Most Famous Liberal Hollywood Actors

From fundraisers and endorsements to climate, voting-rights, and gun-safety advocacy, plenty of leading men in Hollywood use their visibility to push progressive causes. Below are 45 male actors widely known for championing liberal politics, with notes on the issues and efforts they’ve attached their names—and time—to over the years.

George Clooney

Clooney has hosted major fundraisers for Democratic candidates and worked closely with groups supporting voting rights and humanitarian relief. He co-founded Not On Our Watch, then supported its evolution into the Sentry to track corruption tied to conflict. He has campaigned for refugee protection and disaster aid through global appeals. His production work often elevates themes of accountability and press freedom.

Leonardo DiCaprio

DiCaprio centers his advocacy on climate action through the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, supporting conservation and decarbonization projects. He has addressed the United Nations on climate and backed voter-engagement efforts tied to environmental policy. His films like ‘The Revenant’ and ‘Don’t Look Up’ intersect with ecological themes. He routinely supports candidates who prioritize climate legislation.

Robert De Niro

De Niro backs civil-liberties protections and has supported multiple Democratic presidential nominees. He uses festival platforms and interviews to argue for press freedom and institutional integrity. Through Tribeca Enterprises, he connects film culture with civic programs. He amplifies organizations defending minority rights and due process.

Tom Hanks

Hanks supports Democratic campaigns and nonpartisan civic initiatives focused on service and history education. He has funded and narrated projects that underscore equality and democratic participation. He regularly works with veterans’ groups and museums on public-education efforts. He also promotes voter-participation drives during election cycles.

Mark Ruffalo

Ruffalo is a co-founder of the Solutions Project, promoting clean-energy adoption and environmental justice. He campaigns against fracking and contaminated water systems at rallies and hearings. His role in ‘Dark Waters’ aligned with anti-pollution advocacy. He backs labor, healthcare, and climate-focused candidates.

Chris Evans

Evans co-founded A Starting Point to present policy positions and boost civic literacy. He partners with voter-registration groups and supports LGBTQ+ equality and gun-safety measures. His outreach emphasizes voting access and science-based policy. He frequently uses social media to share plain-language explainers from policymakers.

Alec Baldwin

Baldwin has campaigned for Democratic candidates and supported arts funding and public broadcasting. He raises money for gun-safety legislation and free-press protections. He uses high-visibility satire and public commentary to mobilize donors. He participates in climate and education fundraisers tied to cultural institutions.

Sean Penn

Penn co-founded CORE, delivering disaster relief and large-scale public-health support, including testing and vaccination logistics. He advocates for voting rights and anti-corruption efforts in the Americas. His documentary work often pairs with on-the-ground aid programs. He supports press-freedom campaigns and humanitarian corridors in crises.

Samuel L. Jackson

Jackson supports Democratic candidates and turnout initiatives, particularly in key races. He promotes criminal-justice reform and civil-rights protections through nonprofit partnerships. He backs youth education and scholarship programs. His public messages emphasize ballot access and community investment.

Bryan Cranston

Cranston supports education funding, labor protections, and healthcare access. He engages with unions and the arts community on workplace standards. He participates in fundraisers tied to arts education and free-speech advocacy. He regularly speaks about civic participation around stage and screen projects.

Seth Rogen

Rogen co-founded Hilarity for Charity to fund Alzheimer’s care and research. He supports criminal-justice reform, LGBTQ+ equality, and gun-safety policies. He uses press tours to drive donations and recruit volunteers. He amplifies voter-registration resources for younger audiences.

Jim Carrey

Carrey advocates for universal healthcare, environmental protections, and voting rights. He has used political art to rally supporters and donors around progressive causes. He speaks at events focused on science-based policy and climate action. His philanthropy includes children’s health and arts-access initiatives.

John Cusack

Cusack highlights civil liberties, anti-war positions, and press freedom. He supports organizations challenging surveillance overreach and defending First Amendment protections. He backs candidates focused on social-justice reforms. He links festivals and book events with voter-engagement programming.

Joaquin Phoenix

Phoenix is active in animal rights, environmental protection, and criminal-justice reform. He collaborates with nonprofits promoting humane treatment and plant-forward initiatives. He uses awards-season platforms to spotlight systemic issues. He supports climate and equity-focused policies and candidates.

Harrison Ford

Ford has decades of environmental advocacy through Conservation International and similar groups. He promotes biodiversity protection and indigenous stewardship in public forums. He narrates conservation projects and supports land-preservation efforts. He appears at events for candidates who prioritize science-based climate policy.

Matt Damon

Damon co-founded Water.org to expand access to affordable financing for safe water and sanitation. He supports Democratic campaigns tied to climate and global health. He partners with development organizations on microfinance models. He links film publicity to awareness campaigns on water security.

Ben Affleck

Affleck founded the Eastern Congo Initiative to support community-based health, education, and economic programs. He has testified to U.S. lawmakers on conflict minerals and accountable aid. He raises funds for democracy and human-rights initiatives. He supports candidates emphasizing rule-of-law and transparency.

Brad Pitt

Pitt co-founded Make It Right to build sustainable homes after Hurricane Katrina. He backs green design and urban-renewal projects in climate-vulnerable areas. He donates to campaigns aligned with environmental and social programs. He pairs architecture initiatives with community development partnerships.

Don Cheadle

Cheadle champions climate action and anti-genocide campaigns through global NGOs. He fronts awareness drives that connect documentary storytelling to grassroots efforts. He supports voter-participation initiatives and criminal-justice reform. He regularly fundraises for poverty-alleviation projects.

Edward Norton

Norton supports environmental sustainability, affordable housing, and impact-tech transparency. He advises conservation groups and philanthropy platforms. He backs urban-park revitalization and renewable-energy adoption. He supports candidates and ballot measures centered on climate and equity.

Ethan Hawke

Hawke promotes arts education, free expression, and voting access. He appears at civic events supporting public-school funding. His documentaries and stage projects include community talkbacks on justice and equality. He amplifies registration and turnout resources during elections.

Viggo Mortensen

Mortensen supports language rights, indigenous cultural preservation, and civil-liberties organizations. He backs environmental protections and human-rights campaigns. He uses publishing and Q&As to elevate independent journalism. He donates proceeds from creative work to rights-focused nonprofits.

Mark Hamill

Hamill promotes voter registration and media literacy with pro-democracy groups. He supports LGBTQ+ equality and anti-disinformation initiatives. He drives small-donor campaigns tied to election deadlines. He uses fan engagement to spread practical registration tools.

Peter Dinklage

Dinklage advocates for disability rights, inclusive casting, and animal welfare. He collaborates with groups promoting ethical consumer choices. He supports equitable representation across film and television. He participates in accessibility-centered voter-engagement campaigns.

John Boyega

Boyega highlights racial justice, free expression, and police accountability. He speaks at public demonstrations and industry forums on systemic reform. He partners with groups expanding opportunities for underrepresented creators. He supports civil-rights-focused candidates and policies.

Riz Ahmed

Ahmed advocates for Muslim representation, immigration rights, and anti-discrimination measures. He funds initiatives for marginalized storytellers in film and music. He supports turnout efforts aimed at young and minority voters. He connects film releases with philanthropic campaigns.

Kumail Nanjiani

Nanjiani speaks out on immigrant rights, science-driven policy, and healthcare access. He collaborates with nonprofits addressing hate crimes and misinformation. He promotes voter-education resources on podcasts and panels. He appears at fundraisers for civil-liberties organizations.

Jason Momoa

Momoa focuses on ocean conservation, indigenous rights, and climate action. He partners with environmental groups on plastic-reduction and clean-water policy. He speaks at international forums about island nations’ climate risks. He links film promotion to beach cleanups and conservation drives.

Tim Robbins

Robbins has a long record in anti-war work, voting rights, and arts access. He supports labor protections for creative workers. He runs prison-theater programs tied to rehabilitation and civic reentry. He backs measures that expand democratic participation.

Sacha Baron Cohen

Baron Cohen advocates for platform accountability, anti-hate initiatives, and press freedom. He delivers keynotes urging stronger responses to online extremism. He supports civil-rights organizations combating disinformation. He pairs satirical projects with fundraising for community safety.

Michael Sheen

Sheen campaigns on homelessness, voter access, and social-care funding in the UK and U.S. He has redirected fees toward grassroots charities and civic groups. He supports pro-democracy initiatives tied to registration and turnout. He fronts awareness projects connecting sports, arts, and community services.

Martin Sheen

Martin Sheen has decades of activism spanning labor rights, anti-war movements, and environmental causes. He supports immigration reform and nuclear non-proliferation groups. He frequently participates in nonviolent demonstrations and faith-based social-justice efforts. He backs candidates who prioritize human rights and workers’ protections.

Danny Glover

Glover advocates for labor unions, voting rights, and international human-rights campaigns. He serves as a public face for worker-organizing efforts in multiple industries. He supports criminal-justice reform and anti-poverty programs. He appears at fundraisers for candidates aligned with civil-rights agendas.

Diego Luna

Luna supports immigrant rights, civic participation, and democracy-building initiatives. He co-founded cultural projects that amplify independent journalism and documentary storytelling. He backs organizations focused on youth civic education across borders. He uses film promotion to highlight human-rights campaigns.

Gael García Bernal

García Bernal supports refugee protection, press freedom, and Latin American democracy programs. He collaborates with NGOs on human-rights education through film. He promotes independent cinema as a tool for civic engagement. He supports candidates and policies advancing civil liberties and transparency.

Michael B. Jordan

Jordan has pushed for inclusion riders and industry accountability on representation. He supports racial-justice groups and HBCU programs through funding and mentorship. He ties brand partnerships to community grants and youth training. He amplifies voter-engagement resources tied to local elections.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Gordon-Levitt promotes open creativity, civics education, and digital-literacy projects. He partners with classrooms and nonprofits to teach media-creation and critical thinking. He supports small-donor fundraising for arts and education causes. He shares nonpartisan voting tools while backing progressive policies.

Andrew Garfield

Garfield supports LGBTQ+ equality, youth mental-health programs, and refugee assistance. He collaborates with theater charities that expand access to arts education. He links film and stage appearances to fundraising for inclusion. He backs candidates and measures that protect civil rights.

Benedict Cumberbatch

Cumberbatch supports refugee resettlement, LGBTQ+ rights, and climate action. He fundraises for legal-aid groups assisting asylum seekers. He participates in campaigns promoting fair media and science-based policy. He uses major stage runs to drive donations for social services.

Dev Patel

Patel supports education access, refugee protection, and anti-poverty initiatives. He partners with charities funding classrooms and scholarships in underserved communities. He uses premieres to spotlight humanitarian campaigns. He backs policies centered on dignity, inclusion, and opportunity.

John Cho

Cho advocates for AAPI representation, anti-hate initiatives, and immigrant rights. He partners with civil-rights organizations on safety and reporting resources. He supports newsroom diversity and inclusive casting standards. He amplifies voter-protection hotlines and turnout tools.

Oscar Isaac

Isaac supports immigrant and refugee advocacy groups and arts education. He participates in fundraisers for civil-liberties and disaster-relief organizations. He promotes cultural programs that expand access for low-income youth. He backs candidates prioritizing human rights and social services.

Jeff Daniels

Daniels fronts civics-themed performances and community talkbacks on democracy and media literacy. He supports public-school funding and local journalism initiatives. He appears at benefit concerts backing rule-of-law and voting-access groups. He connects regional theater work to voter-engagement drives.

Michael Keaton

Keaton supports environmental protection, workers’ rights, and clean-energy jobs. He fundraises for conservation groups tied to habitat restoration. He backs candidates focused on manufacturing transitions and labor standards. He promotes local journalism and community-college programs.

Ashton Kutcher

Kutcher co-founded anti-trafficking initiatives that partner with law enforcement and NGOs. He supports child-safety legislation and survivor services while engaging tech firms on detection tools. He has testified to lawmakers on reform needs, aligning with victim-protection priorities. He donates to education and public-health programs connected to family services.

Share your thoughts in the comments—who else belongs on this list, and which advocacy work do you think is moving the needle right now?