Is Ben Affleck Jewish?

The famous actor Ben Affleck is not Jewish. Born Benjamin Géza Affleck-Bold on August 15, 1972 in Berkeley, California, Affleck was raised mostly Episcopalian.

Affleck's mother, Christine Anne "Chris" Affleck, was a school district employee and teacher. His father, Timothy Byers Affleck, has held several jobs including as a drug counselor, social worker, janitor, and auto mechanic.

Affleck was married to Jennifer Garner in June 2005. They have two daughters, Violet and Seraphina, and a son, Samuel. He is now married to Jennifer Lopez.

Is Steven Spielberg Jewish?

Steven Spielberg is Jewish. Spielberg, the acclaimed movie director, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to a Jewish family mother and father. Spielberg's mother, Leah Adler was a restaurateur and concert pianist, and his father, Arnold Spielberg was an electrical engineer involved in the development of computers. Spielberg was raised in Haddon Township, New Jersey. Spielberg has reflected on his childhood and recalls suffering from acts of anti-Semitism.


After his parents divorced, he moved to Saratoga, California with his father. His three sisters and mother remained in Arizona. Steven Spielberg went to Hebrew school from 1953 to 1957, in classes taught by Rabbi Albert L. Lewis, the main character in Mitch Albom's book Have a Little Faith.

Of his upbringing as a religious Jew Spielberg has explained, "It isn't something I enjoy admitting, but when I was seven, eight, nine years old, God forgive me, I was embarrassed because we were Orthodox Jews. I was embarrassed by the outward perception of my parents' Jewish practices. I was never really ashamed to be Jewish, but I was uneasy at times. My grandfather always wore a long black coat, black hat and long white beard. I was embarrassed to invite my friends over to the house, because he might be in a corner davening [praying], and I wouldn't know how to explain this to my WASP friends" (Parade Magazine. March 27, 1994).

Is Daniel Day-Lewis Jewish?

Daniel Day-Lewis is Jewish. The famous and well-accomplished actor Day-Lewis was born in London to a Jewish mother, the actress Jill Balcon. Daniel Day-Lewis's father, Cecil Day-Lewis, was of Anglo-Irish background.

Day-Lewis's Jewish mother's parents and their families emigrated to Britain from Latvia and Poland. His maternal grandfather, Sir Michael Balcon, was an important figure in the history of British cinema.

According to his Wikipedia entry, "Living in middle class Greenwich, Day-Lewis found himself among tough South London kids, and, being of part Jewish ancestry and 'posh', he was often bullied."

Daniel Day-Lewis is one of the most successful actors today, having won three Academy Awards, respectively for his portrayals of Christy Brown in My Left Foot (1989), Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood (2007) and Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg's Lincoln (2012). He is the only male actor in history to win three Oscars in the leading male actor category.

With French actress Isabelle Adjani, Day-Lewis has a son Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis who was born in 1995 in New York, several months after the relationship ended.

Is Amy Poehler Jewish?

No, Amy Poehler is not a Jew. Poehler is an actress, writer, producer and comedian. She is best known for her roles on Saturday Night Live and Parks and Recreation.

Poehler was born in Newton, Massachusetts, and grew up in nearby Burlington. She is the daughter of Eileen Frances and William Grinstead Poehler, both teachers. Poehler is of English, German, Irish and Portuguese ancestry, and was raised Catholic.

Poehler joined the cast of SNL in 2001 and in 2004 began co-anchoring the sketch Weekend Update with Tina Fey. Poehler left SNL in 2008.

In 2009 Poehler began starring in her own TV series, Parks and Recreation. She is also known for her numerous roles on the big screen, including Wet Hot American Summer and Mean Girls.

Is Tina Fey Jewish?

No, Tina Fey is not a Jew. Fey is a comedian, writer and actress known for her roles on Saturday Night Live, Mean Girls and 30 Rock.

Fey was born in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, a township just west of Philadelphia. Her mother, Zenobia "Jeanne" is a brokerage employee of Greek descent and her father, Donald Fey, is a university grant-proposal writer of half German and half Scottish descent.

Fey performed with The Second City after graduating from the University of Virginia. While there she sent scripts to SNL and was hired as a writer. She began performing on the show in 2000 and left in 2006, when she began to develop and act in her sitcom, 30 Rock.

Is Jerry Buss Jewish?

Jerry Buss was Jewish. Jerry Buss, who was born in Utah, was the majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers professional NBA basketball team.

In addition to his role as the owner of the LA Lakers, Jerry Buss was also an American businessman, real estate investor, and a former chemist. Buss was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on August 13, 2010. His daughter Jeanie made headlines for dating former Lakers' head coach Phil Jackson.

Photo: CBS Sports

Buss donated $7.5 million in 2008 to USC's Department of Chemistry to fund two endowed chairs and an endowed scholarship fund for chemistry graduate students; the two chairs were to be named after his mentors at USC, professors Sidney Benson and David Dows.

Buss began chemotherapy sessions in the fall of 2012 for cancer treatment. He died on February 18, 2013 at the age of 80.

Is Steve Martin Jewish?

Steve Martin is not Jewish. The actor, comedian and novelist is married to the Jewish Anne Stringfield.  Their wedding ceremony incorporated Jewish and Christian elements.

The couple had a child together in December 2012.

Is Anne Stringfield Jewish?

Anne Stringfield is Jewish. She is the wife of actor and comedian Steve Martin.

Steve Martin divorced his first wife, actress Victoria Tennant, in 1994 after eight years of marriage. He quietly wed Anne Stringfield in July 2007. The wedding took place at Martin's L.A. home in a surprise ceremony officiated by former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey. The wedding ceremony mixed both Jewish and Christian traditions.

Anne Stringfield is a writer and former New Yorker editor. The couple had their first baby in December 2012 although they kept it a secret for two months.

Is Ed Koch Jewish?

Ed Koch was Jewish. The former mayor of New York City died on February 1, 2013 of congestive heart failure.

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Edward Irving "Ed" Koch was born December 12, 1924. He was known for being an American lawyer, politician, political commentator, movie critic and television reality show judge. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 1977. He also served three terms as mayor of New York City, from 1978 to 1989. He also became known as a judge on the television judge show The People's Court from 1997 to 1999.

Born in The Bronx at New York–Presbyterian Hospital, Koch was the son of Yetta (née Silpe) and Louis Koch, immigrants from Poland. His father worked at a theater. The family affiliated with the Conservative Movement of Judaism. Koch was a strong advocate for the Jewish State of Israel.


Koch grew up in Newark, NJ and he graduated from South Side High School in Newark in 1941. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1943 where he served as an infantryman with the 104th Infantry Division, landing in Cherbourg, France in September 1944.

As mayor of NYC, he brought the city out of bankruptcy. He was outspoken and always said what he was thinking. Koch died on February 1, 2013 at 88 years old.

Is Chelsea Handler Jewish?

Yes, Chelsea Handler is a Jew. Handler has written many books, is a stand-up comedian and hosts her own talk show, Chelsea Lately.

Handler grew up in Livingston, New Jersey. She is the youngest of six children and was raised as a Reform Jew by her father, Seymour, and her Mormon mother, Rita.

Is Caleb Moore Jewish?

No, Caleb Moore was not a Jew. Moore was a snowmobile rider and a Winter X Games competitor.

Moore began his career riding ATVs and later switched to snowmobiles. Soon after learning to ride snowmobiles he won the bronze medal at the Winter X Games in 2010. In his career he won four medals.

During the 2013 Winter X Games, Moore crashed while doing a backflip. He walked off the course with a concussion but the injuries he sustained later claimed his life on January 31, 2013.

Is Neil Patrick Harris Jewish?

No, Neil Patrick Harris is not a Jew. Harris is best known for his roles as Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother and on Doogie Howser, M.D.

Harris was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His parents, Sheila and Ron Harris, ran a restaurant. He attended La Cueva High School, where he acted in school plays and musicals.

Harris was named as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in 2010 and was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in September 2011.

Is Woody Allen Jewish?

Yes, Woody Allen is a Jew. Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, author, playwright, and musician. His career spans over half a century.

Allen was born Allan Stewart Konigsberg. He was born in the Bronx and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He is the son of Nettie (November 8, 1906 – January 27, 2002), a bookkeeper at her family's delicatessen, and Martin Konigsberg (December 25, 1900 – January 13, 2001), a jewelry engraver and waiter. His family was Ashkenazi Jewish; his grandparents were immigrants from Russia and Austria and spoke Yiddish, Hebrew, and German.

At the age of 17, he legally changed his name to Heywood Allen. He began writing jokes and publishing them and, at just 17, was already earning more than both of his parents combined.

Is Jessica Chastain Jewish?

No, Jessica Chastain is not a Jew. Chastain is known for her roles in Zero Dark Thirty, The Debt, Take Shelter and The Help.

Chastain was born and raised around Sonoma, California. She is one of five children. Her mother is a vegan chef, and her father is a firefighter. She grew up as Jessica Howard and later took her mother's maiden name as her stage name.

In the past few years Chastain's career has taken off. Chastain has won many awards for her roles in Take Shelter, Coriolanus, The Debt, Tree of Life, The Help and Zero Dark Thirty.

Is Claire Danes Jewish?

No, Claire Danes is not a Jew. Danes plays Carrie Mathison in Homeland and has had roles in Little Women, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, and My So-Called Life.

Danes was born in New York City. Her mother, Carla, is a day-care provider, painter, and textile designer. She later served as her daughter's manager. Her father, Christopher Danes, is a computer consultant and former architectural photographer. Danes has described her background as being WASP-like.

Is Marisa Tomei Jewish?

No, Marisa Tomei is not a Jew. Tomei is an actress known for her roles in What Women Want, Anger Management, In the Bedroom, The Wrestler and Parental Guidance.

Tomei was born in Brooklyn, New York. She is the daughter of Patricia Adelaide Tomei, an English teacher, and Gary A. Tomei, a trial lawyer. She has a younger brother, actor Adam Tomei. Both of Tomei's parents are of Italian descent.

Is Angelina Jolie Jewish?

No, Angelia Jolie is not a Jew. Jolie is an actress known for her roles in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Wanted and Changeling.

Jolie was born in Los Angeles, California, and is the daughter of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand. On her father's side, Jolie is of German and Slovak descent and on her mother's side, she is of primarily French Canadian, Dutch, and German ancestry. Like her mother, Jolie has stated that she is part Iroquois.

Jolie is divorced from actors Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton and now lives with actor Brad Pitt, in a relationship well covered by the media. Jolie and Pitt have three biological children and have adopted three children.

Is Brad Pitt Jewish?

No, Brad Pitt is not a Jew. Pitt is an actor known for his roles in Legends of the Fall, Twelve Monkeys, Fight Club, Ocean's Eleven, Troy, and Moneyball.

Pitt was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and is the son of Jane Etta, a high school counselor, and William Alvin Pitt, a truck company owner. The family moved to Springfield, Missouri, where he lived together with his younger siblings, Doug and Julie Neal. Pitt was born into a conservative household and was raised as Southern Baptist, although he has since described himself as oscillating between atheism and agnosticism.

Is Michael Winner Jewish?

Yes, Michael Winner was a Jew. Winner was an English film director and producer.

Winner was born in Hampstead, London, England, the son of Helen and George Joseph Winner. His family was Jewish. His mother was Polish and his father of Russian extraction, and a Freemason.

Winner's career began in 1956 and he directed films, both English and American, through 2010. In 1967 he began producing the films as well as directing.

Winner died on January 21, 2013 at the age of 77.

Is Mila Kunis Jewish?

Mila Kunis is a Jew. The actress was born Milena Markovna Kunis, but is professionally known as Mila Kunis and she is Jewish.

Born August 14, 1983 in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, the American actress moved from Ukraine to Los Angeles with her family at 7-years-old. Her mother, Elvira, is a physics teacher who runs a pharmacy, and her father, Mark Kunis, is a mechanical engineer who works as a cab driver. Kunis has a brother, Michael who is six years older

Kunis is Jewish and has cited anti-Semitism in the former Soviet Union as one of several reasons for her family's move to the United States. She has stated that her parents "raised [her] Jewish as much as they could," although religion was suppressed in the Soviet Union.

After being enrolled in acting classes as an after-school activity, she was soon discovered by an agent. She appeared in several television series and commercials, before acquiring her first significant role prior to her 15th birthday, playing Jackie Burkhart on the television series That '70s Show. A year later, she was cast as the voice of Meg Griffin on the animated series Family Guy. Her breakout  film role came in 2008, playing Rachel Jansen in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Subsequent film roles included Mona Sax in Max Payne, Solara in The Book of Eli, Jamie in Friends with Benefits, and Lori in Ted. Her performance as Lily in Black Swan gained her worldwide accolades, including receiving the Premio Marcello Mastroianni for Best Young Actor or Actress at the 67th Venice International Film Festival, and nominations for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role. At the age of 18, she began a relationship with actor Macaulay Culkin that lasted eight years.

Is Jennifer Lawrence Jewish?

Jennifer Lawrence, born August 15, 1990, is not Jewish. She is Christian. The American actress has had roles in such movies as Silver Linings Playbook , The Hunger Games, and X-Men.

Lawrence was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and has two older brothers, Ben and Blaine. Her parents are Karen (née Koch).

Is Mark Cuban Jewish?

Mark Cuban is Jewish. The American businessman, investor, and philanthropist was born on July 31, 1958. Cuban was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Shirley and Norton Cuban. He grew up in the affluent suburb of Mount Lebanon, in a Jewish working-class family. The surname "Cuban" was shortened from "Chabenisky" when his Russian grandparents landed on Ellis Island. His father was an automobile upholsterer.

Mark Cuban is most well known for being the owner of the National Basketball Association's Dallas Mavericks. He also owns Landmark Theatres and Magnolia Pictures, and the chairman of the HDTV cable network AXS TV. He is also a "shark" investor on the television series Shark Tank. In 2011, Cuban wrote an e-book, How to Win at the Sport of Business, in which he chronicles his life experiences in business and sports.

Cuban attended Mount Lebanon High School. During his senior year of high school Cuban enrolled as a full-time student at the University of Pittsburgh. After one year at the University of Pittsburgh, he transferred to Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and graduated from the Kelley School of Business in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in business administration.

In September 2002, Cuban married Tiffany Stewart in Barbados. Their first daughter, Alexis Sofia, was born on September 25, 2005; their second daughter, Alyssa, was born in 2007. The Cubans also have a son born in early 2010. The family lives in the Preston Hollow area of Dallas, in a 24,000-square-foot mansion.

Is Betty White Jewish?

Betty White is not a Jew. The  octogenarian Betty White is an American actress, comedian, singer, author, and television personality. Her career has spanned over nine decades.

White was born in Oak Park, Illinois, on January 17, 1922. She is the daughter of Tess Curtis, a homemaker, and Horace Lawrence White, a traveling salesman and electrical engineer. Her mother was of Greek, English, and Welsh descent, and her father was of Danish and English ancestry. White's family moved to Los Angeles, California during the Great Depression.

Is Aaron Levie Jewish?

Aaron Levie is a Jew. The co-founder and CEO of Box is Jewish. Aaron Levie was born in 1985 in Seattle, Washington to Ben and Karyn Levie. He grew up in Seattle and attended Mercer Island High School, part of the Mercer Island School District in Washington. His family are members of Congregation Beth Shalom in Seattle.

After graduating from high school, he went on to attend the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California before taking a leave of absence in 2005 to found Box, the enterprise cloud company worth over a billion dollars. Aaron Levie has written numerous articles on disruptive innovation in the technology industry.

Is Pauline Phillips Jewish?

Pauline Phillips, who wrote the Dear Abby column, was Jewish. "Dear Abby" was the name of the advice column Phillips founded in 1956 under the pen name Abigail Van Buren. It has been continued by her daughter, Jeanne Phillips, who now owns the legal rights to the pen name. Pauline Phillips died on January 17, 2013.

Pauline Esther Friedman, nicknamed "Popo", was born in Sioux City, Iowa to Russian Jewish immigrants, Rebecca (née Rushall) and Abraham B. Friedman, owner of a chain of movie theaters. She was the youngest of four sisters and grew up in Sioux City. One sister was an identical twin, Esther Pauline Friedman, who later became the columnist Ann Landers.

In 1939, she and her identical twin sister Esther (Ann Landers) were married in a double-wedding ceremony on their birthday.[5] She married Morton Phillips of Minneapolis, and had two children, a son, Edward Jay Phillips, and a daughter, Jeanne Phillips.

According to Pauline Phillips, she came up with the pen name Abigail Van Buren by combining the name of Biblical figure Abigail in the Book of I Samuel, with the last name of former U.S. President Martin Van Buren.

The column was syndicated by McNaught Syndicate from 1956 until 1966, when it moved to Universal Press Syndicate. Dear Abby's current syndication company claims the column is known for its "uncommon common sense and youthful perspective". A similar column, Ask Ann Landers, was written from 1955 to 2002 by Phillips' twin sister Eppie Lederer.

Is Lance Armstrong Jewish?

Lance Armstrong is not Jewish. The man famous for winning more Tour de France cycling competitions than any other cyclist and then being disgraced amid doping charges, is Christian.

Armstrong was born to Linda Gayle (née Mooneyham), a secretary, and Eddie Charles Gunderson, a route manager for The Dallas Morning News. His great-grandfather was the son of Norwegian immigrants. He was named after Lance Rentzel, a Dallas Cowboys wide receiver. His parents divorced when Lance was two and his father has two children from another relationship. His mother later married Terry Keith Armstrong, a wholesale salesman, who adopted Lance in 1974. Armstrong refused to meet his birth father.

Armstrong began dating singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow in late 2003 and revealed their relationship in January 2004. The couple announced their engagement in September 2005 and their split in February 2006. In December 2008, Armstrong announced that his girlfriend, Anna Hansen, was pregnant with his child. The couple started dating in July 2008 after meeting through Armstrong's charity work. Although it was believed that Armstrong could no longer father children, after having undergone chemotherapy for testicular cancer, this child was conceived naturally. The baby boy, Maxwell Edward Armstrong, was born in 2009 in Aspen, Colorado. Armstrong announced the birth via Twitter.

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 Conrad Bain Jewish?

Conrad Bain was not Jewish. Famous for playing the role of Phillip Drummond in the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes and as Dr. Arthur Harmon on Maude, Bain was born in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

His parents were Jean Agnes Young and Stafford Harrison Bain, a wholesaler. Bain attended the Banff School of Fine Arts and then served in the Canadian Army during World War II.

Bain has three sons and a daughter with Monica Sloan, to whom he was married until her death in 2009. His identical twin brother is Bonar Bain who once played the brother of his Maude character, Dr. Arthur Harmon.

Conrad Bain died on January 16, 2013 in California.

Is Lena Dunham Jewish?

Yes, Lena Dunham is a Jew. Dunham is known for her hit HBO series, Girls, which she created and stars in.

Dunham was born in New York City. Her father is Carroll Dunham, a painter of "overtly sexualized pop art", and her mother is Laurie Simmons, a photographer and designer. Dunham's father is Protestant, and according to Dunham, a Mayflower descendant. Dunham's mother is Jewish. She has a younger sister, Grace, who is a model and student at Brown University and who starred in Dunham's first film Tiny Furniture.

Dunham graduated from Oberlin College in 2008, where she studied creative writing.

In 2013 Dunham won the Golden Globe award for Best Series, Musical or Comedy, for Girls as well as Best Actress, Comedy or Musical.

Is James Franco Jewish?

James Franco is a Jew. Franco is known for his roles in the Spider-Man trilogy, Pineapple Express, and Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

James Franco is a Jew. Franco was born in Palo Alto, California. His mother, Betsy Lou (née Verne) is Jewish. She is a writer and actress. Franco's father, Douglas Eugene "Doug" Franco (d. 2011), ran a Silicon Valley business. James Franco's Jewish family on his mother's side were Russian Jewish immigrants.

The Jewish actor who had a lead part on the short-lived cult hit television program Freaks and Geeks later played James Dean (2001), for which he was awarded a Golden Globe Award. He also played Harry Osborn in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy.

James Franco's notable films include Pineapple Express, Milk, 127 Hours, Tristan & Isolde, Annapolis, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and 2013 releases Oz the Great and Powerful, Spring Breakers, This Is the End, and Lovelace. He also had a recurring role in the ABC soap opera General Hospital. For his role in 127 Hours, Franco received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

Franco was born in Palo Alto, California. His mother, Betsy Lou, is a poet, author, and editor, and his father, Douglas (1948–2011), ran a non-profit agency and a shipping container security company. Franco's father was of Portuguese and Swedish descent. Franco's mother is Jewish, a descendant of immigrants from Russia. Despite his Jewish heritage, Franco's upbringing was largely secular.

Franco has a big interest in education. He has attended UCLA, and he moved to New York to simultaneously attend graduate school at Columbia University's MFA writing program, New York University's Tisch School of the Arts for filmmaking, and Brooklyn College for fiction writing, while occasionally commuting to North Carolina's Warren Wilson College for poetry. He received his MFA from Columbia in 2010. Franco is a PhD student in English at Yale University and will also attend the Rhode Island School of Design.