Stars Whose Family Members Escaped the Holocaust

Gal Gadot: The renowned Israeli actress, celebrated for her iconic portrayal of "Wonder Woman", carries a poignant connection to the Holocaust through her grandfather, Abraham Weiss. Still in his teenage years, Weiss endured the horrors of imprisonment in Auschwitz. On Holocaust Remembrance Day, Gadot paid a heartfelt tribute to her grandfather, emphasizing the unimaginable loss he endured as his entire family fell victim to the senseless hatred of others. Remarkably, Weiss miraculously escaped death nine times during his harrowing ordeal.

Geddy Lee: The frontman of the Canadian rock band Rush experienced the loss of some of his family members during the Holocaust, but his parents, Morris and Mary Weinrib, managed to survive. Both of them were teenagers when they were imprisoned in Auschwitz, although they were later separated and sent to different concentration camps. Thankfully, they were reunited after the war, got married, and eventually immigrated to Canada in 1947. Reflecting on the past, Lee once asked his mother about her thoughts on liberation. "She didn't believe it was possible. She couldn't fathom how a society outside the camp could allow such atrocities to exist, leading her to believe that society had ceased to exist," Lee shared of her response.

Mila Kunis: The renowned actress, hailing from Ukraine and born to Jewish parents, carries a profound connection to the Holocaust. Fleeing the shadows of religious persecution, Kunis' family sought refuge in the United States as refugees. Tragically, her grandparents bore witness to the atrocities of the Holocaust, emerging as survivors amidst the immense loss that engulfed so many. "My whole family was in the Holocaust. My grandparents survived and not many made it. After the Holocaust, in Russia, you were not allowed to be religious. So my parents raised me to know that I was Jewish. You know who you are inside..."

Miloš Forman: The renowned director, celebrated for his work in films like 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' (1975), also carries the personal story of being the son of Holocaust survivors. However, it was only after the war that Forman learned about his family's past. His adoptive parents, Anna and Rudolf Forman, tragically lost their lives in separate concentration camps. Interestingly, his biological father, a Jewish architect named Otto Kohn, remarkably survived and sought refuge in Ecuador.

Gene Simmons: While Gene Simmons is widely recognized for his pride in his Jewish heritage and his role as a co-founder of the legendary rock band Kiss, his personal history is deeply intertwined with the Holocaust. His mother, Flora Klein, emerged as a survivor from the dark chapters of history, having endured the horrors of a ghetto and three concentration camps in Budapest. She was a mere 19 years old when the war finally came to an end in 1945. . "I did my own research and found out how terrible it was. I've tried to talk about it, but she just doesn't want to. She saw her mother go into the gas chambers. Her whole family was destroyed. My mother was the only one left alive. And she was 14 years old," Simmons said.

Josh Gad: The talented actor, widely recognized for voicing Olaf in the beloved 'Frozen' franchise, is the son of an Afghan-born Jew who later settled in Israel. Gad's grandfather, Joseph Greenblatt, survived the Holocaust. In a heartfelt tribute to his grandfather, Josh Gad expressed, "Born in 1919, he endured and survived the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust. After witnessing the tragic loss of his entire family, he bravely defied evil and survived against all odds to reunite with my grandmother, another survivor, and build a new life in New York."

Tommy Ramone, the drummer of the famous American punk rock band called The Ramones, was originally named Tamás Erdélyi and was born in Budapest, Hungary. Both of Tommy Ramone's parents, who had careers as photographers, managed to survive the Holocaust by seeking refuge with the assistance of their neighbors. Eventually, in 1957, they relocated to New York City.

Ivan Reitman: The renowned Hollywood filmmaker, famous for directing blockbusters like 'Ghostbusters' (1984), was born in Czechoslovakia in 1946 as the son of Holocaust survivors, Leslie and Clara. His family's history significantly impacted his approach to filmmaking. When asked about it, Reitman stated, "As an immigrant, I escaped Czechoslovakia with my parents in 1950. We are survivors of the Holocaust. So my primary aim was always to entertain."

Christian Dior: Not only known for his iconic contributions to the world of fashion, but Christian Dior also carries a personal connection to the Holocaust as his sister, Catherine Dior, was a survivor. She displayed tremendous bravery as a French resistance fighter during World War II, but sadly, she was eventually captured by the Gestapo and sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp, where she remained until May 1945. In a heartfelt tribute to his sister's resilience and sacrifice, Christian Dior later named his debut fragrance "Miss Dior."

Roman Polanski: The enigmatic film director's early life was marked by the horrors of the Holocaust. Born in France, he moved to Poland with his family at a young age. Tragically, at the tender age of three, Polanski witnessed the deportation of both his parents. Managing to escape the Krakow Ghetto in 1943, he miraculously survived, while his mother fell victim to the atrocities of Auschwitz. Despite the immense tragedy, his father's survival at the Mathausen concentration camp was a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.