Jeremy Allen White, the acclaimed star of The Bear, deeply values his parents, with his mother playing a particularly significant role in his career. He portrays Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto in the hit series, and his mother, Eloise Zeigler White, keeps him updated on the enthusiastic fan reactions to his character.
While White generally avoids social media, he mentioned to Vanity Fair that his mother kindly informs him about online discussions, particularly on Twitter. His parents, Richard White and Eloise Zeigler, reside in New York City and maintain a private life, though his mother has occasionally joined him in the public eye. Eloise has been seen with Jeremy on various occasions, from casual coffee outings to the prestigious 2023 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards red carpet.
Upon receiving his first Emmy award in January 2024 for his outstanding performance in The Bear, Jeremy made sure to acknowledge his parents in his acceptance speech, expressing his love and gratitude for their unwavering support.
Let’s delve deeper into the lives of Jeremy Allen White’s parents, Eloise Zeigler and Richard White, and understand their background and influence.
Fledgling Acting Careers
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749×0:751×2)/jeremy-allen-white-parents-2-4c43404abf2144eab8f81da7179d0073.jpg)
Jeremy Allen White in the press room during the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 10, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. Kevin Mazur/Getty
Both of Jeremy Allen White’s parents were pursuing acting careers when they met. His father was captivated by his mother’s performance in a play in New York City’s Upper West Side, as White shared with GQ U.K. in October 2023. While they initially aimed for Broadway careers, his father transitioned to a day job in deposition recording after Jeremy’s birth.
“Acting was always present in my life, as it was my parents’ profession in their 20s and 30s,” White explained to Fault in 2022. “They met in New York City’s theater scene, and a passion for theater, film, and the art of acting was a constant in our home as I grew up.”
Jeremy followed their artistic path into theater during his youth, later reflecting on the distinctions between stage and screen acting in an interview with Variety.
“The repetitive nature of theater, performing the same material repeatedly for a live audience, builds confidence,” he noted. “In contrast, television and film involve considerable waiting, followed by brief moments to deliver. I often leave set unsure if we achieved the intended outcome.”
Brooklyn Upbringing
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999×0:1001×2)/jeremy-allen-white-parents-3-0411833b8ddb4f8c85a632b385e631cc.jpg)
Jeremy Allen White and his mom Eloise Zeigler. Jeremy Allen White Instagram
Jeremy Allen White and his younger sister were raised by their parents in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn. Even now, with his thriving career, Jeremy maintains a home in this New York City borough.
“I was raised in Brooklyn, and my family is here. We make an effort to visit during the summers to reconnect with friends and family,” he shared with Fault in 2022. “I appreciate those New York summer nights when it remains warm even after sunset. Perhaps I romanticize it slightly, and it might actually be quite uncomfortable. But I do enjoy it here during the summer months.”
North Carolina Roots
Eloise Zeigler’s origins are in North Carolina, a connection that unexpectedly helped Jeremy bond with an actor he admires, Dexter‘s Michael C. Hall. Their encounter happened at a holiday gathering.
“I was quite starstruck and realized I knew a lot about him,” White recounted to The Chicago Tribune. “I blurted out, ‘My mom’s from North Carolina. You’re from North Carolina. My mom went to [the same school as you].’ After that initial burst of nervousness, I calmed down. He was very complimentary about Shameless.”
Encouragement of Physical Activities
Jeremy has mentioned that as a child, he had trouble concentrating in school. As a result, his parents encouraged him to engage in physical activities.
He participated in various sports, including baseball, lacrosse, soccer, and wrestling. However, dancing emerged as his favorite pursuit.
“I was drawn to the performance aspect of it,” he explained to Fault. “I discovered that I could focus while performing, which was something I found challenging, especially as a child, and even to this day.”
SAG Awards Date
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749×0:751×2)/jeremy-allen-white-parents-4-eeaf32c614044fa0bbbecd75856352fc.jpg)
Eloise Zeigler and Jeremy Allen White at the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on February 26, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Amy Sussman/WireImage
Eloise Zeigler was Jeremy’s date to the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards in February 2023. White revealed to GQ U.K. that en route to the red carpet, his mother expressed her excitement, bordering on nervousness, at the prospect of meeting Cate Blanchett. Jeremy humorously downplayed the possibility, but they did indeed encounter the Tár star, who noticed Eloise’s genuine emotional reaction.
White recounted that Blanchett comforted Eloise, expressing her admiration for Jeremy’s work.
“I thought, ‘Surely you have better things to do [than watch me],’ ” Jeremy recalled saying to Blanchett. Blanchett, however, insisted otherwise.
“Meeting an actor’s family is incredibly revealing, and meeting Jeremy and his mother simultaneously was a gift,” Blanchett conveyed to the magazine via email. She also mentioned her role as a producer on Fingernails, a film starring White, adding, “I am indebted to his mother Eloise for making that introduction happen.”
Father’s Jewelry Inspiration
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(679×0:681×2)/jermy-allen-white-parents-5-c574ac26f8904ad5b6d5d4fc63e561f2.jpg)
Jeremy Allen White attends FX’s “The Bear” Los Angeles Premiere on June 20, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Frazer Harrison/WireImage
A close look at Jeremy Allen White’s hands often reveals a ring engraved with the letter W. In a GQ interview, he shared that this ring was his first jewelry purchase, initially intended as a Christmas gift for his father.
“I actually bought this for my father for Christmas, but he has quite large fingers, and it didn’t fit,” he explained. “So, it became mine instead.”
Another piece of jewelry Jeremy frequently wears is a necklace featuring a subway token. This was inspired by his New York City upbringing and the memory of his father always keeping a jar of subway tokens at home.
“Now, everyone in the family has one,” he mentioned, including his mother, sister, father, and estranged wife, all possessing their own subway token necklaces.
Culinary Ineptitude
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999×0:1001×2)/the-bear-1-fb0f67137bad47709f671abc6e94188b.jpg)
Matt Dinerstein / FX on Hulu / Courtesy Everett Collection
While Jeremy inherited his parents’ passion for performance, culinary skills are not a shared family trait. To prepare for his role as chef Carmy in The Bear, Jeremy attended culinary school. He confessed to Falstaff that his parents were not particularly skilled in the kitchen.
“My parents are wonderful, but they are not adept cooks,” he admitted. “For me, ultimate comfort food was grilled cheese and canned tomato soup. When I was unwell, that was always a comforting meal.”
Currently, Jeremy often takes on the cooking responsibilities for family holidays.
“I prepared Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day dinner for my family — quite elaborate meals,” he told PEOPLE in August 2022. “I love a Sunday roast, hearty, almost wintery comfort food. I’ll make short ribs, roasted vegetables, some kind of potato dish. That’s what I enjoy cooking and eating.”
