George Segal, vanguard of 1960s wave of young Jewish actors, dies at 87

(JTA) - George Segal, whose career as an actor ranged from shattering Jewish stereotypes in his youth to cheerfully indulging them in his dotage, has died at 87.

The fact that early in his career Segal had to field questions about why he didn't change his name or fix his nose was a testament to how unusual it was at the time for a Jewish actor who could play a plausible tough guy and romantic lead to present as Jewish.

"I didn't change my name because I don't think George Segal is an unwieldy name," Segal told The New York Times in 1971. "It's a Jewish name, but not unwieldy. Nor do I think my...