Funny, you don't look Quakerish.

[dropzone]

As a child of the Sixties I assume nearly everybody in Hollywood is probably Jewish. Especially if they are from New York City. Sure, New York has produced Irish actors (Jimmy Cagney), Italian actors (Robert De Niro), Puerto Rican actors (Erik Estrada), and Black actors (any of the Wayanses), but mostly Jews, especially funny ones (Marx Brothers). So yeah, George Segal is probably Jewish, right? I mean, everybody I know named something like Segel is. Nope, Segal was raised Quaker on Long Island, which at least explains the banjo.

But Christopher Walken, with that thick accent, MUST be Jewish, right? Nope. He's a Methodist. I mean, I married the second Methodist I met, possibly because Jewish girls wouldn't give me the time of day.

Okay, Zachary Levi, TV's "Chuck," with a name like that, he HAS to be Jewish, right? Au contraire, mon frere. He pronounces it "LEE-veye," like the jeans; Levi is his middle name because his agent got sick of trying to sell Zack Pugh; he's from Lake Charles, Louisiana; and, like most everybody from Lake Charles, he's a born-again Christian.

So what celebrities have backgrounds that don't match up with your preconceptions?

[choie]

Dude, George Segal is from my old home town, and trust me, a Segal in Great Neck is as Jewish as any other Red Sea Pedestrian, hifalutin' goyishe prep school or no hifalutin' goyishe prep school.

It's funny that you have the impression that most actors from New York are Jewish... except for all the Italians, Irish, Puerto Ricans and African Americans. Heh. Oh, where is that Rabbi smilie when we need it?

[astorian]

Well, there are LOTS of actors who've gotten cast regularly in ethnic roles they don't REALLY belong in.

Examples? Well, Anthony Quinn played Greeks constantly, even though he was really half Irish and half Mexican.

Lou Diamond Phillips plays a lot of Mexicans, even though he's a self-described "mutt" who's more Filippino than anything else.

Leonardo Cimino, an Italian, has played a host of stereotypical elderly Jews, in things like the TV miniseries "V."

[NDP]

Sure, New York has produced ... Italian actors (Robert De Niro) ... .

Actually, De Niro is only of half-Italian descent. His mother's side is Irish. For someone who's 100% Italian, Al Pacino would've been a better choice.

[dropzone]

If I weren't a German-Irish-Norskie-Bohunk mutt I'd have something against mutts. ;)

[dropzone]

Dude, George Segal is from my old home town, and trust me, a Segal in Great Neck is as Jewish as any other Red Sea Pedestrian, hifalutin' goyishe prep school or no hifalutin' goyishe prep school. So explain the banjo. QED. :D

[St. Anger]

Maybe a little OT, but I was shocked when I learned Mel Gibson was born in New York, and Bob Hope in London, UK.

I was shocked when I learned Charlize Theron is from South Africa.

[Green Bean]

Dude, George Segal is from my old home town, and trust me, a Segal in Great Neck is as Jewish as any other Red Sea Pedestrian, hifalutin' goyishe prep school or no hifalutin' goyishe prep school. Bwa ha ha! Right on, sister! (I'm from Port Washington)

[dropzone]

You wouldn't be if you heard her in interviews.

ETA: Referring to Charlize Theron.

[choie]

On topic: as a kid I always thought that Alan Alda was Jewish. I know, I know, the name is pretty obvious (especially his real name) but Hawkeye was always spouting Yiddish words and Alda just seemed so comfortable with them.

(Same thing with Carol Burnett. As a child I must have had the rather bizarre impression that all comedians were Jewish.)

So explain the banjo. QED. :D

Hee. I admit the banjo is troubling. Possible theories:

He's trying to pass?
His parents' shetl was in southern Russia?
A jug band is as close as he could get to klezmer music?
All the cool kids at his Quaker school were playing bluegrass?

Otherwise I got nuttin'.

Bwa ha ha! Right on, sister! (I'm from Port Washington)

Whoa, small world! PW's a gorgeous area, too.

[twickster]

I am a Quaker. I was raised Quaker. I know many, many Quakers.

Not a single one of them plays the banjo.

[Khadaji]

As a child of the Sixties I assume nearly everybody in Hollywood is probably Jewish. Especially if they are from New York City. Sure, New York has produced Irish actors (Jimmy Cagney), Italian actors (Robert De Niro), Puerto Rican actors (Erik Estrada), and Black actors (any of the Wayanses), but mostly Jews, especially funny ones (Marx Brothers). So yeah, George Segal is probably Jewish, right? I mean, everybody I know named something like Segel is. Nope, Segal was raised Quaker on Long Island, which at least explains the banjo.

But Christopher Walken, with that thick accent, MUST be Jewish, right? Nope. He's a Methodist. I mean, I married the second Methodist I met, possibly because Jewish girls wouldn't give me the time of day.

Okay, Zachary Levi, TV's "Chuck," with a name like that, he HAS to be Jewish, right? Au contraire, mon frere. He pronounces it "LEE-veye," like the jeans; Levi is his middle name because his agent got sick of trying to sell Zack Pugh; he's from Lake Charles, Louisiana; and, like most everybody from Lake Charles, he's a born-again Christian.

So what celebrities have backgrounds that don't match up with your preconceptions?
I have been taught on these boards that such assumptions are akin to hate messages. You might as well ask if Jews kill Christian babies for their blood to make passover matzos Or ask "Do blacks really have natural rhythm?"(truly, this was actually said to me, here on these boards about 3 years ago.)

[CalMeacham]

Well, there are LOTS of actors who've gotten cast regularly in ethnic roles they don't REALLY belong in.

Examples? Well, Anthony Quinn played Greeks constantly, even though he was really half Irish and half Mexican.

He's also played American Indians, Russians, Middle Eastern Types, and Other (like Quasimodo). He was the All-Purpose Ethnic, who could be anybody. Yul Brynner was another of these. TV's answer to this was Michael Ansara.

[RealityChuck]

Most people don't realize that Martin Sheen is Hispanic. He changed his last name from Estevez to Sheen so he wouldn't be typecast in ethnic roles. His son Charlie kept the name, while he other son, Emilio Estevez, went back to his roots.

[Gyrate]

Okay, Zachary Levi, TV's "Chuck," with a name like that, he HAS to be Jewish, right? Au contraire, mon frere. He pronounces it "LEE-veye," like the jeans; Levi is his middle name because his agent got sick of trying to sell Zack Pugh; he's from Lake Charles, Louisiana; and, like most everybody from Lake Charles, he's a born-again Christian.
Funnily enough, the spouse and I had the "He's gotta be Jewish with a name like that" conversation just last week. Ignorance fought.

Of course, before that was the "Is Adam Baldwin one of the Baldwin brothers, because he doesn't look like them" debate (FTR, he isn't). Obviously Chuck is insufficiently engrossing to distract us from these discussions.

[Alessan]

He's also played American Indians, Russians, Middle Eastern Types, and Other (like Quasimodo). He was the All-Purpose Ethnic, who could be anybody. Yul Brynner was another of these. TV's answer to this was Michael Ansara.

Contemporary examples are Alfred Molina and John Rhys-Davies.

[Bridget Burke]

He's also played American Indians, Russians, Middle Eastern Types, and Other (like Quasimodo). He was the All-Purpose Ethnic, who could be anybody. Yul Brynner was another of these. TV's answer to this was Michael Ansara.

Lou Diamond Phillips also played the Yul Brynner role when The King & I was revived on Broadway. Wikipedia gives details on his ancestry: "His father was an American of Scottish, Irish and Cherokee descent and his mother was a Filipina of Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish extraction."

[astorian]

He's also played American Indians, Russians, Middle Eastern Types, and Other (like Quasimodo). He was the All-Purpose Ethnic, who could be anybody. Yul Brynner was another of these. TV's answer to this was Michael Ansara.

True enough- and you can't expect a guy to wait around for Irish-Mexican roles (andy more than Lou Diamond Phillips can wait around for Scottish-Filippino-Chinese-Irish roles).

But while Quinn played all kinds of ethnicities, he became Hollywood's go-to guy for any Greek role, whether it be Zorba, the commando in "the Guns from Navarone," an Onassis-clone in "The Greek Tycoon," or the Greek neighbor in "Only the Lonely."

[Musicat]

I am a Quaker. I was raised Quaker. I know many, many Quakers.

Not a single one of them plays the banjo.For that matter, wouldn't playing a musical instrument be frowned upon in Quaker-land?

Unless, of course, it is used to glorify the Lord.

[devilsknew]

True enough- and you can't expect a guy to wait around for Irish-Mexican roles (andy more than Lou Diamond Phillips can wait around for Scottish-Filippino-Chinese-Irish roles).

But while Quinn played all kinds of ethnicities, he became Hollywood's go-to guy for any Greek role, whether it be Zorba, the commando in "the Guns from Navarone," an Onassis-clone in "The Greek Tycoon," or the Greek neighbor in "Only the Lonely."

I'd like to see an unironic remake of The Killing Fields with Lou Diamond playing Haing Ngor. He plays that drama quite artfully.

[twickster]

For that matter, wouldn't playing a musical instrument be frowned upon in Quaker-land?

Unless, of course, it is used to glorify the Lord.

Are you confusing the Quakers and the Shakers? (or the Amish or ... who knows what oddball Protestant sect you're thinking of.)

I am unaware of any strictures against music amongst the Society of Friends.

[StGermain]

Steve Martin plays the banjo. What does that make him?

StG

[Musicat]

Steve Martin plays the banjo. What does that make him?A strummer and a picker.

[Musicat]

Are you confusing the Quakers and the Shakers? (or the Amish or ... who knows what oddball Protestant sect you're thinking of.)

I am unaware of any strictures against music amongst the Society of Friends.I have Quaker ministers in the family some generations ago (ca. early/mid 1800's). More recently, the family had morphed into general fundamentalists, and their particular brand of fund prohibits music outside of hymns, folk or classical music (blues & jazz are the Devil's work, along with all dancing). I just assumed their predecessors were more strict; perhaps the opposite is true.

[dropzone]

On topic: as a kid I always thought that Alan Alda was Jewish. I know, I know, the name is pretty obvious (especially his real name) but Hawkeye was always spouting Yiddish words and Alda just seemed so comfortable with them.

(Same thing with Carol Burnett. As a child I must have had the rather bizarre impression that all comedians were Jewish.)Twas a time when it seemed that way, thanks to the Borscht Belt. And thanks to those guys goyim like Alda and me picked up enough Yiddish to make it something like Spanish is today, America's second language that nearly everybody knows some of.

[twickster]

I have Quaker ministers in the family some generations ago (ca. early/mid 1800's). More recently, the family had morphed into general fundamentalists, and their particular brand of fund prohibits music outside of hymns, folk or classical music (blues & jazz are the Devil's work, along with all dancing). I just assumed their predecessors were more strict; perhaps the opposite is true.

Different branches. I'm a Philly Quaker -- silent meeting, super liberal, no clergy. (No music in services, but no objection to it otherwise. ;) )

[choie]

BTW, the Shakers are/were very musical. Very into writing & performing hymns, marches and dance music (I mean that's why they're called Shakers, yo).

Nothing else to add, just thought I'd throw that in. :

[twickster]

We seem to be getting somewhat off-topic here. And, yeah, I know I started it, but we should end this hijack.

What was the topic again? What ethnic groups are known for their banjo-playing proclivities?

[Lemur866]

Steve Martin plays the banjo. What does that make him?


"You mean I'm going to stay this color?"

[singular1]

Okay, Zachary Levi, TV's "Chuck," with a name like that, he HAS to be Jewish, right? Au contraire, mon frere. He pronounces it "LEE-veye," like the jeans; \

Every interview I've heard him give he is introduced with the pronunciation you give, and he's never corrected anyone. How else would you pronounce it?:confused:

[choie]

Actually that's a good question. We Jewish types pronounce it LEE-veye, and I'm pretty sure so do the old school Christians or Mormons who'd be likely to use the name. Does someone out there pronounce it "levvy"?

ETA: Wait, maybe dropzone is thinking of the name Levin, which is either pronounced le-VIHN or LEH-vin depending if you're pretentious more of a Francophile; or possibly Levine, which can be le-VYNE or le-VEEN or even LEH-vin?

[kenobi 65]

I was surprised to learn that Richard Nixon was a Quaker.

I was always under the impression that Billy Joel was an Catholic Italian-American (probably due to songs like "Only the Good Die Young" and "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant"). Several years ago, I saw his picture on the cover of a cookbook dedicated to recipes from Jewish-Americans. Imagine my surprise. :)

[dropzone]

LEH-vee

[Belrix]

I am a Quaker. I was raised Quaker. I know many, many Quakers.

Not a single one of them plays the banjo.I go to a Friends church - we have a banjo-playing member.

EDIT: We also have music in service, a leading pastor & all the standard service things as most protestant churches. We don't do immersion or sprinkled baptisms (you're baptized by the hold spirit, not by water) and that's about all I've seen that's kinda weird.

In general, I think of it as middle-of-the-road protestant.

[choie]

I was surprised to learn that Richard Nixon was a Quaker.

I was always under the impression that Billy Joel was an Catholic Italian-American (probably due to songs like "Only the Good Die Young" and "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant"). Several years ago, I saw his picture on the cover of a cookbook dedicated to recipes from Jewish-Americans. Imagine my surprise. :)

Good one! I can undertand "Scenes" making you think Italian/Catholic, and maybe "Moving Out" since the lead dude is named Tony. OTOH, isn't the point of "Only the Good Die Young" that our hero is looking from the outside of the whole Catholic thing ("You Catholic girls start much too late...") and sort of teasing or mocking it?

Before I knew his name, I thought Tony Shaloub was Italian (c.f. Wings and Big Night).

[twickster]

Well, sure, if you go to a "church" rather than a meeting. :p

ETA: that was directed at Belrix; choie snuck in while I was posting.

[kenobi 65]

Before I knew his name, I thought Tony Shaloub was Italian (c.f. Wings and Big Night).

I'd always assumed (correctly, as it turns out) that he was of some sort of Middle Eastern descent. What *did* surprise me was to learn that he was born and raised in my home town of Green Bay. He hides that northern Wisconsin accent quite well. ;)

[The Other Waldo Pepper]

Okay, Zachary Levi, TV's "Chuck," with a name like that, he HAS to be Jewish, right? Au contraire, mon frere. He pronounces it "LEE-veye," like the jeans;

Every interview I've heard him give he is introduced with the pronunciation you give, and he's never corrected anyone. How else would you pronounce it?:confused:

Heck, wasn't the LEE-veye of "jeans" fame Jewish?

[kenobi 65]

Heck, wasn't the LEE-veye of "jeans" fame Jewish?

So Wikipedia says, though it also says that Levi wasn't his birth name:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levi_Strauss

[Hippy Hollow]

Maybe a little OT, but I was shocked when I learned Mel Gibson was born in New York, and Bob Hope in London, UK.

Yeah, but in both instances they spent a lot of time in their adopted homelands. Probably more true of Bob Hope than Mel, who if I'm not mistaken moved to Australia as a teenager.

[astorian]

Here's one: Paul Anka is widely perceived to be Italian, and I've heard him say that, ages ago, Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack took him under their wings because THEY thought he was Italian.

He's actually a Lebanese-Canadian.

[BobArrgh]

John Mahoney, the dad in Frasier, sounds and acts like a typical American. Imagine my surprise when I found out he was born in England during World War II.

Cite: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001498/bio

He lost his accent when he joined the U.S. Army.

[teela brown]

The public tends to think that Nathan Lane is Jewish because he does the "Zero Mostel" comedic styling so well, but he's a Catholic boy. Or so he said on Inside The Actor's Studio.

[Alessan]

LEH-vee

That's the standard pronunciation here in Israel.

The pants are called LEE-vice.

Good one! I can undertand "Scenes" making you think Italian/Catholic, and maybe "Moving Out" since the lead dude is named Tony. OTOH, isn't the point of "Only the Good Die Young" that our hero is looking from the outside of the whole Catholic thing ("You Catholic girls start much too late...") and sort of teasing or mocking it?


Joel grew up as basically the only Jewish kid in a predominantly Italian-Catholic neighborhood in Long Island. Apparently all his friends were Italian, and he grew up immersed in Catholic culture.

[dropzone]

That's the standard pronunciation here in Israel. Thank you! I thought I was going nuts.

[astorian]

The public tends to think that Nathan Lane is Jewish because he does the "Zero Mostel" comedic styling so well, but he's a Catholic boy. Or so he said on Inside The Actor's Studio.

He's a graduate of St. Francis Prep, a Catholic high school in Queens, NY.

[Apollyon]

Well, there are LOTS of actors who've gotten cast regularly in ethnic roles they don't REALLY belong in.Catherine Zeta-Jones has been cast as Middle-Eastern, and Spanish, despite actually being Welsh. :)

[CalMeacham]

Well, there are LOTS of actors who've gotten cast regularly in ethnic roles they don't REALLY belong in

The one who really took me by surprise was Khigh Dhiegh , who played Chinese characters )or, more rarely, Japanese ones) such as Wo Fat in Hawaii Five-O, or Four Finger Wu in Noble House, or others in a host of TV shows and movies. His biggest part was as Judge Djien-dje Dee in Nicholas Meyer's TV movie of Robert van Gulik's The Haunted Monastery.

It turns out that he had not a bit of any oriental in him -- his real name was Kenneth Dickerson, and "Khigh Dhiegh" (and the other elaborate spellings he used) was just his initials "K.D." gussied up with weird spelling. He was Angle-Egyptian-Sudanese. In the aforementioned Judge Dee movie he was, ironically, the only non-Oriental actor in the cast, although I didn't realize this until years later.


http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0223556/

[Wendell Wagner]

To straighten out the comment made earlier on Robert De Niro's ancestry, his father was of Italian and Irish descent and his mother was of German, French, and Dutch descent.

[dropzone]

I guess that shows how worthless my human-pattern-matching can be. :eek:

ABC Afternoon Special moral: Yeah, your brain evolved to find patterns in too-little information, but the internet now provides that information. Whether it's true or not, well, your brain has research capabilities, too.