Highlights
- Jason Segel and George Segal are unrelated, unlike a joke on the Hamish and Andy Show in 2010.
- Both actors have distinct family backgrounds and Jewish heritage but no familial connection.
- Segel and Segal have made significant contributions to the entertainment industry in their own right.
Despite a playful joke on the Hamish and Andy Show, actors Jason Segel and George Segal are unrelated, each boasting unique Hollywood legacies.
On August 20, 2010, the Hamish and Andy Show playfully joked about Jason Segel’s familial connection to George Segal.
Did you know that actor Jason Segel wrote a children’s horror book series!? pic.twitter.com/l6R7qpoAxQ
— Horror4Kids (@horror4kids) April 3, 2023
However, this was merely a comedic bit with no basis in reality. Let’s dive into the backgrounds of these two Hollywood stars to understand their unique family histories.
Jason Segel: California’s Homegrown Talent
Born on January 18, 1980, in Santa Monica, California, Jason Segel grew up in the affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
His parents, Jillian (née Jordan) and Alvin Segel, a lawyer, raised him alongside his older brother, Adam, and younger sister, Alison.
Segel’s heritage is a blend of cultures:
- His father is Jewish
- His mother has English, Scottish, Irish, and French ancestry
This mix led to an eclectic upbringing. “I was raised Jewish, as well as a little bit of everything,” Segel has stated.
His religious education included:
- Attending Hebrew school
- Having a Bar Mitzvah ceremony
- Enrolling at St. Matthew’s Parish School, a private Episcopal institution
George Segal: New York’s Versatile Actor
The late George Segal Jr., born in New York City, came from a family deeply rooted in Russian-Jewish immigrant history.
As the youngest of four children, Segal’s early years were spent in Great Neck, New York.
Segal’s family background is rich with interesting details:
- All four grandparents were Russian-Jewish immigrants
- His maternal grandparents changed their surname from Slobodkin to Bodkin
- A paternal great-grandfather ran for governor of Massachusetts as a socialist
Despite his Jewish heritage, Segal was raised in a secular household. He once humorously recounted his limited religious experiences:
“I went to a Passover Seder at Groucho Marx’s once and he kept saying, ‘When do we get to the wine?’ So that’s my [Jewish] experience.”
While Jason Segel and George Segal shared a profession and some cultural background, their family trees remain distinctly separate.
