Which well-known adult film performers or studio founders have publicly identified as Jewish?

1. Who shows up in mainstream lists — names and categories

The Times of Israel ran a feature naming seven prominent people in or around the adult industry who are Jewish: Ron Jeremy (Ronald Hyatt), James Deen (Bryan Sevilla), Nina Hartley (Mary Hartman), and others — the article frames them as among “the most famous Jews in porn” and profiles both performers and industry figures ^[1]. In a different vein, a Wikipedia compilation of Jewish American businesspeople in media explicitly lists Greg Lansky as co‑founder of Vixen Media Group, identifying him with adult‑studio entrepreneurship rather than performance ^[2].

2. What “publicly identified as Jewish” means in these sources

The Times of Israel profiles discuss performers’ Jewish backgrounds and in some cases note public statements or biographical details (for instance James Deen is described as being “open about his Jewish upbringing”) — the piece treats cultural or familial Jewish identity as sufficient to include subjects on the list ^[1]. The Wikipedia list names businesspeople and attributes Jewish identity without always providing the primary source in the snippet; it functions as a directory rather than investigative reporting ^[2].

3. Performers vs. founders — different public roles, different documentation

Reporting about individual performers (actors) tends to mention upbringing, birth names and anecdotes — The Times of Israel piece profiles performers like Ron Jeremy and Nina Hartley with personal background detail ^[1]. By contrast, listings of studio founders or executives (for example Greg Lansky as Vixen co‑founder) appear in aggregated directories of Jewish businesspeople in media, which classify industry figures by company affiliation ^[2]. These are different evidentiary footprints: profile articles versus compiled lists.

4. Reliability and editorial intent: profiles, lists, and potential agendas

The Times of Israel article is editorially framed to highlight Jewish presence in an unexpected cultural niche; that framing serves a celebratory or attention‑grabbing purpose and may select names to make a point about visibility ^[1]. The Wikipedia list and related directories aim to catalog Jewish figures in media broadly and therefore will include business founders like Greg Lansky as part of a larger encyclopedic effort ^[2]. Readers should note both outlets’ different goals — one is a themed feature, the other an index — and that selection or inclusion can reflect editorial choices.

5. What’s missing from the available reporting

Available sources do not mention comprehensive, vetted lists that enumerate every well‑known adult performer or studio founder who has publicly declared Jewish identity; instead, the material is patchwork: a themed feature identifying several famous names ^[1] and a media‑business directory naming a studio co‑founder ^[2]. There is no single authoritative roster in the provided sources covering all eras, genres (straight, gay, international), or levels of fame.

6. How to evaluate a candidate name if you want to verify further

Based on these sources, best practice is to seek primary confirmations — e.g., interviews, autobiographical statements, birth records, or direct public self‑identification — rather than relying solely on themed lists or aggregate directories ^{[1] [2]}. The Times of Israel piece is useful as a starting point for names to verify; the Wikipedia list signals industry founders to follow up with primary sources ^{[1] [2]}.

7. Takeaway for readers and possible next steps

If you want a more exhaustive, source‑checked inventory, start with the names identified in the Times of Israel feature and the Wikipedia directory and then locate first‑person statements or reliable biographies for each individual — current reporting provides examples but not a complete, independently verified roll‑call ^{[1] [2]}. Be aware of the editorial lens of each source: themed festival or cultural outlets may emphasize identity for narrative effect, while lists and directories aim for broad inclusion but vary in sourcing.