Jewish luminaries on screen, on the ice and on the field

BY NATE BLOOM

Now playing in theaters and at home 

“Thank You for Your Service,” which opens in theaters Friday, Oct. 27, follows a group of U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq who struggle to integrate back into family and civilian life. AMY SCHUMER, 36, co-stars as the wife of one of the veterans. This is Schumer’s first big dramatic role.

Opening Nov. 2 is “LBJ,” a bio-pic about President Lyndon Johnson. It covers the period from John F. Kennedy’s assassination until the passage of the 1965 Civil Rights act (with some flashbacks). Woody Harrelson stars as LBJ, with JENNIFER JASON LEIGH, 55, in a supporting role as Lady Bird Johnson and ROB REINER, 68, directing. 

If you haven’t yet seen “The Meyerowitz Tales” on Netflix, you should. Written and directed by NOAH BAUMBACH, 48, the film stars DUSTIN HOFFMAN, 80, as Harold Meyerowitz, a self-absorbed sculptor with a minor reputation. ADAM SANDLER and BEN STILLER, both 51, co-star as Harold’s very different sons (they are half-brothers in the movie). Appearing in important, if not big, roles is JUDD HIRSCH, 80, as a sculptor friend of Harold, and REBECCA MILLER, 55, as Hirsch’s daughter. Miller is the daughter of the late playwright ARTHUR MILLER and the wife of DANIEL DAY-LEWIS, 60 (whose mother was Jewish).

Jews on ice/baseball notes

The National Hockey League season started Oct. 4. Here are the Jewish players lacing up this season: 

MICHAEL CAMMALLERI, 35, left wing for the Los Angeles Kings. He made his NHL debut with the Kings in 2002 and had some great seasons with LA, Calgary, Montreal and the New Jersey Devils. The Devils signed him to a big money contract in 2014 and he was the team’s top goal scorer in 2014-15. However, he’s struggled the past two seasons. The Kings picked him up on waivers in  June. Cammalleri is secular. He’s close to his Jewish mother, the daughter of Holocaust survivors.

JOSH HO-SANG, 21, right wing, for the New York Islanders. His father, Wayne, was born in Jamaica and is mostly of African ancestry. Wayne immigrated to Canada when he was a child. The “Ho-Sang” last name comes from Wayne’s grandfather, a Chinese guy who settled in Jamaica. Joshua’s Jewish mother, ERIKA, moved from Chile to Canada when she was a child. 

Ho-Sang grew up celebrating the Jewish holidays. He was called up from the minors last season in March and performed well in the big league.

ZACH HYMAN, 25, right wing for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Hyman played for Canada in the 2013 Maccabiah Games when the country won the gold medal. He had a great rookie season (2016-17).

 JASON ZUCKER, 24, forward, with the Minnesota Wild. Last year, he had a good season, his fourth in the NHL, with 25 goals and 22 assists. 

Note: TREVOR SMITH, 32, center, and DAVID WAROFSKY, 27, defenseman, spent part of last season in the NHL (Nashville and Pittsburgh, respectively) and could be called-up again this year.

 The Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers were scheduled to begin World Series play on Tuesday. Each team has one Jewish player

ALEX BREGMAN, 23, is the Astros’ third baseman. He was called up late last season. This year, he hit .287 with 19 home runs, 71 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases. He made a great throw home in the ALCS Game 7 that was crucial in Houston winning the pennant. Bregman’s parents are lawyers and members of New Mexico’s oldest synagogue. 

JOC PEDERSON, 25, a Dodgers outfielder, had a horrible season and was sent to the minors in August. He was recalled Oct. 1 and made the Dodgers’ post-season roster. He made the All-Star team in 2015, so there’s a chance he can regain his form. Pederson, whose mother is Jewish, is secular. He played for Team Israel (World Baseball Classic) in 2013.