Harrison Ford
• Harrison Ford was born in Chicago, Illinois to Dorothy Nidelman (born Dora Nidelman on October 17, 1917 in New Jersey), a former radio actress, and Christopher Ford (born John William Ford on November 20, 1906 in New York; died February 10, 1999), an advertising executive and a former actor. Ford’s maternal grandparents, Harry Nidelman and Anna Lifschutz, were Jewish immigrants from Minsk, Belarus who met in Brooklyn and moved to New Jersey. His Catholic paternal grandparents were John Fitzgerald Ford (an Irish American vaudeville performer) and Florence Veronica Niehaus (a German American). Ford’s parents were left-wingers and not particularly practicing members of any religion, and Ford, when asked as to what religion he was raised in, jokingly responded, “Democrat”, though his parents did take him to occasional services. Speaking of his heritage, Ford has said that he feels “Irish as a person but I feel Jewish as an actor”.
• The original name of Dorothy Ford is Dora Nidelman. She changed her first name to Dorothy when a teenager. She did not like the Jewish traditions observed by her family. Dora was born in New Jersey in 1917. Her mother Anna Livshutz arrived in New York in 1907 from Minsk.
• (2002) Now 81, Dorothy lives in Southern California and maintains a close relationship with her son.
April 23rd, 2006 at 11:17 pm
Interesting. According to a journalist I know in Mogilev, Belarus, the famous actor Kirk Douglas was born there. However, according to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirk_Douglas) he was born in the United States, whereas his parents were Jewish immigrants from Gomel, also in Belarus. I have sometimes entertained the idea that it would be nice if someone could get Kirk’s son Michael to assist democratic forces in the family’s home country.
Best regards,
Tobias
April 24th, 2006 at 3:53 am
It would be great if they assisted our democracy transition by making a film about modern-day struggle for our freedom. I guess that’s the best thing they could do.
April 24th, 2006 at 12:31 pm
endrus: you are asking for too much. ;)
April 24th, 2006 at 12:33 pm
Tobias Ljungvall: Michael Douglas is definetely aware of his Belarusian roots. I remember watching him on Larry King a year or year an half ago, and in response to one of the King’s question he said something like this character trait is because of my Jewish roots “from Belarus” or something like that. Of course, I don’t remember the exact quote it was a long time ago.
April 24th, 2006 at 12:34 pm
> I have sometimes entertained the idea that it would be nice if someone could get Kirk’s son Michael to assist democratic forces in the family’s home country.
And Wayne Gretzky. That would cover the whole entertainment sector: from movies to sports. ;)
April 24th, 2006 at 7:39 pm
Heh those are some nice ideas endrus :) Keep hoping mebe it will happen :D
Tobias Ljungvall “I remember watching him on Larry King a year or year an half ago, and in response to one of the King’s question he said something like this character trait is because of my Jewish roots “from Belarus” or something like that”:
Guess what I found here :) It’s the transcript of that show I believe… well atleast the only one I could find. However he does say something different than you described. Might not be the one you were talking about.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0508/10/lkl.01.html
“M. DOUGLAS: I thought, Larry, that there was an interesting history between my father, as an immigrant, arriving in this country from Belarus, his incredible arc of an immigrant family and all that he’s accomplished and then, my generation and picking it up.”
April 24th, 2006 at 7:43 pm
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0508/10/lkl.01.html
“M. DOUGLAS: I thought, Larry, that there was an interesting history between my father, as an immigrant, arriving in this country from Belarus, his incredible arc of an immigrant family and all that he’s accomplished and then, my generation and picking it up.”
That’s the one! Thank you! :)
April 24th, 2006 at 8:28 pm
Hey, that sounds as if Kirk Douglas really was born before his parents moved from Belarus to the United States, contrary to what Wikipedia states. I wonder, was it in Gomel or Mogilev…?
April 25th, 2006 at 12:08 pm
Administrator “That’s the one! Thank you! :)”:
Welcome, glad to be of service :)
Tobias Ljungvall “Hey, that sounds as if Kirk Douglas really was born before his parents moved from Belarus to the United States, contrary to what Wikipedia states. I wonder, was it in Gomel or Mogilev…?”:
I dunno… anyone has his email? Ask him :) I’m sure he’ll be quite more interested in your email than the usual fan questions.
April 29th, 2006 at 4:53 am
Gwyneth Paltrow says: “I am the result of generations and generations of rabbis back in Minsk. They call it a rabbinical dynasty.”
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Gwyneth Paltrowitch! Your roots are showing!
Posted on 01.02.06 by laya @ 1:54 pm
http://www.jewlicious.com/index.php/category/popalicious/page/2/
Gwyneth Paltrow, the WASPiest looking woman on earth, a direct descendant of Rabbi David Ben Samuel Ha-Levi, a famous 17th-century authority on Jewish law, and great-great-great granddaughter of Rabbi Tsvi Paltrowitch, the Gaon of Nitzy-Novgorod in South West Russia is keeping in touch with her Jew-roots;
Gwyneth Paltrow has started taking her Jewish roots seriously after missing out on two years of fasting during the religion’s high holy days.
The actress was pregnant with baby Apple in 2003 and breastfeeding her daughter in 2004, so she made sure she honoured Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in style in 2005.
And Paltrow plans to pay tribute to her ancestors every year from now on.
She says, “I am the result of generations and generations of rabbis back in Minsk. They call it a rabbinical dynasty.”
Such Yichus! Gwyneth, we’re shepping nachas! Give little Applele a kiss on her shayna punim for us and we’ll see you in shul next year darling!
May 4th, 2006 at 8:48 pm
Let me remind you that Shimon Peres (Persky) was born in Minsk too. As a matter of fact near Minsk …
“The Perelman family belonged to the Intelligentsia circle in Volozhyn. Moyshe Perelman’s father was the Vishnievo Rabbi (Vishnievo - a small shtetl near Volozhyn, in which Shimon Peres was born).”
http://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/volozhin/vol317.html
Levi Eshkol (Shkolnik) the 3rd Israeli Prime Minister.
http://www.eilatgordinlevitan.com/kurenets/k_pages/skolnick.html
December 14th, 2006 at 12:23 am
I have personally talked with Kirk Douglas about his ancestry. He clearly stated that he was born in Belarus.
January 28th, 2007 at 2:58 am
OMG I can not believe what I found here! Everytime I see Harrison Ford, I see my cousin in looks and mannerisms. It is so bizaar!
I’ve been trying to trace our family history back in Minsk Russia which is where my grandmother came from about 1904. The lo and behold I just saw that Harrison Ford’s mother, Dorothy Ford’s mother, Anna Livshutz arrived in New York in 1907 from Minsk (his grandmother). My grandmother’s mother’s name was Miriam Livschutz or Lifkowitz, her sister’s name was Anna. Too much coincidence.
Can anyone help me contact Dorothy Ford, or have her contact me, so I can find out where in Minsk and if she is related to my Grandmother’s family. The coincidence is just too much to believe!
THANK YOU!
Jill
iandjfamily@aol.com
January 28th, 2007 at 3:12 am
PLEASE HELP - OMG I can not believe what I found here! Everytime I see Harrison Ford, I see my cousin in looks and mannerisms. It is so bizaar!
I’ve been trying to trace our family history back in Minsk Russia which is where my grandmother came from about 1904. Then lo and behold I just saw that Harrison Ford’s mother, Dorothy Ford’s mother, Anna Livshutz (Harrison’s grandmother) arrived in New York in 1907 from Minsk. My grandmother’s mother’s name was Miriam Livschutz or Lifkowitz, her sister’s name was Anna. Too much coincidence. Perhaps Anna Livshutz and my grandmother were first cousins from the same shetyl?
Can anyone help me contact Dorothy Ford, or have her contact me, so I can find out where in Minsk and if she is related to my Grandmother’s family. The coincidence is just too much to believe!
THANK YOU!
Jill
iandjfamily@aol.com
August 29th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
hi.. just wondering… i was in florence italy, last weekend.. and i went to the museum, where the famous “el david” of michel angelo is… and i think i saw harrison ford there… do any one know if im right… ???… thanks..ciao!
February 2nd, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Thanks for sharing
February 6th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Indiana Jones the best
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March 24th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I’d prefer reading in my native language, because my knowledge of your languange is no so well.
June 19th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Always was, always will be.