Why do Jewish and Italian people look similar?

[liamliam]

I've noticed that quite a few of them share similarities. For example:

Ray Romano:







He is Italian but I think could easily pass as being Jewish.

Another example:

Brad Garrett:







He is Jewish but I think looks Italian.

Lady Gaga:







She is Italian but also looks quite Jewish.

Amy Winehouse:





She was Jewish but I always thought she had a bit of an Italian look to her.

John Travolta:









He is Italian but could I think pass as Jewish.

Robert De Niro:



Italian also.

Tony Benett:









Also Italian.

[SkyBurn]

There's a thread about the similarity of Italians and Jews, as well as one on non-Jews who look Jewish.

Use the search tool next time?

[liamliam]

Other examples:

Debi Mazar:











Jewish but looks Italian to me.

Al Pacino:









Italian but could pass in Israel as Jewish.

Fabio:





Italian also.

[Smaug]

I disagree. The Italians you posted looks South Italian and the Jews look Jewish. And Al Pacino looks Jewish? No way, he is just a Dinaro-Med blend.

[EagleAtHeart]

If you're judging by the diaspora, then the simple answer is: A lot of them probably are.

I made a thread about this already:

http://www.theapricity.com/forum/sho...e-non-Italians

[Sikeliot]

I think there are better examples than the ones you posted, i.e. Tony Bennett, Corrado Fortuna, Teresa Mannino, Tammy Pescatelli, and especially Leon Panetta and Jason Biggs (Italian American with an Anglicized surname).

Going the other way, Henry Winkler, Rhea Perlman, and Harold Gould come to mind.

The reason for the similarity is that southern Italians have a lot of West Asian ancestry.

[liamliam]

I disagree. The Italians you posted looks South Italian and the Jews look Jewish. And Al Pacino looks Jewish? No way, he is just a Dinaro-Med blend.

I think Ray Romano and Lady Gaga do look very Jewish. And Brad Garrett and Amy Winehouse look very Italian to me. If I didn't know where any of them where from, that is what I would assume to be their ethnicities. But maybe it's just me

[Sikeliot]

I think Ray Romano and Lady Gaga do look very Jewish. And Brad Garrett and Amy Winehouse look very Italian to me. If I didn't know where any of them where from, that is what I would assume to be their ethnicities. But maybe it's just me

I agree except for Amy Winehouse.. she doesn't look Italian.. although her type does appear in Sicily. This Sicilian woman from Messina looks a bit like her:

[Fröbjörn]

Has anyone else ever wanted to give Fabio a hair cut?

[Gaita]

John Travolta is half Irish btw, his mother is Irish. I think they look similar, more so Southern and Sicilian Italians because of the the similar percentages of SW Asian and West Asian in both.