Tevye the Milkman from “Fiddler on the Roof” is an iconic Jewish role which has been played by numerous iconic Jewish actors. First, there was Zero Mostel. Then, there was Topol. Now there’s… Jake Gyllenhaal?!
Well, not yet, but maybe one day.
Yesterday evening, at the LA premiere of his new movie “The Covenant,” Jake told Variety he would consider returning to Broadway for the Sholem Aleichem short stories-turned-musical. (Previously, Gyllenhaal starred in the 2017 revival of the Stephen Sondheim musical “Sunday In the Park with George” at the Hudson Theater.) “At some point, I’ve always loved ‘Fiddler on the Roof.’ I’d love to do that,” he said.
Stop the presses! Somebody let Jake Gyllenhaal star in “Fiddler” on Broadway, stat!
Not only could such a production honor Chaim Topol, who recently passed away at the age of 87, but it could also honor Jake’s own inner child. According to his godmother, Jewish actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who was also present at the premiere, Gyllenhaal almost starred in “Fiddler” when he was a high school senior. Despite winning the role of Tevye, Jake ultimately pulled out of the production to make his movie debut in the 1999 independent film “October Sky.”
OK, seriously, now someone really needs to make this happen; letting Jake Gyllenhaal be in his Tevye era is too good an opportunity to pass up.