolta grew up in an Irish-American neighborhood and was raised Roman Catholic. He converted to the Church of Scientology in 1975.

John Travolta’s lawyer Marty Singer is Jewish.

Is Ashton Kutcher Jewish?

Ashton Kutcher is not Jewish. Many people hold the belief that Ashton Kutcher is a Jew due to his status as a student of Kabbalah. His marriage to fellow Kabbalah follower Demi Moore was presided over by Yehuda Berg of the Kabbalah Centre. The couple is currently separated.

Kutcher was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He is the son of Diane Finnegan Larry Kutcher, a factory worker. His father is of Bohemian (Czech) descent and his mother is of Irish, German, and Bohemian ancestry.

Recently, Kutcher has come under fire for his brownface performance for an advertisement for Popchips.

Is Daniel Tosh Jewish?

Daniel Tosh is not Jewish. Some people think that Daniel Tosh is a Jew based on his comedy, but he's not Jewish. His father is a preacher.

Tosh was born in Boppard, Rhineland-Palatinate, West Germany and grew up in Titusville, Florida.

Is Maurice Sendak Jewish?

Maurice Sendak is Jewish. The famous children's author Maurice Sendak, who died on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, was born to Polish Jewish immigrants. Born in Brooklyn, New York  to Sarah Schindler and Philip Sendak. His father was a dressmaker.

Most of Sendak's extended family perished in The Holocaust. Sendak decided to become an illustrator after seeing Disney's Fantasia at twelve. Sendak's father would tell him tales from the Torah and the young Sendak would embellish these narratives into his own stories. His most famous book was the children's bestseller "Where the Wild Things Are".

Sendak was a gay man and lived with his partner, Eugene Glynn, a psychoanalyst. The couple was together for 50 years before Eugene Glynn’s death in May 2007. Maurice Sendak donated $1 million to the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services to memorialize his life partner Glynn, who had treated young people there.

Sendak died on May 8, 2012 in Danbury, Connecticut, from complications of a stroke.

Is Adam Yauch Jewish?

Adam Yauch was Jewish. One-third of the rap group The Beastie Boys, Adam Nathaniel Yauch was born to a Jewish mother and a Catholic father. Adam Yauch died on Friday, May 4, 2012.

Yauch was a practicing Buddhist and a vegan. His wife is Dechen Wangdu. The couple has a daughter, Tenzin Losel Yauch. He recently lived in New York City. Yauch was treated for a cancerous parotid gland and a lymph node and has underwent surgery and radiation therapy.

Together with fellow Beasties bandmates Adam Horovitz and Mike Diamond, Yauch was inducted into the Music Hall of Fame in 2012 although for dire health reasons Yauch was not able to attend. Horovitz and Diamond, who are also both Jewish, have vowed not to perform live until Yauch is healthy again. He is suffering from throat cancer.

Is Jon Lovitz Jewish?

Jon Lovitz is Jewish. The Saturday Night Live alum was born to two Jewish parents. Jonathan Lovitz was born in Los Angeles, California.

Jon Lovitz's parents were of Hungarian, Romanian and Russian descent. Lovitz's father, a medical doctor, was the family doctor to Michael Jackson and his family during his youth.

Is Scarlett Johansson Jewish?

Scarlett Johansson is Jewish. Johansson was raised in a Jewish family. She was born in New York City on November 22, 1984 to her mother Melanie Sloan, who is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and Karsten Johansson, who is not Jewish.

Is Jason Biggs Jewish?

Jason Biggs is not Jewish. The actor, who is a native of Pompton Plains, New Jersey, is Roman Catholic.

He was born to Angela and Gary Biggs. Though he is often mistaken for a Jewish man, Jason Biggs is an Italian American and was raised in the Roman Catholic faith. He is married to Jenny Mollen, who is Jewish. Biggs was in the American Pie movies and currently stars in Orange Is the New Black on Netflix.

Is Elie Weisel Jewish?

Yes, Elie Weisel is Jewish. The Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate was born in Sighet, Transylvania (now Sighetu Marmaţiei), Maramureş, Kingdom of Romania, in the Carpathian Mountains. Elie Weisel's mother was Sarah Feig and his father was Chlomo Weisel.

Is Jason Segel Jewish?

Jason Segel is Jewish on his father's side. His mother is not Jewish.

Jason Segel was born in Los Angeles. His mother is Jillian Jordan and his Jewish father is Alvin G. Segel, who is a lawyer. Jason Segel was raised in the Jewish religion, but he also attended St. Matthew's Parish School, which is a private Episcopal school.

Jason Segel is reportedly dating Michelle Williams. Segel announced that Michelle Williams is his girlfriend in April 2012.

Is Dick Clark Jewish?

Dick Clark was not Jewish. Dick Clark was born in Mount Vernon, New York. He died on April 18, 2012. Dick Clark was the son of Julia Fuller (née Barnard) Clark and Richard Augustus Clark.

Is Levon Helm Jewish?

Levon Helm is not Jewish. The drummer and frequent lead singer of The Band is not a Jew. He was born Mark Lavon Helm in Marvell, Arkansas.

Elton John's song "Levon" refers to Levon Helm and Elton John named his son Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John.

It was announced on April 18, 2012 that Levon Helm is in the final stages of cancer.

Is Josh Radnor Jewish?

Yes Josh Radnor is Jewish. His father Alan Radnor is a medical malpractice lawyer and his mother is Carol Radnor.

Josh Radnor was born in Columbus, Ohio. He attended the Columbus Torah Academy, an Orthodox day school in Columbus, Ohio and was also educated at Congregation Tifereth Israel, a Conservative synagogue where he celebrated his bar mitzvah. He attended Bexley High School and then Kenyon College. He earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in acting from New York University's Graduate Acting Program at the Tisch School of the Arts.

Radnor's Broadway debut was in the stage version of The Graduate with Kathleen Turner and Alicia Silverstone. He has starred in How I Met Your Mother and he made his directorial debut with happythankyoumoreplease, in which he was also the leading actor and a writer.

Is Leonard Nimoy Jewish?

Leonard Nimoy is Jewish. Yes, Spock from Star Trek is a Jew.

Leonard Nimoy was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His parents were Yiddish-speaking Orthodox Jews who immigrated from Ukraine (former Soviet Union). Max Nimoy, Leonard's father, owned a barbershop and Dora Spinner, his mother, was a homemaker.

Playing Spock in both television and movie versions of Star Trek, Nimoy's character used the hand gesture used by kohanim (Jewish priests) for his Vulcan salute. Nimoy created the Vulcan sign from his childhood memories of the kohen blessing the congregation in synagogue.

Leonard Nimoy explains the Priestly Blessing while wearing a tallit (Jewish prayer shawl) and how he came to create the Vulcan salute (video below):

Is Gary Bettman Jewish?

Gary Bettman is Jewish. The current commissioner of the National Hockey League (NHL), Gary Bettman was born in Queens, New York. He attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where he was a member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity (AEPi). He graduated Cornell in 1974 and received his law degree from New York University School of Law.

Bettman lives with his wife, Shelli, and their three children Lauren, Jordan, and Brittany in Saddle River, New Jersey.