Hollywood Actors Who Are (Were) in the Cults

The entertainment industry has always attracted spiritual seekers looking for meaning beyond the glitz and glamour. Various religious movements and controversial groups have successfully recruited some of the biggest names in show business over the decades. These organizations often promise stability and enlightenment to stars who navigate a chaotic and high-pressure career path. While some actors remain devoted members to this day, others have fought hard to escape and share their cautionary tales. The following individuals have all been associated with high-profile sects or fringe movements during their lives.

Tom Cruise

This A-list action star is arguably the most famous member of the Church of Scientology. He joined the organization in the late eighties and has since become one of its most vocal advocates. His deep involvement includes credited work in promotional materials and close friendship with church leader David Miscavige. He has credited the group’s study technology with helping him overcome dyslexia and achieving his massive success in films like ‘Top Gun’.

John Travolta

Travolta found the Church of Scientology in 1975 while filming ‘The Devil’s Rain’ in Mexico. The actor has remained a loyal member for decades and often credits the church with helping him handle personal tragedies. He starred in the film ‘Battlefield Earth’ which was based on a novel by the religion’s founder L. Ron Hubbard. Despite ongoing controversies surrounding the organization, he has consistently defended his faith in public interviews.

Joaquin Phoenix

The Academy Award winner spent his early childhood traveling South America with the Children of God. His parents joined the group in the early seventies and the family lived communally while preaching its message. They eventually grew disillusioned with the group’s direction and practices before fleeing back to the United States. Phoenix has spoken about the experience as a period where his parents believed they were finding a like-minded spiritual community.

River Phoenix

Like his younger brother Joaquin, the late ‘Stand by Me’ star was raised within the Children of God during his formative years. He lived in poverty across various South American countries as his family performed missionary work for the group. River later revealed in interviews that he lost his virginity at a very young age due to the group’s controversial practices. His family left the cult in the late seventies and changed their surname to Phoenix to symbolize their new beginning.

Danny Masterson

Best known for his role in ‘That ’70s Show’, Masterson was raised in a Scientologist family and remained a devout member throughout his career. He frequently defended the organization publicly and claimed it helped him avoid the pitfalls of Hollywood stardom. His membership came under intense scrutiny during his highly publicized legal battles in recent years. The actor was eventually convicted of serious crimes that led to a prison sentence.

Giovanni Ribisi

Ribisi was born into a family of Scientologists and has been an active member of the church for his entire life. He often participates in the organization’s gala events and has defended it against critics in various interviews. The ‘Avatar’ actor credits the religion with giving him the stability to navigate a successful acting career. His twin sister Marissa is also a member and was married to fellow Scientologist Beck.

Jason Lee

The ‘My Name Is Earl’ star was a prominent Scientologist for many years after joining in the nineties. He reportedly recruited other actors into the fold and credited the church with his professional discipline. However, he eventually distanced himself from the organization and moved his family to Texas. Lee confirmed in 2016 that he no longer practices Scientology and has left that part of his life behind.

Michael Peña

Peña joined the Church of Scientology in 2000 after hearing about its detoxification program. The ‘Ant-Man’ actor has stated that the religion made him a better actor and improved his personal relationships. He rarely discusses the controversies surrounding the group but focuses on the study technology he utilizes. Peña remains one of the few active Hispanic stars who openly supports the organization.

Ethan Suplee

Suplee is another actor from the ‘My Name Is Earl’ cast who has been deeply involved with Scientology. He married the younger sister of Juliette Lewis, who was also raised in the faith. Suplee has credited the church’s teachings with helping him lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. He remains friends with many other high-profile members within the Hollywood industry.

Jason Beghe

The ‘Chicago P.D.’ star was a Scientologist for over a decade and reached a high ranking within the church. He was originally introduced to the group by acting coach Milton Katselas and became a poster boy for its promotional videos. Beghe publicly defected in 2008 and became one of the organization’s most vocal critics. He has since shared extensive details about the financial and psychological costs of his membership.

Andrew Keegan

Keegan founded a spiritual community center in Venice Beach called Full Circle in 2014. The group held gatherings that mixed various new age philosophies and was raided by state officials for selling kombucha without a license. While Keegan insisted it was a positive community organization, many media outlets and former attendees labeled it a cult. The center eventually closed its doors in 2017 due to financial difficulties.

David Arquette

Arquette was born on a commune in Virginia known as Skymont which followed the Subud spiritual movement. His parents moved the family there to live in a utopian society without electricity or running water. The group followed the teachings of an Indonesian mystic named Bapak and practiced a spontaneous spiritual exercise called Latihan. The family eventually left the commune due to its harsh living conditions and returned to conventional society.

Richmond Arquette

The character actor and brother of David was also raised in the Skymont Subud commune during his childhood. He has described the experience as chaotic and noted that the children ran wild while the adults focused on spiritual exercises. Richmond later left that lifestyle behind to pursue acting like his siblings. The influence of their unconventional upbringing remains a topic of interest in the family’s history.

Jared Leto

Leto created an exclusive retreat for fans of his band Thirty Seconds to Mars called Mars Island. Attendees wore white robes and followed the actor around a private Croatian island during the expensive festival. The star himself posted photos with captions that jokingly referred to the gathering as a cult. Critics have noted the high level of devotion and large sums of money fans pay to be in his presence.

Ezra Miller

Miller has faced serious allegations regarding their conduct and the formation of a cult-like group in Iceland and Vermont. Reports surfaced accusing the ‘The Flash’ actor of grooming minors and running a commune filled with guns and drugs. Witnesses described a situation where Miller acted as a messianic leader who controlled the reality of those around them. The controversies have severely impacted their public image and career trajectory.

Jeff Goldblum

Before he was a blockbuster star, Goldblum was a devotee of Erhard Seminars Training or EST. The self-help movement was famous in the seventies for its grueling marathon sessions and authoritarian leadership style. Goldblum has spoken fondly of the training and even recruited fellow actors to join the sessions. The organization was often characterized by critics as a cult due to its psychological manipulation techniques.

Christopher Reeve

The ‘Superman’ actor dabbled in Scientology during the seventies when he was an aspiring actor in New York. He underwent auditing sessions at the local headquarters but eventually grew skeptical of the process. Reeve later wrote that his skepticism caused him to fail a lie detector test given by the church. He walked away from the group before becoming a full member and never looked back.

Jerry Seinfeld

The comedy icon took several Scientology courses in his early twenties to help with his performance anxiety. He has stated that the communication exercises he learned were helpful for his stand-up career. Seinfeld did not stay with the organization and moved on to other interests shortly after. He remains one of the few celebrities to speak neutrally about a brief encounter with the group without a dramatic exit story.

Brad Pitt

Pitt was introduced to Scientology in the early nineties by his then-girlfriend Juliette Lewis. He reportedly completed two courses at the Celebrity Centre before deciding it was not for him. A former high-ranking church official later claimed that he was personally tasked with trying to bring Pitt back into the fold. The actor has stayed away from the group entirely since his departure.

Patrick Swayze

The ‘Dirty Dancing’ star explored various spiritual paths including Buddhism and Scientology. He reportedly took courses at the church after the death of his father in the early eighties. Swayze eventually decided against joining the organization permanently and continued his own spiritual search. His interest was part of a broader exploration of metaphysical beliefs that was common in Hollywood at the time.

Jeffrey Tambor

Tambor took Scientology classes for a period in his life but eventually left the organization. He later faced criticism when reports surfaced that he had pressured his assistant to join the group. The ‘Transparent’ actor admitted to taking classes but stated he was no longer affiliated with the church. He has since distanced himself from the group amid other personal controversies.

Isaac Hayes

The legendary musician and voice actor was a dedicated Scientologist for many years. He famously quit his role as Chef on ‘South Park’ after the show aired an episode mocking the religion. Hayes remained a staunch defender of the church until his death in 2008. Friends later debated whether his departure from the show was his own decision or influenced by his entourage.

Sonny Bono

Bono became interested in Scientology during the seventies and introduced his wife Cher to the subject. While Cher was uninterested, Bono continued to study the religion and credited it with helping his career. He remained associated with the church until his death in a skiing accident. His widow Mary Bono later became a congresswoman and faced questions about his involvement.

Jeff Conaway

The ‘Grease’ and ‘Taxi’ actor was involved with Scientology for many years during the height of his fame. He credited the church with helping him during his initial struggles with substance abuse. Conaway eventually left the group and later appeared on ‘Celebrity Rehab’ to deal with his addiction issues. He passed away in 2011 after a long battle with health problems.

Michael Fairman

Fairman is a veteran character actor known for roles in ‘The Young and the Restless’ and ‘Firefly’. He was a dedicated Scientologist for decades and even appeared in the organization’s training films. He publicly defected in 2011 and released his declaration of independence from the church online. Fairman has since shared his knowledge of the inner workings of the organization with critics and media.

Bodhi Elfman

Elfman is an actor and the husband of actress Jenna Elfman who is also a devout member. He was born into a Jewish family but joined the Church of Scientology later in life. He has appeared in numerous television shows and is a regular presence at church events. The couple is known for being among the most active celebrity promoters of the faith.

Geoffrey Lewis

The late character actor and father of Juliette Lewis was a Scientologist and raised his children in the faith. He appeared in dozens of films and TV shows while maintaining his membership in the church. Lewis was reportedly very dedicated to the group’s teachings until his passing. His children have continued his legacy of involvement with the organization.

Eddie Deezen

Deezen is best known for playing the nerd character in ‘Grease’ and voicing Mandark in ‘Dexter’s Laboratory’. He has been listed as a Scientologist and has defended the church in online interactions. The actor has maintained a lower profile in recent years regarding his affiliation. He continues to work primarily in voice acting and convention appearances.

Dennis Wilson

While primarily a musician with The Beach Boys, Wilson acted in the cult film ‘Two-Lane Blacktop’. He famously befriended Charles Manson and allowed the Manson Family to live in his home. The cult leader exploited Wilson for money and connections to the music industry. Wilson eventually fled his own home to escape the group’s terrifying influence before the Tate-LaBianca murders occurred.

Emilio Estevez

Estevez was reportedly introduced to Scientology by his friend and co-star Tom Cruise. He appeared in a promotional photograph with Cruise and the church leader but never became a public advocate. His involvement appears to have been brief and he has not been linked to the group in recent decades. The ‘Breakfast Club’ star has kept his spiritual life private since then.

Gary Busey

Busey has been associated with various spiritual movements including Scientology over the years. He has spoken about his interest in the church’s teachings but is not considered a core member like Cruise. The actor is known for his eccentric behavior and openness to different metaphysical ideas. He has not exclusively committed to the group in the public eye.

Val Kilmer

Kilmer is a devout Christian Scientist which is a faith that emphasizes prayer over medical treatment. While not a cult in the traditional sense, the group is often categorized as high-control due to its strict health doctrines. Kilmer relied on prayer to heal a tumor for some time before eventually seeking medical intervention. He has remained loyal to his faith throughout his recovery and career.

Elvis Presley

The King of Rock and Roll was deeply interested in spiritual matters and was a follower of the Self-Realization Fellowship. He regularly visited the group’s headquarters at the Lake Shrine in Los Angeles. Presley developed a close relationship with the organization’s leader Sri Daya Mata. While the group is a recognized Hindu religious organization, his obsession with its teachings was intense and all-consuming.

Prince

The music icon and actor became a Jehovah’s Witness later in life under the influence of musician Larry Graham. He was known to go door-to-door proselytizing in Minneapolis despite his massive fame. The strict rules of the group influenced his music and he refused to perform songs with explicit lyrics. His refusal of blood transfusions due to religious beliefs became a topic of discussion after his death.

Michael Jackson

Jackson was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness by his mother Katherine and was an active member for much of his early adulthood. He would wear disguises to participate in the mandatory door-to-door preaching work. The church’s elders reportedly disapproved of his ‘Thriller’ video and his dance moves. He eventually disassociated from the organization in the late eighties but remained influenced by its teachings.

Donald Glover

The ‘Community’ and ‘Atlanta’ star was raised in a household of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He has spoken about the isolation he felt growing up because he was not allowed to celebrate holidays. Glover has described the experience as confusing and difficult for a creative child. He eventually left the faith but admits it shaped his perspective on the world.

Luke Evans

Evans grew up in a strict Jehovah’s Witness family in rural Wales. He has described the experience of knocking on doors as a child as terrifying and character-building. The ‘Beauty and the Beast’ actor left the religion and his home at age sixteen to pursue a life in acting. He is now openly gay which would be grounds for shunning within the fundamentalist group.

Terrence Howard

Howard has expressed interest in Jehovah’s Witnesses and has stated he wants to be one. He was raised with the teachings and has often spoken about his unconventional views on logic and math. The actor’s spiritual life has been a mix of various influences throughout his career. He continues to express admiration for the structure and beliefs of the Witnesses.

Jeremy Spencer

Spencer was a founding member of the band Fleetwood Mac but left the group abruptly to join the Children of God. He disappeared during a tour and was found days later at the cult’s headquarters. He remained a member of the group for decades and created music for them. Spencer eventually left the organization and returned to a quiet life outside the public eye.

Forest Whitaker

Whitaker has been linked to Scientology in the past and was rumored to have taken courses. He is friends with high-profile member John Travolta which fueled speculation about his involvement. However, he has not publicly declared himself a member or advocated for the church. His spiritual life appears to be eclectic and private.

Share your thoughts on these actors and their unusual affiliations in the comments.