Friday, November 10, 2006

Famous Actors and Actresses you probably didn't know were Orthodox Christians

It is always amazing to discover that some famous person you have known of for years was an Orthodox Christian. Just tonight, I discovered that Jack Palance, who passed away today, was Orthodox.



Jack Palance, born as Vladimir Palaniuk, Ukrainian Orthodox


Some other such folks that I have run across over the years [Mind you, I make no comments on their level piety -- I am just noting their religious background]:



John Belushi, Albanian Orthodox




Natalia Nikolaevna Zakharenko, better known as Natalie Wood, Russian Orthodox




Yul Borisovich Brynner, Russian Orthodox.




Aristotelis (Telly) Savalas, Greek Orthodox




Telly's God-daughter, Jennifer Aniston, also Greek Orthodox




Mladen George Sekulovich, better known Karl Malden, Serbian Orthodox




Tina Fey, Greek Orthodox




And last but not least, Tom Hanks, who was born.... Tom Hanks. He converted to Orthodoxy after meeting his Greek Orthodox wife, Rita Wilson (who was born Margarita Ibrahimoff)-- thus their connection with the movie, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding".