Most Famous Progressive Hollywood Actors

From climate action to voting rights and human-rights advocacy, plenty of Hollywood’s biggest male stars have put real weight behind progressive causes. Below are 45 widely known actors whose public work includes fundraising, endorsements, on-the-ground activism, and building organizations that push for environmental protection, civil liberties, and social justice.

Leonardo DiCaprio

DiCaprio created the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation to fund environmental protection and later helped launch Re:wild to scale conservation. He has supported tiger recovery in Nepal, marine reserves, and Indigenous-led forest protection. As a U.N. Messenger of Peace for climate, he has addressed global summits and backed climate nonprofits with multi-million-dollar grants. His social channels regularly amplify campaigns on oceans, biodiversity, and decarbonization.

George Clooney

Clooney co-founded the Clooney Foundation for Justice, which runs TrialWatch and The Docket to monitor courts and pursue accountability for mass atrocities. The foundation funds legal support for journalists and women’s-rights defenders. He has also hosted and headlined major fundraising events for Democratic candidates. Clooney’s advocacy connects celebrity platforms with policy briefings and legal-action partners.

Mark Ruffalo

Ruffalo supports anti-fracking campaigns and climate legislation through coalition groups and public testimonies. He has appeared at marches and organized town-hall discussions on a just energy transition. His outreach often points followers to frontline organizations and voter-registration tools. He collaborates with environmental lawyers and scientists to translate technical issues for general audiences.

Robert De Niro

De Niro has urged support for arts funding and democratic norms in public speeches and interviews. He has participated in events backing Democratic nominees and rule-of-law initiatives. Major outlets have covered his statements opposing authoritarian rhetoric. He uses award-season platforms to underscore civic participation and media freedom.

Samuel L. Jackson

Jackson has fronted national voter-mobilization ads and PSAs that focus on turnout and access. He has supported campaigns against voter suppression and backed candidates aligned with civil-rights protections. His TV and digital spots have targeted key states during recent cycles. Jackson frequently pairs advocacy messages with links to registration resources.

Matt Damon

Damon co-founded Water.org and WaterEquity to expand access to safe water and sanitation via microfinance and utilities partnerships. The organizations report millions of people reached through loans and projects. He regularly briefs policymakers and investors on sustainable water solutions. Field visits and campaign videos translate technical financing into community outcomes.

Ben Affleck

Affleck founded the Eastern Congo Initiative to fund local groups focused on health, livelihoods, and civil society. He has testified before Congress on conflict minerals and accountability measures. The initiative supports Congolese-led projects and policy reforms through grants and partnerships. Affleck’s visits and reports keep DRC issues on U.S. policy agendas.

Don Cheadle

Cheadle helped galvanize anti-genocide activism around Darfur via books, events, and nonprofit campaigns. He has supported Democratic candidates and human-rights legislation. His advocacy highlights early-warning systems and civilian protection. Cheadle’s appearances often direct audiences to vetted humanitarian organizations.

John Cusack

Cusack has campaigned with progressive candidates and labor groups, emphasizing worker rights and anti-corruption reforms. He participates in rallies, town halls, and digital organizing streams. Interviews and op-eds outline his positions on civil liberties and foreign policy restraint. He routinely shares donation and action links during election cycles.

Joaquin Phoenix

Phoenix has been active in climate and animal-rights movements, joining demonstrations and civil-disobedience actions. He used award-season speeches to call for policy shifts on sustainability. Arrest records from a Washington, D.C. climate protest documented his participation alongside other activists. He supports nonprofits focused on plant-based food systems and environmental justice.

Tim Robbins

Robbins has endorsed progressive candidates and campaigned for civil liberties and anti-war positions. He speaks at teach-ins and media forums focused on voting access and speech rights. His projects and public appearances tie arts funding to civic engagement. Robbins collaborates with advocacy organizations on volunteer drives and election information.

Viggo Mortensen

Mortensen has supported anti-war coalitions, human-rights groups, and pro-civil-liberties causes. He has endorsed left-leaning candidates and donated to grassroots organizations. Public letters and interviews detail his critiques of militarism and surveillance. He directs attention to press-freedom and refugee-support groups.

Mark Hamill

Hamill participates in high-profile fundraisers and get-out-the-vote efforts for Democratic campaigns. He uses large social followings to counter disinformation and share election resources. His appearances have helped raise millions for down-ballot races. Hamill’s voice work and livestreams frequently double as civic-education segments.

Alec Baldwin

Baldwin’s political satire on ‘Saturday Night Live’ amplified critiques of Trump-era policies to mainstream audiences. He has supported Democratic fundraisers and public-interest media. Interviews and essays discuss the role of political comedy in civic discourse. Baldwin has long backed arts institutions and civil-rights groups.

Pedro Pascal

Pascal publicly supports LGBTQ+ equality and has highlighted trans-led organizations through red-carpet advocacy. He uses interviews and posts to promote inclusive legal protections. His statements often reference family experience and allyship. Campaign tees and charity collaborations have raised funds for community hotlines and services.

Chris Evans

Evans co-founded A Starting Point, a civic-media platform that posts short interviews with elected officials across parties. The site explains policy basics on topics like voting rights and healthcare. He partners with teachers and nonprofits to use these videos in classrooms. Evans frequently shares registration deadlines and vote-by-mail guidance.

Seth Rogen

Rogen advocates cannabis-policy reform and criminal-justice changes tied to drug laws. He co-founded Houseplant, which publishes safety information and legalization updates. His family’s Hilarity for Charity raises funds and caregiver support for Alzheimer’s communities. He participates in voter-engagement campaigns targeting young audiences.

Jim Carrey

Carrey has produced political art and commentary that spotlight rule-of-law and voting-rights issues. He donates to civil-liberties and environmental groups. Media appearances encourage participation in elections and fact-checking. His exhibits and posts often include links to nonprofits and registrars.

Sacha Baron Cohen

Baron Cohen campaigns against online hate and disinformation, urging stronger platform standards. He partners with civil-rights organizations to push policy and transparency reforms. Speeches and op-eds propose accountability for algorithmic amplification of extremism. He supports voter-education drives that combat misinformation.

Michael Sheen

Sheen funds grassroots projects in Wales and across the UK, including homelessness relief and arts access. He has publicly redirected personal earnings and property for community programs. Sheen supports voter-registration and civic-education initiatives. He collaborates with local councils and nonprofits to scale support networks.

John Boyega

Boyega delivered globally covered speeches at racial-justice rallies and has funded scholarships and training for underrepresented creatives. He partners with organizations focused on police accountability and youth leadership. His production choices promote equity behind the camera. Boyega shares verified donation links and campaign toolkits.

Riz Ahmed

Ahmed backs inclusion toolkits, fellowships, and research to improve Muslim representation in media. He partners with academics and nonprofits to publish data and action plans. His advocacy covers immigration, citizenship, and anti-discrimination policies. Ahmed’s platforms highlight mentorship and funding opportunities for emerging artists.

Jesse Williams

Williams works with the ACLU and movement organizations on voting rights and policing reform. He co-founded ventures that finance social-impact storytelling and civic apps. Awards-show speeches and campus talks link awareness to donation and policy steps. He regularly joins turnout and ballot-education campaigns.

Kal Penn

Penn served in the Obama White House on youth outreach and AAPI initiatives. He continues to lead campus voter-registration tours and public-service Q&As. Penn’s shows and podcasts feature segments on immigration and civic basics. He collaborates with nonprofits on election-info text lines and toolkits.

Sean Penn

Penn founded CORE, which provides disaster response, testing, vaccination, and long-term recovery services. The organization partners with local governments, unions, and NGOs. Its programs train community health workers and emergency staff. CORE reports deployments from the Caribbean to U.S. cities affected by crises.

Danny Glover

Glover has decades of labor and human-rights organizing with unions and anti-poverty coalitions. He supports voting-rights legislation and appears at worker-solidarity events. As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, he highlights education and health access. Glover bridges grassroots campaigns with philanthropic donors.

Robert Redford

Redford founded the Sundance Institute to support independent storytellers and diverse voices. He advocates public-lands protection and climate action through essays and events. Redford has supported bipartisan conservation initiatives and youth organizing. His institutes run labs that incubate social-impact films.

Daniel Radcliffe

Radcliffe supports LGBTQ+ youth services, including crisis-intervention and suicide-prevention programs. He funds educational materials for schools and families. Interviews stress inclusive policies and respectful media representation. Radcliffe also donates to children’s health and welfare charities.

Kumail Nanjiani

Nanjiani advocates immigrant rights and fair treatment for visa holders in creative and tech fields. He shares explainers on policy impacts and legal resources. His projects spotlight creators from underrepresented communities. Nanjiani fundraises for civil-rights organizations and refugee aid.

Taika Waititi

Waititi fronts anti-racism and anti-bullying campaigns and supports Indigenous storytelling initiatives. He partners with schools on classroom resources addressing bias. Charity drives combine humor with direct donation links and action steps. Waititi collaborates with LGBTQ+ groups on equality campaigns.

Bradley Whitford

Whitford is active with voting-rights groups and frequently appears at phone-banks and fundraisers for down-ballot races. He amplifies redistricting and ballot-access information on social platforms. Whitford supports reproductive-rights and gun-safety organizations. He joins panel discussions that translate policy texts into voter-friendly guides.

Edward Norton

Norton supports environmental and housing nonprofits, including data-driven energy-efficiency projects. He has worked with the U.N. on biodiversity finance and community development. Norton helps produce impact documentaries tied to conservation and justice. He backs turnout campaigns and civic-tech tools during election years.

Ethan Hawke

Hawke advocates arts education and free-expression protections through festivals, schools, and writer-actor coalitions. He supports criminal-justice reform and public-defender resources. Interviews and essays stress the link between cultural funding and democratic participation. Hawke partners with literacy programs serving low-income students.

Gael García Bernal

García Bernal co-founded Ambulante, a nonprofit documentary festival that brings human-rights films to underserved communities. He supports migrant-rights work across the Americas. His projects elevate investigative storytelling about democracy and memory. The festival provides training and grants to local organizers.

Forest Whitaker

Whitaker founded the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative, which trains youth in conflict mediation and entrepreneurship. Programs operate in regions affected by violence, focusing on civic skills. He works with UNESCO on peace-education frameworks. Whitaker regularly briefs stakeholders on community-level prevention strategies.

Jason Momoa

Momoa campaigns for ocean conservation and water protection, especially for Indigenous communities. He has supported anti-single-use-plastic legislation and beach-cleanup coalitions. Momoa collaborates with surf, dive, and Pacific Islander groups on habitat restoration. Product partnerships funnel proceeds to marine nonprofits.

Ian McKellen

McKellen has decades of LGBTQ+ rights advocacy, from anti-Section 28 campaigning to global equality initiatives. He supports youth helplines, theater access programs, and HIV/AIDS charities. McKellen uses tours to fundraise for local community centers. He engages lawmakers and educators on inclusive policies.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Gordon-Levitt’s online platform HitRecord funds collaborative arts that often spotlight social topics. He supports digital-literacy and anti-misinformation education. Public talks encourage civic creativity and community storytelling. He partners with educators to integrate media-making into civics curricula.

Orlando Bloom

Bloom serves as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, visiting crisis zones to promote education, WASH, and child protection. He participates in emergency appeals and policy briefings. Campaigns pair his field videos with donation links and advocacy asks. Bloom also supports anti-trafficking and refugee-aid groups.

Michael B. Jordan

Jordan backs inclusion pledges in film financing and crew hiring, including first-look deals prioritizing underrepresented creators. He supports criminal-justice reform and STEM education programs. Campaigns he leads often include mentorship and scholarship components. Jordan collaborates with brands to route funds to community partners.

Patton Oswalt

Oswalt fundraises for voting-rights, gun-safety, and LGBTQ+ organizations through comedy shows and livestreams. He contributes to bail funds and legal-aid nonprofits. Oswalt’s social channels promote election deadlines and reputable fact sources. He frequently joins phone-banks and postcard-writing drives.

Rainn Wilson

Wilson co-founded Lidé and supports climate-focused philanthropy and Arctic awareness campaigns. He produces educational content on mental health, spirituality, and civic kindness. Wilson collaborates with scientists to communicate climate impacts. He backs school programs that integrate climate literacy.

Martin Sheen

Sheen has a long record of nonviolent civil-disobedience actions for peace, labor, and environmental causes. He supports faith-based and secular charities serving unhoused neighbors. Sheen’s speeches at campuses and parishes emphasize service and voting. He appears at union halls and community fundraisers nationwide.

Adrian Grenier

Grenier co-founded ocean-cleanup and urban-sustainability initiatives, promoting plastic reduction and habitat restoration. He partners with municipalities on circular-economy pilots. Grenier’s campaigns include consumer guides for low-waste living. He supports youth environmental entrepreneurship accelerators.

Diego Luna

Luna co-founded Ambulante with Gael García Bernal, expanding documentary access and civic dialogue. He supports migrant- and labor-rights groups in Mexico and the U.S. Luna’s productions foreground democratic participation and historical memory. He participates in town-hall screenings with NGOs and educators.

Share the progressive male actors you’d add to this list—and which specific causes of theirs you follow—in the comments.