Actor James Franco celebrated his Bar Mitzvah – 24 years late – on Saturday night, with a star-studded bash hosted by friend and frequent collaborator Seth Rogen.
The pair were joined at the Hollywood Palladium by a number of their celebrity pals, including Miley Cyrus, Bill Hader, the Jewish rock band HAIM, and “Rabbi” Jeff Goldblum, who performed a mock “circumcision” on Franco to welcome him into Jewish manhood.
The event, streamed live on Funny or Die, was a fundraiser for Rogen’s Hilarity for Charity organization, which raises money for Alzheimer’s research.
The celebrations were reminiscent of any Bar Mitzvah, albeit with a bit more star power: Franco was lifted on a chair while HAIM played along with the traditional Jewish song “Hava Nagila.” Joan’s on Third delicatessen catered the event, and guests were reportedly offered temporary tattoos of Franco’s face.
According to Billboard, Hader auctioned off a Seth Rogen-signed yarmulke to benefit the charity, with the traditional Jewish skullcap reportedly going for $3,400.
Cyrus also got in on the act, assembling an ad hoc band called Miley Cyrustein and the Super Jews. The group performed a cover of Rick James’ “Super Freak,” with Cyrus donning a large Jewish star, and also dedicated a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “I’m Your Man” to the bar mitzvah boy.
Rogen introduced Cyrus and served as the evening’s MC.
“This is so much better than when they played ‘Barbie Girl’ at my bar mitzvah,” Rogen joked, explaining he’d spent his own celebration “trying to get a hand job as ‘Cotton-Eyed Joe’ played.”
Billboard reported that the event raised more than $2 million for Rogen’s charity.
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