Oliver Hardy

Born Norvell Hardy in Harlem, Georgia, the future comedic giant shed his birth name and adopted his father's first name, Oliver. While his father was a Confederate veteran and his mother was of English descent, there's no indication that the Hardy family tree ever branched into the Tribe. This, of course, didn't stop him from mastering the art of the long-suffering sigh, a skill many Jewish mothers would recognize.

Hardy’s career spanned over 300 films, first as a villain, then a character actor, and finally, indelibly, as the perpetually put-upon foil to Stan Laurel. His comedic timing and physical humor were impeccable, often culminating in a frustrated tie-straightening or a knowing look directly at the camera, tacitly inviting the audience to share in his exasperation.

While his contributions to cinema are undeniable, leading to a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one might argue his greatest achievement was proving that you didn't need to be Jewish to perfect the art of the kvetch. His on-screen persona was a masterclass in controlled aggravation, a true mensch of mild misery. Alas, the genetics didn't follow the emotional trajectory.