American rock star and Kiss frontman Gene Simmons (pictured here, with his son Nick, in Jerusalem) toured Israel last year with his family, where they were filming two episodes of the hit reality TV show, Gene Simmons Family Jewels.  As guests of the Israel Ministry of Tourism, Simmons and his crew toured and filmed in several destinations around Israel, including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa, the city of his birth. 

                    
American lifestyle personality and TV host Martha Stewart visited Israel in September 2011, where she toured various sites around the country, including the Dead Sea, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and met with various figures and officials. Stewart is pictured above with Haim Gutin, Israel Commissioner for Tourism, North and South America. 

Actress Claire Danes and English actor Hugh Dancy visited Israel for the first time in February 2011 in preparation for the filming of the Showtime original series Homeland, based on the Israeli television series Prisoners of War. Danes and Dancy, who are married, toured the country, visiting historical sites in Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Masada and Caesarea, and spent time at restaurants and nightclubs in Tel Aviv. During a recent appearance on the Late Show with Conan O'Brien, Danes referred to Tel Aviv as "the most intense party town" she had ever visited.

Appearing on the Live! With Regis and Kelly morning talk show, Academy Award-winning actress Helen Mirren spoke of her days living and working on a kibbutz in Israel in the late 1960's. When referring to filming in Israel for her role as a Mossad agent in the 2010 movie The Debt, Mirren mentioned "I love that country, but it's not my first time there. In the '60s...I worked on a kibbutz."

Joel and Ethan Coen, the Academy Award-winning American filmmaking duo, arrived in Israel in May 2011 to accept one of three prestigious Dan David Prizes for 2011 at Tel Aviv University. The award committee recognized the two brothers as a unique phenomenon in the history of cinema, because of their ability "to bring narrative complexity to apparently simple plots." "We've wanted to come here for a long time, but life got in the way," said Joel Coen. "We're very happy for this opportunity. We'll spend a few days at Tel Aviv University."  

Accompanied by American actor Leonardo DiCaprio and Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli, actor Kevin Connolly of the HBO hit series Entourage arrived in Israel for the first time ever in November 2010 where he spent time strolling along Tel Aviv's coastal promenade and visiting historical sites in Jaffa. It reminded me of sitting in South Beach in Miami," said Connolly referring to the Tel Aviv promenade. "There are all kinds of young, good-looking people running around."  

American actor Tobey Maguire arrived in Israel in March 2012 along with his family and as the personal guests of friend and business partner Moshe Hogeg. Maguire attended the official launch party of "Mobli," a smartphone application in which he is an investor, and visited cultural and historic sites around Israel, as well as beaches in Tel Aviv.    

Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman, along with her fiancé Benjamin Millepied and newborn son, Aleph, arrived in Israel last month where she toured the Alrov Mamilla Mall, Mahane Yehuda Market and Western Wall in her hometown of Jerusalem. Portman also made visits to the Dead Sea and Tel Aviv.  

American TV talk show host Kathie Lee Gifford toured Israel this month, alongside her husband, sports broadcaster Frank Gifford. The couple toured various sites around the Holy Land, including historical sites in the Old City of Jerusalem and the Galilee. This was their first trip to Israel in 20 years.  

Legendary French actress Charlotte Rampilng visited Israel from March 25-28 in accordance with a showcase of her films at the Tel Aviv French Film Festival which took place at the city's newly renovated Cinematheque. The festival presented several films from the actress's longstanding career, including The Night Porter, Sous Le Sable and Melancholia.   

The Creative Coalition, a nonprofit charity of the arts and entertainment community, spearheaded a 21-member delegation to Israel to tour the country and meet with arts, culture and business communities in November 2011. The delegation included a group of actors, producers, directors and entertainment executives, including Emmy Award-winning actors Patricia Arquette, Alfre Woodard and Joe Pantoliano, among others.  

                          
Popular American comedian Sarah Silverman arrived in Israel for a one-off performance at Tel Aviv's Wahl Amphitheater, June 25, 2011. Silverman also took part in the third annual Israeli Presidential Conference at the Jerusalem International Convention Center four days prior to her performance.