David Corenswet isn’t the only Jewish “Superman” star I’m obsessed with.
No, I’m not talking about Midge Maisel (though Corenswet’s chemistry with Rachel Brosnahan, who plays Lois Lane, would definitely make Joel Maisel sweat). I’m talking about the actor who plays Clark Kent and Lois Lane’s co-worker, and who is surprisingly quite the ladies’ man: Jimmy Olsen, played by Skyler Gisondo.
I’ve been a huge fan of the actor for years. He keeps winning me over with his comedic timing and heart in movies like “Booksmart” and “Licorice Pizza” and shows like “Santa Clarita Diet” and “The Righteous Gemstones.” It doesn’t matter if he’s on screen for hours or minutes, Gisondo is always such a joy to watch.
And while he did get to act in two Marvel “The Amazing Spider-Man” movies as a kid, playing Gwen Stacy’s younger brother, I was kvelling when I saw him getting this latest superhero moment, buddying it up with the first Jewish “Superman.”
Don’t let the Italian last name fool you. Gisondo, who grew up in Palm Beach and Los Angeles, is pretty, pretty Jewish. He grew up going to Camp Alonim in Simi Valley, and his first tattoo was of the Hebrew words “gam ze ya’avor” — this too shall pass (also the title of this great Israeli rap song).
“I thought my mom would be so sad that I got a tattoo because growing up, it was like, ‘You’ll never be buried in a Jewish cemetery with a tattoo.’ And sure enough, she loved it. God, she almost cried; she thought it was beautiful,” he told Vulture back in 2023. What a mensch! (Also, has someone been cutting onions? Because my eyes suddenly feel a little damp.)
And if that’s not enough (dayenu!), back when he was 18, he got officially certified as a “nice Jewish boy” by none other than Ben Stiller and Robin Williams, may his memory be for a blessing. Getting a Jewish seal of approval from two comedy legends? I think some would call that a second bar mitzvah.
The year was 2014, and Gisondo, who started his acting career at the tender age of 6 in a “Pizza Hut” commercial, was co-starring with the two actors and comedians in “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,” the third installment of the Stiller franchise. Aside from memorizing his lines, Gisondo was graduating high school and preparing for his senior prom, which meant he needed to secure a prom date. The teen had his heart set on one young lady who went by the nickname Hill.
Of course, if Gisondo was going to shoot his shot, he was going to do it in the grandest way possible. And with these giant Hollywood stars at his disposal (along with the movie’s star monkey, Crystal), Gisondo decided to film the ultimate promposal. I really don’t think anyone can, or ever will, surpass it.
Gisondo, who once played young Moe in “The Three Stooges” movie, opens the promposal video by telling Hill that he has a message for her, and then lets his two older co-stars take over.
“Skyler is a nice Jewish boy,” Stiller, who plays Gisondo’s dad in the film, vouches for the up-and-coming actor in the video as Williams — who, fun fact, was college roommates and great friends with “Superman” actor Christopher Reeve — nods along.
“And you’re a nice Jewish girl,” Williams then tells Hill, and pretends to daven. (Williams, who isn’t Jewish, did once say he would’ve made a good rabbi and he is incredible at retelling the Passover story.)
“We don’t sound too much like that,” Gisondo tells him on camera. Williams later attempts more Hebrew in the video, saying “ma nishta adonai,” which I assume is his attempt to say “ma nishtana,” of the Passover questions — he just added in the Hebrew word for God, adonai.
As for Stiller, he continues to keep a straight face and talk about Gisondo keeping kosher.
“Look at this punim,” Williams then urges Hill, using the Yiddish word for face, and kissing the actor’s cheek.
Much to everyone’s confusion, Stiller then tells the camera that Gisondo is a great kisser, alluding to a certain locking of lips: “That time you and the monkey…”
“I probably would’ve stopped at the nice Jewish girl,” an uncomfortable Gisondo then tells the duo, but thanks them for their efforts. He then brings in Crystal the Monkey, who started her career in “George of the Jungle” and most recently played Steven Spielberg’s mother’s pet monkey in “The Fabelmans.” The tufted capuchin joyfully hangs out on his head.
“I’m so verklempt right now,” Williams then says, and Stiller finally breaks into laughter. “A monkey and a rose, it’s so Freudian,” Williams says through tears.
I will say, watching this video, I too am completely verklempt. What a gift it is. (Hill, of course, did agree to go to the prom with Gisondo.)
Having watched Gisondo in many shows and movies, I know he has so many great career highlights ahead of him. But I doubt any will quite compare to this moment with Williams, Stiller and Crystal the Monkey.
