Who Are Jack Black’s Parents? Everything To Know About Judith Love Cohen And Thomas William Black

As a die-hard Jack Black fan, I can’t help but be in awe of the incredible legacy his mother, Judith, has left behind. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance, creativity, and love. From dancing with the New York Metropolitan Opera Ballet Company to becoming an accomplished aerospace engineer, Judith was a true multi-talented woman.

While Jack Black has made quite an impact in the entertainment industry, it’s important to acknowledge that his success wouldn’t be possible without the significant contributions of his parents, Judith Love Cohen and Thomas William Black, who have excelled in other fields as well.

As reported by People magazine, Jack’s parents were both aerospace engineers who contributed to the Hubble Space Telescope project. Interestingly, his mother played a crucial role in guiding Apollo 13 back to Earth safely in 1970 when its oxygen tank malfunctioned.

When Jack was ten, both Cohen and Thomas divorced. Sadly, his mother passed away in 2016. It appears that the actor had a tight bond with his parents. For more information about them, read the article.

Judith was working when she went into labor

According to reports, this couple got married around the middle of the 1960s. Their son, the actor who voiced Kung Fu Panda, was born in 1969. They brought up their child in Hermosa Beach, California before parting ways.

In another tribute posted on the USC Viterbi School of Engineering’s website, Neil, one of her sons, stated that she was engrossed in resolving issues at work when she suddenly went into labor. To inform her boss about solving the problem, Judith made a call. Afterward, she gave birth to Jack.

Jack Black’s parents parted ways in 1979

Regrettably, Judith and Thomas’ marriage ended in 1979 through divorce. Subsequently, Judith married David A. Katz, while her ex-husband established a new family overseas. Later on, he returned to the United States, settling in Washington state to reside on an apple orchard, as reported by People magazine.

More about Jack Black’s parents’s professions

It was a tradition in their family to excel in prestigious professions and establish a reputation for themselves. According to the article from the mentioned publication, both of his parents held roles as aerospace engineers and contributed to the development of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Initially, Jack’s mother pursued mathematics at Brooklyn College. However, she eventually decided to switch fields and delved into engineering instead. After two years, she moved to the University of Southern California. Simultaneously, she held a job as a junior engineer at North American Aviation.

Following her graduation, Judith commenced employment at the Space Technology Lab until her retirement in 1990. Her accomplishments within her field are impeccable, as evidenced by her role in rescuing Apollo 13 when an oxygen tank exploded, a fact corroborated by her son Neil.

Judith was married before tying the knot with Thomas

Judith got married to someone named Bernard Seigel prior to her wedding with Thomas. They had met when she was a freshman at Brooklyn College. Together they raised three children: Neil, Howard, and Rachel. Their marriage ended in the mid-1960s as reported by the publication.

According to reports from the outlet, Neil held positions as a computer scientist and system engineer, while unfortunate events took Howard’s life in 1991 due to AIDS. The Jewish Chronicle shares that Jack spoke about this loss, expressing his feelings: “Death was not swift; we all witnessed his decline. At just 31 years old, he was far too young to be taken away from us. We lost something valuable. It was particularly difficult for my mother when Howard passed. She has never truly recovered since then.

Judith established a publishing company after her retirement

After retiring in 1990, Jack’s mother didn’t slow down. Together with her third spouse, David, they founded a publishing company aimed at inspiring young girls to delve into the realm of science.

It’s said they authored a collection of books titled “You Can Become a Woman…”, and these books ultimately sold more than 100,000 copies.

Additionally, the company released a captivating biography about four women, entitled “The Women of Apollo,” among whom she was one of them.

Judith was also a ballet performer

According to their report, Neil stated that his mother wasn’t merely an aerospace engineer; instead, she explored her artistic inclinations by dancing ballet professionally. By the tender age of 19, she had already joined the Corps De Ballet of the New York Metropolitan Opera Ballet Company.

To focus on her engineering profession, she temporarily gave up ballet dancing. However, in 1964, she discovered folk dancing and continued to enjoy it as a pastime for the remainder of her life.

Thomas and Judith were the biggest cheerleaders for Jack’s career

In 2011, during an interview with The Guardian, the actor mentioned that his parents were always encouraging of his creative pursuits. He also noted that they attended every school play he performed in and even drove him to auditions when he was 13 years old.

Judith bid adieu to the world in 2016

On the USC site, it was shared by her son, Neil, that she had fought cancer and sadly passed away at the age of 82 on July 25th, 2016.

Actor from Goosebumps posted on Instagram a heartfelt tribute for his deceased mother. The photo he included was of himself and Judith, accompanied by the message, “I deeply miss you, Mom.

In an earlier post, he shared a vintage photo of his mother from 2023, highlighting her remarkable career achievements in the aerospace industry. Accompanying the picture, he wrote, “Indeed, my mom was a trailblazer… not just as a caring parent, but also an accomplished aerospace engineer. I dearly miss you, mom.

2024-10-25 17:22