Mikhail Baryshnikov

Let's be clear upfront: Mikhail Baryshnikov is not Jewish. Not even a little bit. He's Russian Orthodox, which, while offering some truly spectacular cathedrals and choral music, doesn't get you any points on the Jew or Not Jew scale. So, if you came here hoping for a major Jew-ish revelation about one of the world's most elegant movers, prepare to be mildly (or perhaps gravely) disappointed.

Baryshnikov defected from the Soviet Union in 1974 while on tour in Canada, a move that undoubtedly brought a collective kvell from freedom-loving people everywhere, Jewish or otherwise. He went on to become a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre and later its artistic director, proving that escaping totalitarian regimes can really boost one's career trajectory.

While he might not be lighting Shabbat candles, Baryshnikov did co-found the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City, a multidisciplinary arts center that promotes emerging and established artists. This is a pretty Kvell-worthy endeavor, showing a commitment to nourishing artistic talent, which, if not Jewish in origin, certainly aligns with a certain menschy spirit of cultural enrichment. Plus, he was in Sex and the City as Carrie Bradshaw's Russian artist boyfriend, Aleksandr Petrovsky, a role that, while not Jewish, certainly cemented his place in pop culture history.