Vittorio De Sica

Vittorio De Sica, the Italian film director and actor, is pretty much synonymous with neorealism, that gritty post-war style that made everyone realize that movies didn't always have to be about glamorous people with perfect hair. His films like "Bicycle Thieves" and "Shoeshine" are still taught in film schools, proving that sometimes, even despair can be art.

Born in Sora, Italy, to decidedly un-Jewish parents, De Sica’s background was as Italian as a plate of pasta. He wasn't known for dabbling in kabbalah or frequenting his local synagogue, preferring instead the drama of cinema and, apparently, bigamy. Yes, he had two wives — concurrently, for a while — which, while not exactly kosher, certainly added a certain flair to his biography.

While he directed a couple of films for producer Carlo Ponti, who happened to be married to Sophia Loren (also not Jewish), there’s really nothing to suggest De Sica had any connection to the tribe. He was too busy racking up awards and breaking matrimonial laws, activities that rarely overlap with Jewish identity.

So, no, Vittorio De Sica was not a Jew. He was an Italian, through and through, with a penchant for cinematic genius and a rather complicated personal life that would make any rabbi clutch his yarmulke. Still, "Bicycle Thieves" is undeniably kvell-worthy, even if De Sica himself wasn't.