This page lists well-known Jewish atheists and agnostics. Based on Jewish law's emphasis on matrilineal descent, religiously conservative Orthodox Jewish authorities would accept an atheist born to a Jewish mother as fully Jewish.What Makes a Jew "Jewish"? – Jewish Identity A 2011 study found that half of all American Jews have doubts about the existence of God, compared to 10–15% of other American religious groups.

Entertainment Cinema

Woody AllenDart, John. Woody Allen, Theologian Woody Allen Quotes – The Quotations Page – American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, author, playwright, and musician David CronenbergSnowden, Lynn. Which Is the Fly and Which Is the Human? (Interview with William S. Burroughs and David Cronenberg) . (February 1992).Warner, Rick. Cheery Atheist Cronenberg Lauds Insects, Pattinson: Interview. (November 2011). BloombergFilm Threat. (1997). "For me, it's not even worth discussion. It doesn't interest me. It interests me only to be discarded. If I start there, I'm mired in a discussion that is very unfruitful to me. I'm simply a non-believer and have been forever. To discuss religion is to put me in a debate with myself." – Canadian filmmaker, screenwriter and actor, one of the principal originators of what is commonly known as the body horror or venereal horror genre Stanley Donen – film director and choreographer whose most celebrated works are Singin' in the Rain and On the Town Richard Dreyfuss (self-described agnostic) – American actor Sergei Eisenstein – Soviet Russian film director and film theorist Harvey Fierstein – American actor, playwright, winner of two Tony Awards Stephen Fry" – English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter, film director and a director of Norwich City Football Club Keith GordonCashiers du Cinemart Issue 10: Interview: Keith Gordon – American actor and film director Nina Hartley – American pornographic actress, pornographic film director, sex educator, feminist, and author Alejandro Jodorowsky – Chilean director Stanley Kubrick – American film director, writer, film producer, and photographer"The whole idea of god is absurd. If anything, 2001 shows that what some people call "god" is simply an acceptable term for their ignorance. What they don't understand, they call "god"... Everything we know about the universe reveals that there is no god. I chose to do Dr. [Arthur C.] Clarke's story as a film because it highlights a critical factor necessary for human evolution; that is, beyond our present condition. This film is a rejection of the notion that there is a god; isn't that obvious?" Smith, Warren (2010). Celebrities in Hell. ChelCbooks, pg. 68Claudio Masenza said of his friend: "He was an atheist Jew who celebrated Christmas." http://www.archiviokubrick.it/testimonianze/persone/aragno.html John LandisBBC Radio 4. The Film Programme on November 4th, 2011. "When people say that they're not afraid of this or not afraid of that, to me that's very much like people saying I don't like opera, I don't like ballet, or I don't like the theatre. What I've learnt is that means they've never seen a good one, that's all it means. You know, I'm an atheist, but when I saw the Exorcist I was really frightened because of the skill of William Friedkin and what's called the suspension of disbelief." – American film director, screenwriter, actor, producer, collaborated with Michael Jackson Fritz Lang – Austrian-American filmmaker, screenwriter, and occasional film producer and actor. Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962) – American actress, model, and singer (converted to Reform Judaism to marry Arthur Miller, and remained within Judaism even after her divorce from him). Daniel Radcliffe (self-described atheist) – English actor, protagonist of Harry Potter film series Harold Ramis (irreligious, agnostic) – American actor, director, and writer specializing in comedy. Carl Reiner (self-described Jewish atheist) – American actor, film director, producer, writer, comedian, won nine Emmy Awards and one Grammy Award Rob Reiner – American actor, film director, producer, and political activist"We're not equal? How are we not equal?" Rob Reiner on Real Time with Bill Maher, in response to Maher's statement, "I would argue atheists are [not considered equal under the law]". Maher then stated, "For a group that is about 17 percent now... no representation in congress..." to which Reiner replied, "You're right about that-that we don't have that representation. I include myself in that same 17 percent...." Wallace Shawn, American actor, playwright, essayist, screenwriter, atheist.Orel, Gwen (September 3, 2009). "Bag of Tricks". Tablet Magazine.Nathan, John (April 7, 2009). "Interview: Wallace Shawn. He makes Woody look pretty, but he's a pop culture icon". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved November 2, 2020.Jewish United Fund (2016). "Celebrities: Wallace Shawn". Jewish United Fund. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019."Councils, Staff and Board of Jewish Voice for Peace". Jewish Voice for Peace. Retrieved December 22, 2017. Adrienne Shelly (agnosticAdrienne Shelly said: "I'm an optimistic agnostic. I'd like to believe." Rhys, Tim (August 1996), Suddenly Adrienne Shelly , MovieMaker Magazine. Retrieved February 12, 2007.) – American actor, screenwriter and director Todd Solondz – American independent film screenwriter and director known for his style of dark, thought-provoking, socially conscious satire Matt StoneNightline, ABC News, March 25, 2011, Quote: "I am an atheist, I live my life like I'm an atheist."Swanson, Carl. "Trey Parker and Matt Stone Talk About Why The Book of Mormon Isn't Actually Offensive, and the Future of South Park", New York Magazine, March 11, 2011 – American actor, voice actor, animator, screenwriter, producer, musician, South Park Gene Wilder – American actor"Well, I'm a Jewish-Buddhist-Atheist, I guess."

Comedy Eric Andre (atheist and practitioner of Transcendental Meditation) – American comedian, actor, producer, and musician. David Baddiel ("fundamentalist Jewish atheist") – British comedian and television presenter Jack Black – American comedian, actor and musician, Frat Pack comedian group, Golden Globe award Michael Ian Black – American comedian, actor, writer, director. Rodney Dangerfield (self-described "Logical atheist") – American stand-up comedian. David Cross – American actor and comedianAppearance on ABC's "Politically Incorrect" (March 9, 1998) "I was born Jewish, but I am an atheist. I don't believe in God." Larry David (1947–) – American actor, writer, comedian, and producerDolan, Deirdre (2006). Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Book. Gotham Books. p. Front Matter. Jay Foreman (1984–) – English YouTuber, singer-songwriter, and comedian. Myq KaplanAbout Myq Kaplan at his official website – American stand-up comedian Fran Lebowitz (1950–) – American author, humorist and public speaker. Marc Maron (negative atheistMaron, Marc. WTF Podcast, episode 254. (February 16, 2012). "And also, I talk to Bill a little bit about atheism, but I always wonder about the aging atheists. That....and I will put myself in amongst them, only because, as I said, you know, I am not seemingly willing to say categorically "there's no God." I don't know why I'm not willing to. There must be some primal fear in me of some kind. Or maybe there's a shred of hope somewhere. But I don't fight for the atheists' point of view. I'm certainly not religious in any way. I don't have God in my life. I'm not geared that way." ) – American stand-up comedian, radio and podcast host Sarah Silverman (irreligious agnostic) – American comedian, writer, actor, singer, musician Jon Stewart – American comedian, writer, producer, director, political commentator, actor, and television host.

Comic book writers

Neil Gaiman (agnostic) – English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films; works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book

Comic book editors

Stan Lee (agnosticThe Onion: "Is there a God?" Stan Lee: "Well, let me put it this way... [Pauses.] No, I'm not going to try to be clever. I really don't know. I just don't know." Is There A God, The A.V. Club, October 9, 2002.) – American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics

Music

Larry AdlerI was among friends and family who packed a chapel at Golders Green crematorium on Friday to hear more than two hours of tributes to Adler. In accordance with Adler's wishes – he was an inveterate atheist who refused to recognise the supernatural in any shape or form – there were no religious observances." Richard Ingrams, 'Larry Adler: brilliant musician, formidable campaigner', The Observer, August 12, 2001, Observer News Pages, Pg. 24. – American musician, widely acknowledged as one of the world's most skilled harmonica players Irving Berlin (agnostic""God Bless America," a favorite song of believers, was written by Irving Berlin. It now turns out that Berlin was an agnostic. In Freethought Today (Madison, Wisconsin, Freedom From Religion Foundation, May 2004) Dan Barker documents that Berlin, the son of a Jewish cantor, was an agnostic, that "patriotism was his religion."" Warren Allen Smith, Gossip from Across the Pond: Articles Published in the United Kingdom's Gay and Lesbian Humanist, 1996–2005, page 106.) – American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history Aaron Copland (agnostic"Arnold Dobrin similarly reported, "Aaron Copland has not followed the religion of his parents. He is an agnostic but one who is deeply aware of the grandeur and mystery of the universe."" Howard Pollack, Aaron Copland: The Life and Work of an Uncommon Man, page 28.) – American composer Shalom HanochHanoch, Shalom. God Single. "If there was a god," etc. – Israeli rock singer, lyricist, composer, father of Israeli rock Richard Hell – American singer, songwriter, bass guitarist, and writer Billy Joel (1949–) – American pianist, singer-songwriter and composer. Howard Kaylan – American rock and roll musician, best known as a founding member and lead singer of the 1960s band The Turtles, and as "Eddie" in the 1970s rock band Flo & Eddie. Geddy Lee – Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush Tom Lehrer (agnostic atheist) – American singer-songwriter, satirist, pianist, and mathematician Jenny LewisLewis, Genny. Born Secular. "God goes / where he wants, / and who knows / where he is not. / Not in me." – American singer-songwriter musician and actress Gustav Mahler (agnostic"It is particularly poor salesmanship for Ms. Raabe to cite Mahler's supposed conversion from Judaism to Catholicism. In both law and common understanding, a choice made under duress is discounted as lacking in free will. Mahler converted as a mere formality under compulsion of a bigoted law that barred Jews from directorship of the Vienna Hofoper. Mahler himself joked about the conversion with his Jewish friends, and, no doubt, would view with bitter amusement the obtuseness of Ms. Raabe's understanding of the cruel choice forced on him: either convert to Christianity or forfeit the professional post for which you are supremely destined. When Mahler was asked why he never composed a Mass, he answered bluntly that he could never, with any degree of artistic or spiritual integrity, voice the Credo. He was a confirmed agnostic, a doubter and seeker, never a soul at rest or at peace." Joel Martel, MAHLER AND RELIGION; Forced to Be Christian, New York Times.) – Late-Romantic Austrian composer and one of the leading conductors of his generation