George M. Cohan

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, to Irish Catholic vaudeville performers, George M. Cohan was quite literally born into show business. He began performing as a child with his parents and sister in "The Four Cohans," rising quickly to become a prolific songwriter, playwright, and producer. His tunes like "Yankee Doodle Boy" and "Grand Old Flag" practically define early 20th-century American patriotism.

Despite his deep roots in American entertainment and a certain theatrical flair that might suggest otherwise, Cohan was firmly Irish Catholic. There's nary a bagel nor a bar mitzvah in his family tree, making his "Jew or Not Jew" score rather straightforward.

Still, his immense contributions to American culture, from his boundless energy to his catchy, toe-tapping anthems, certainly make him kvell-worthy for any American. He was, after all, the first person in the performing arts to receive the Congressional Gold Medal. Just don't expect him at the seder.