By Nate Bloom
Contributing Columnist
“Threesome” is a 2/3 Jewish Stars Movie; Check Out “Task,” More
“The Threesome” is a romantic “dramedy.” Here’s the official capsule plot: “A young man’s perennial crush leads him into an unexpected threesome, he thinks it’s his ultimate fantasy come true. When the fantasy ends, all three are left with sobering real-world consequences, to take responsibility for their actions.”
The “three” are played by JONAH HAUER-KING, 30, ZOEY DEUTCH, 30, and Ruby Cruz.
Hauer-King is a handsome fellow. His father, Jeremy King, isn’t Jewish. He’s the owner of many fancy restaurants in the U.K. The actor’s American mother, DEBRA HAUSER, is Jewish. She grew-up in a San Francisco suburb. She is Jewish and was raised in a religious home. She moved to England to produce and direct theater works. Later in life, she became a psychotherapist .
Hauer-King was raised Jewish and has often noted that he’s Jewish in interviews. Interestingly, he graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in theology and religious studies.
I first noticed the actor when he starred in “A Dog’s Way Home” (2019). It was a surprise hit and made 5x its budget. Then, I thought he’d be a big star after he was cast as the Prince in the Disney “real life” version of “The Little Mermaid” (2023). This musical made money, but it didn’t snare the stellar earnings Disney hoped for. For whatever reason, it didn’t make Hauer-King a big name.
I should note that Hauer-King co-starred in “The Tatooist of Auschwitz,” the 2024 mini-series on Peacock. He played LALI, the title (Jewish) character. It was based on Lali’s memoir.
Deutch has worked steadily since 2014, but hasn’t starred in a big hit. She’s a mystery: she’s pretty and has proven that she’s really funny, but hasn’t reached stardom yet. She showed her funny chops in a supporting role in a big hit movie — “Zombieland: Double Tap” (2019).
Zoey’s parents married in 1989. She had a bat mitzvah and she identifies as Jewish. Her Jewish father, HOWARD DEUTCH, 74, is a film and (mostly) TV director. Her mother is actress Lea Thompson, 64 (“Caroline in the City”). She isn’t Jewish.
I advise that you should “test-see” the first episode of “Task,” a 7-episode, crime drama series. It will premiere on HBO on Sunday, Sept. 7. I haven’t seen this episode. But this series has “pedigree.”
“Task” was created by, and written by Brad Ingelsby. He wrote and created “Mare of Easttown,” a terrific crime drama mini-series that premiered on HBO in 2021. It deserved the great reviews it receive and HBO gave Ingelsby a contract for more shows.
If it is really good, I might write more about “Task.” Two actors with a Jewish background are in the series: FABIEN FRANKEL, 31, and MARGARITA LEVIEVA, 45. Frankel, a Brit, is listed as a main cast actor (“Anthony”), but he’s way down that list. I have no idea, now, how important his role is. He will be in all 7 episodes.
Frankel’s paternal grandparents were Jewish. His father died young. I simply don’t know if Fabien’s mother is Jewish, or if he identifies as a Jew. Levieva is a Russia-born, America-raised Jew. I don’t know, now, how many episodes she’s in.
Last week, I said I would lay out how JAKE GYLLENHAAL has emerged as the hottest Jewish actor in the world. Sorry, Jake is postponed for one week.
On Aug. 23, MAURICE TEMPLESMAN died, age 95. I have something to add to the coverage of his death
Basics: He was a diamond magnate. He is most famous as the “romantic companion” of Jackie Kennedy (from 1980 until her death in 1994. They lived together from 1988 to 1994). He never divorced his Jewish wife, who is still alive.
Years ago, I wrote a column that focused on a 2009 (book) biography about John Kennedy, Jr. and Caroline Kennedy. Rose Kennedy, the mother of JFK, had something to say that included Mr. Templesman.
Here’s an excerpt from my column: Jackie Kennedy, whom Caroline most listened to, had no objection to Caroline marrying a Jewish man (Edwin Schlossberg). That’s not surprising since Jackie was romantically involved with Jewish businessman Maurice Templesman from the early ’80s until her death in 1994. Jackie’s sister, Lee Radziwill, married Jewish film director Herbert Ross in 1988. Ross and Radziwill divorced just before Ross’ death in 2001.
[The bio says] that the very aged Rose Kennedy told a friend, after Caroline got engaged [1985], that she [Rose] wondered what the Kennedy women “saw in Jewish men that they were unable to find in men of their own faith.”
Rose Kennedy’s quote proves that she could politely kvetch. Joe Kennedy, her late husband, wouldn’t have been polite if he was alive in 1985.
