By Nate Bloom
Contributing Columnist
In 1938, two Jewish guys, JOE SHUSTER and JERRY SIEGEL, created Superman for comic books. 87 years later, an actor with a Jewish background is finally playing the Man of Steel. The film is simply named “Superman,” and it opens in theaters on July 11.
DAVID CORENSWET, 31, was a surprise choice for the lead role in a new Superman film. Yes, he’s good looking and he’s turned in good performances in HBO and Netflix series — but he certainly isn’t a big name. So, his selection as Superman, when it was announced in 2023, was almost shocking.
Corenswet’s father, a lawyer, comes from a prominent New Orleans Jewish family. His mother isn’t Jewish. David married (2023) in a service that was presided over by a New Orleans-area rabbi and a Catholic priest. The woman he married is Catholic.
I wasn’t happy. I wished Superman would have a Jewish wedding and a Jewish bride. Then a friend pointed out that David wanted a rabbi — which means David identifies as Jewish. Ok, that’s very true — but it’s still not super news.
Here’s hoping Mr. Corenswet is a super Superman.
I was a bit excited when I learned that SKYLER GISONDO, 27, was cast as Jimmy Olsen in “Superman.” Of course, Olsen is the cub reporter who works with Clark Kent, a seasoned reporter who also happens to be the secret, alter-ego of Superman. However, the Olsen character has only a small role in “Superman.”
Gisondo’s paternal grandfather was Italian and not Jewish. The rest of his “grands” were Jewish and he was raised Jewish. He was very active in teen Jewish groups. His many TV and film credits include a main cast role in Righteous Gemstones (HBO).
Gisondo was not the first person with a Jewish background to play Jimmy Olsen. JACK LARSON (1928-2015) played Olsen in the very popular 1950s Superman TV series. Larson’s mother was Jewish, but I never could run down if he was raised Jewish, or anything else.
A “Jewish Journal” (L.A.) article said that Larson did attend (2013) an author talk at an L.A. Jewish community facility about a new book about Superman’s “Jewish roots.” The article said that RICHARD DONNER, 91, was there too.
Donner directed “Superman: The Movie” (1978), the first Superman film since the release of a 1951 low-budget Superman movie. The 1978 movie (starring Christopher Reeve) was a huge hit largely due to Donne. He was a top director and he knew that the first Superman script he saw stunk. He demanded and got a much better script.
I have to believe that Donner and Larson said something at the author talk about being Jewish. But the article just focused on the book. Still, just the fact that Larson showed-up I think showed he had some ties to the Jewish community.
Jews did direct many of the Superman movies and they wrote or co-wrote many Superman screenplays. But only two Jewish actors have had big roles in Superman movies. GAL GADOT, 40, and JESSE EISENBERG, 41, had large roles in “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016).
I do have to mention “Supergirl,” a 1984 movie. Superman wasn’t in it. But a Jewish actress, HELEN SLATER, played Supergirl. Slater, now 61, is a competent actress, but she couldn’t overcome the movie’s lousy script. “Supergirl” bombed.
For the record, since 1978, there have been eight films in which Superman is a major character. Five have been directed by Jews (who seem to live long lives): Donner (died 2021, age 91); Superman II and III (RICHARD LESTER, now 93; most famous for “A Hard’s Day Night”); Superman IV (SIDNEY J. FURIE, now 92); and “Superman: Returns” (BRYAN SINGER, now 59).
The 11th season of Celebrity Family Feud begins on July 10. New episodes air on Thursdays (ABC, 8 PM). All re-play, next day, on Hulu.
Celebrities play for their favorite charities. There is an ABC donation to their charity, win or lose. But they earn a bigger donation if they win a game.
The advance publicity for Celeb Feud never says when a celebrity is scheduled to appear in an episode. That said, here are the Jewish celebs who will appear, sometime, in the next two months: actress PATRICIA ARQUETTE, 57 (her mother was Jewish; she’s not religious); RICH EISEN, 56, sportscaster (NFL Network); and radio program host; actress VANESSA BAYER, 43. She’s best known as an SNL cast member (2010-17). She grew up in a religious home. Her SNL characters included Jacob, the bar mitzvah boy. Finally, actress RENA SOFER, 56, will appear on the Feud. Her father was an Orthodox rabbi. She has landed many primetime TV guest roles and, in 2023, she re-joined the cast of “General Hospital.” She starred on this soap in the ‘90s.
