Was Carol Channing Jewish?

Published August 22, 2021

It’s a right of Jewish passage to wonder who out there in the world is Jewish too, especially famous people like actors, singers, athletes, and even social media stars and YouTubers. It’s just something we do.

So, to better answer the question about whether that person is Jewish or not, we’re partnering with Team JONJ at Jew Or Not Jew, a website dedicated to this exact topic.

Carol Channing

January 31, 1921 – January 15, 2019

America’s obituary writers:We know your job is difficult, especially when you need to profile someone who hasn’t been relevant in years. But is it that hard to fact-check? It’s the least you can do.

Why did Carol Channing, who was never Jewish during her life, become Jewish in her death? Half of her obituaries claim her to be so.

Here’s what the facts say: Carol was 100% goyishe — 3/4 German and 1/4 black. Her supposedly Jewish mother was the child of German goys Henry and Adelheide Ottman. Carol was raised a Christian Scientist. Yes, she had a Jewish husband (the first of four), she adored Jewish culture and even learned to speak Yiddish, but she was not a Jew. She even referred to herself as a “shiksa”.

See, it’s not that difficult to fact-check! If our little website can do it…