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20 Greatest Jewish Dads

There’s a reason “The 10 Worst Sitcom Dads Of All Time” are (mostly) Gentile: Jewish dads are stereotypically excellent fathers. Eccentric, domineering, overly forthcoming about personal sexual experiences, Jewish fathers nevertheless have their children’s best interests at heart. Also, they tend to be more well-off, frequently working as lawyers, bankers, or movie producers. Without further ado, here are the 20 Greatest Jewish Dads In The World.

20. Jerry Stiller
You may remember him as Frank Costanza, George’s bellicose and unsupportive father on “Seinfeld,” but Jerry Stiller is a real-life father as well. This bus driver’s son and Brooklyn native is father to Ben Stiller, one of today’s most popular nebbishy leading men.

19. Michael Bloomberg
New York’s mayor and richest man, Michael Bloomberg is also father to two girls, Emma and Georgina. Though they were featured in the documentary “Born Rich,” about kids who were born into impossible luxury, Georgina and Emma are down-to-Earth gals, fighting for animal rights and their father’s continued control of public schools.

18. Noah Levenstein (played by Eugene Levy)
The only character found in all six “American Pie” movies, Noah Levenstein is Jim Levenstein’s dad. Played by Eugene Levy, Noah has big eyebrows and a big heart, helping his son through the awkward teenage years with anecdotes about “stroking the salami” and penis cream.

17. Aaron Spelling
Not only did television producer Aaron Spelling bring “Melrose Place” and “90210″ into the world, he also fathered the untalented Tori Spelling. For this, we’ll forgive him.

16. Bernie Madoff
Not all fathers care enough about their children to defraud investors and pensioners out of $50 billion. Since 2001, Bernie’s two sons have raked in at least $80 million from the Ponzi scheme, and probably much more!

15. Charles Kushner
It’s the usual story. Charles Kushner worked his whole life as a real estate magnate so his son, Jared Kushner, could spend all his father’s money buying magazines and models. Jared is the owner of the “New York Observer” and proud fiance of Ivanka Trump.

14. Kirk Douglas
Before there was Gordon Gekko, there was Kirk Douglas. Michael Douglas’ father, Kirk was the original bad ass, playing boxers, cowboys, and soldiers. By his own admission, he made a career of playing “sons of bitches.”

13. Willy Loman
One of drama’s greatest losers, Willy Loman is the protagonist in Arthur Miller’s “The Death Of A Salesman.” Loman wants to create a better life for him and his sons but cannot manage to stop dreaming and start working. He takes his own life by crashing his car into a tree.

12. Woody Allen
Though comedy director and writer Woody Allen have children of his own early in life, he married Soon-Yi Previn, a young woman commonly thought of as his stepdaughter. In response to public outcry against this May-December, nearly incestuous pairing, Allen said, “The heart wants what it wants.”

11. Charles Schumer
Family man and the senior senator from New York, Charles Schumer is your classic wise, liberal Jewish father. Not only does he have good sense, he also scored 1600 on his SATs.

10. Tony Curtis
Consummate ladies man and film star, his greatest contribution to the world is his daughter Jamie-Lee, whose topless scene in “Trading Places” awakened a generation of young men.

9. Norman Mailer
With six wives and nine children, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Norman Mailer is nearly a king. At least, he operated as though he were, stabbing his second wife with a pen knife and nearly killing her.

8. Sandy Cohen
Sandy Cohen, a tough-minded liberal lawyer, was Seth Cohen’s father on the television soap opera “The O.C.” Played by Irishman Peter Gallagher, Cohen was firm but fair, and always had bagels at the ready.

7. Carl Reiner
Comedian, writer and director Carl Reiner is the Jewish dad everyone wants. He’s wildly successful and has more connections than Facebook. He’s the father of “Stand By Me” director Rob Reiner.

6. Stephen Schwarzman
Founding partner at The Blackstone Group, Stephen Schwarzman is the 53rd richest man in America with over $7 billion. He threw his son an extraordinary Jamaican wedding boasting over four hours of fireworks.

5. Rodney Dangerfield
Funny man Rodney Dangerfield is perhaps best-known for his portrayal of Thornton Melon, a businessman who enrolls in college for the first time, becoming classmates with his son. In real life, Dangerfield briefly quit comedy to support his wife and family, selling aluminum siding.

4. Alan Arkin
Another Jewish actor well-known for playing fathers on the silver screen, Alan Arkin portrayed Murray Samuel Abromowitz in “The Slums of Beverly Hills” and creepy grandfather Edwin Hoover in “Little Miss Sunshine.” He is father to less successful actor Adam Arkin.

3. Henry Kissinger
Kissinger turns the kindly Jewish dad stereotype on its head. A proponent of Realpolitik, Kissinger was central to the illegal bombing of Cambodia during the Vietnam War. Though Kissinger had two children with his first wife, he has since been linked to starlets like Zsa Zsa Gabor and Candice Bergen.

2. Mel Brooks
One of comedy’s greatest living legends, Mel Brooks directed and produced masterpieces like “History of the World Part I” and “The Producers.” One of his sons, Max Brooks, wrote the popular “Zombie Survival Guide.”

1. Bruce Paltrow
Even if he did nothing else, Bruce Paltrow brought Gwyneth Paltrow into the world, a woman whose existence proves Intelligent Design. He also helped produce “Homicide: Life on the Street,” another thing of beauty.

We love our dads. Check out these 15 Videos Of Parents Pranking Their Kids and this father teaching his son to be Mega Man.

Posted by Dan Haley, who is a fan of dads.

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