Perhaps a surprise to some, Brad Pitt was once giving Scientology a try. Danny Masterson. I took a couple of courses. Cruise joined the Church of Scientology during his first marriage to Scientologist Mimi Rogers, after Top Gun had already made him a star. So much for Superman never telling a lie. It seems these days you only need to shake hands with Tom Cruise and youre suspected of being a Scientologist. Doug E. Fresh opened up about his relationship with the Church of Scientology way back in 2009. That was shocking to me. The actor claimed that Scientology saved his life during an interview with Inside Edition in March 2008. Kidman, along with Cruise, adopted two children, who are still Scientologists. The world was shocked when she made the announcement that she was leaving the church in 2013 without any warning. Elizabeth Moss is a fairly new face on the Scientology circuit. I am so much bigger than this career and industry. The organization has had a written program governing celebrity recruitment since at least 1955, when L. Ron Hubbard created "Project Celebrity", offering rewards to Scientologists who recruited targeted celebrities. So theres that. Lynsey Bartilson was born on July 1, 1983, in Edina, Minnesota United States. San Francisco 49er quarterback John Brodiewas a practicing member for years, and even became a spokesperson at one point. She opened up about her time with the controversial organization to Premiere Magazine in September 1993. Sonny's mother, Jean Bono, even admitted that her son had tried to get her to join the controversial religion, "He said, 'It'll be good for you.' She was getting him into Scientology.. However, the actor revealed in 2016 that he and his second wife, Ceren Alkac, who he married in 2008, "don't practice Scientology." I mean if youre not a Scientologist, theres no harm in saying youre not. The Man of Steel, the late, great Christopher Reeve was once a member of the church. Paul Haggis is a famed film director and screenwriter, known for films like Million Dollar Baby and Crash. Leah Reminis name likely comes to mind first if youre thinking of more recent celebrity names. L. Ron Hubbard began Scientology's "Project Celebrity" in 1955, offering a list of 63 high-profile targets and a "small plaque" as a reward to anyone who successfully brought the likes of Bob. After 30 years of growing up in the church, the actress abruptly left in 2013, making news headlines around the country. Christopher Reeve is an American actor who is best-known for his portrayal of the classic DC comic book superhero, Superman. Alley received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1995. After the split, Nicole decided not to stay with the church. This all adds up to one big Scientology secret in our opinion. In 2012 becoming a mother Jennifer developed into creating, directing and producing her own projects. All three of his wives have also claimed that, to some extent, Scientology played a role in the demise of their relationships. His acting career declined through the 1980s, but enjoyed a resurgence in the 1990s with his role in Pulp Fiction (1994), and he has since starred in films such as Get Shorty (1995), Broken Arrow (1996), Face/Off (1997), Swordfish (2001), Be Cool (2005), Wild Hogs (2007), Hairspray (2007), Bolt (2008) and The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009). According to New Idea magazine, Keith has been keeping his Scientology link a secret from family and friends for 20 years. This meant that they were not allowed to speak to their mother, Nicole, at all. The only thing that bothers me about people knowing that is that it is not my complete wacko resume. For years the rumours have circulated and, along with Will Smith, she's donated millions to the Church of Scientology. These extremist views were not something that Michelle was willing to look past. Travolta has previously claimed that being a Scientologist has been a big part of his success. He wasnt with Nicole then, he was pretty hard into it., While another friend told Radar than before Keiths career took off, hed have done anything to be famous, saying: These were lean years for Keith. Tiffany was offered a recruiting position at the Scientology Center, which she accepted, and she also signed the infamous "billion year contract.". Alley played Rebecca Howe on the NBC sitcom Cheers (19871993), receiving an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe in 1991 for the role. So basically, yes, Mimi is responsible for Tom now being so heavily involved with the church. Lynsey Bartilson is one of the Scientologists famous is an American actress, dancer, and singer. Typing "celebrity scientologists" will get you a proper scattering of results; this page is an attempt at codifying the . Her extensive television work led Vulture to name her the "Queen of Peak TV". They levelled a field. Did you know that she was even a fashion model back in the day? I thought, 'Oh, my God, we are sheeple.' Larry Anderson is most well-known for his roles on the soap opera,Days of Our Lives,as well as other television series likeBoston Public, Mork & Mindy,andMad Men. During the early 1990s, he was briefly dating actress Juliette Lewis, another former member of the church, who nudged him to give it a try. But you can do it. Do you think you know of all the celebs that belong to the Church of Scientology? Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were married from 2006 until 2012. In this article, we will take information about the most popular Scientologists around the world. She appears to still be active in the faith today, sharing L. Ron Hubbard quotes on Twitter. Well, at least Jerry Seinfeld is one celebrity who didn't have a terrible experience with the organization. Fairman revealed toVillage Voice that he began having doubts when the leader of Scientology, David Miscavige, kept pressuring him to make expensive purchases. The religion was founded by American author L. Ron Hubbard. Everyone knows Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kelly Preston, and Kirstie Alley are Scientologists. Shes best known as the co-star of The King of Queens, a popular CBS sitcom that also starred funnyman Kevin James and ran from 1998 to 2007. As Leah Remini dishes more dirt on the Church of Scientology, we thought it was high time for a run down of celebrities linked to the controversial religion. Youll be shocked at some of the names we found. For others, like Tom Cruise's first wife, Mimi Rogers, Scientology had more of a hold on them and it took longer for them to work up the courage to leave. She added, "Sonny was a Scientologist. On the other hand, if you are in the religion it could be sketchy to admit it. I live my religion, I consider it a personal thing. Will Smith regularly denies being a member of Scientology but the evidence is kind of hard to dismiss at this point. Although he is technically of Jewish descent, Seinfeld has been said to have dabbled in a few religious practices, including some Buddhist meditation techniques. Her other films include the romantic drama Come Early Morning (2006), the comedy Lay the Favorite (2012), the thriller The Girl on the Train (2016), and the drama The Hero (2017). Katie Holmes probably had the most publicized departure from the Church of Scientology. Lines got blurred. After leaving, he even sued the Scientologist chiropractor for refusing to treat him, according to The Hollywood Reporter. In this case, Demi quit practicing Scientology, and in the end, it was probably the best thing that she could have done for her children. The former Superman actor had once revealed in his own memoir, Nothing Is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life, that he told church administrators about a past-life experience that was actually something from Greek mythology. The Scientology movement has been present in Canada since at least the 1960s. In 1995 Aspen debuted and later went to make guest appearances on several television shows such as Hope & Gloria, and Hills. Jeniffer has nearly 100 credits to her name as an actress. Jason Lee is perhaps best-known for his role as Earl Hickey in the popular series,My Name Is Earl, as well as his role as David Seville in the film,Alvin and the Chipmunks. I know this because I used to do it when I was the head of the office of special affairs, says Mike Rinder, a former Scientologist. Katie filed for divorce. However, Scientology had always placed a strain on their relationship. The actor also told Fox News that the religious group "creates an addiction, so you have to come back for more," which is perhaps why so many celebrities remain in the church to this day. This one: When you are on vacation do you visit volcanoes or are you too scared to be close to the thetans? Things quickly turned sour when users started getting a little too personal asking questions such as Do you feel any empathy towards the many peoples lives and families that have been destroyed by Scientology? He would consider anything that would help him including Scientology!. So, really, Fairman should not have been surprised that he was denied an appointment with his old chiropractor if he was associated with the church. She is currently starring in the comedy series,The Last O.G. Laura Helene Prepon hedonist (born March 7, 1980) is an American actress, director and author. Full Forecast; Menu. And speaking of that show, Moss came under some fire when some thought that the dystopian government depicted in the show was noticeably similar to the hierarchy thats believed to currently exist within the Church of Scientology. In 2014, she told the Guardian Scientology has meant a lot in her life. For years the rumours have circulated and, along with Will Smith, shes donated millions to the Church of Scientology. She expressed in this YouTube video that religion makes her like to be God. I'm out." Moss began acting in the early 1990s and first gained recognition for playing Zoey Bartlet, the youngest daughter of President Josiah Bartlet, in the NBC political drama series The West Wing (19992006). He admitted in his book, "I didn't expect my auditor to be familiar with Greek mythology; I was simply relying on her ability, assisted by the E-Meter, to discern the truth. However, as a former Scientologist, he would know that members are strictly forbidden from communicating with a Suppressive Person, even if that person is your family. Names like Ed Sullivan and Walt Disney were rumored to be potential recruits that ultimately didnt pan out. Temple Grandin is a famous doctor of animal science who forever changed the lives of horses. She was thankful that Remini never "forced Scientology on her." Leah Remini is excellent in the Secret Scientologist because Remini reveals the churchs most shocking alleged Secrets. In 1995 Kirstie Alley received a star on the Hollywood walk fame. In this article we have researched some information about the, out the Most popular Scientologists and their award achievement. But the rumour mill surrounding Tom and his buddy David Beckham has been firing out a whole bunch of stories that all point to the UK soccer star being lured in by the church. "Then, when Paul Haggis' letter came up in 2009, that's when I really started to look at things. Kidman was once married to Hollywood leading man and prominent Scientologist, Tom Cruise. I stopped going to events," he said. He was not going to let this organization take advantage of him or take his money any longer. Shes actually the second of Cruises three wives, with Mimi Rodgers being the first and Katie Holmes being the third, who have all broken away from the church by way of divorce. Up until Remini's public break from the church, Paul Haggis was the most well-known Scientologist to have left. Copyright IBTimes 2023. He was desperate to make it. Jeffrey Tambor has a super recognizable face. Multiple sources have reported that Moore was "heavily courted" by people who were high up in the Church of Scientology. James Packer is most of the wealthy Scientologists with a net worth is $6.4 billion. Blake Lively's 10 Met Gala Looks Ranked (& Our Top Choice Might Surprise You!) That '70s Show and Orange Is the New Black actor Laura Prepon has been a member of the church for over 20 years. Leah. Here are five celebs you may not have known were members of the Church of Scientology. All three of his wives officially left the Church of Scientology as soon as their relationship with the actor was over. Now, she and Remini are still great friends and both on the outside of the confinement of Scientology. Along with Cruise, he is the most notable celebrity within the church, with US Magazine quoting him as saying, "As a Scientologist, I have the technology to handle life's problems and I have used this to help . Recently, Haggis has been faced with claims of harassment. 1 of 37. And yes, as mentioned before, Tom Cruise is still a Scientologist and even Abraham Lincoln knew that. She is also known for her portrayal of Alex Vause in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black (20132019). A lot of sanity. Several former cast members have returned to take on hosting duties. Presley was brought into the Church of Scientology by her mother Priscilla in 1977 but officially left the church in 2014. However, there is absolutely no evidence to back this far-fetched theory up. Ahead of the 2023 Met Gala, the 9-year-old surprised her mom . In this article, we got information about the Most popular Scientologists and their award achievement. The 1968 Roman Polanski film centers on a woman whose husband forces her to have the devil's child. If so, California is an. Valerie Haney, former Scientologist turned whistleblower. Our Spidey senses say otherwise, Jada. let us see, the top 12 most famous Scientologists who left. Leah Remini revealed some surprising facets of Scientology during a Reddit AMA publicizing her new A&E series. As a Scientology member for years, Leah must know a thing or two about what goes down behind their closed doors. When you think of celebrities who have left the Church of Scientology, you probably think of Leah Remini, thanks to her wildly successful docuseries,Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. But Ive taken some courses in Scientology, and theyve been very, very helpful through lifes ups and downs. If we had to bet on it? This list of Scientologists featuresfamous Scientologists who are current practicing members or who died as members of the Church of Scientology. Many celebrities have admitted to having spent hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars in order to get to the desired level in Scientology. Leah Remini was once most known for her role on King of Queens, but now, she is far more well-known for being an outspoken former Scientologist. An HBO documentary called Going Clear potentially has the answer. Hip Hop legend Doug E. Fresh has been a part of the church since the 1980s, thanks to a past collaboration with another well-known Scientologist, the late Issac Hayes. There is no official word on whether or not Demi is dabbling in Scientology again. Elisabeth Moss is a Scientologist, and has defended her faith in interviews. Michelle is good friends with Leah Remini, who we mentioned earlier, and back when Leah was a devout Scientologist, she and Michelle took a few courses together. Vince Offer was born in Israel on April 25, 1964. Other names who are still practicing within the church are Nancy Cartwright, whos most known for her legendary voice acting performance as Bart Simpson, as well as conservative journalist Greta Van Susteren. 2 Nancy Cartwright Nancy Cartwright is an American film and TV series actress, voice artist and comedian. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard was born (well, at least on earth) 107 years ago on March 13, 1911. If you've ever wondered - What celebrities are Scientologists? ? Travolta was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor. The Church of Scientology has become one of the most ridiculed religions since its launch in 1952. Why Does Your Life Flash Before Your Eyes Near Death? On Nov . Recruiting and retaining Scientologist celebrities and promoting Scientology to the wider public have been important to the church of Scientology since its early days. Furthermore, bizarre, leaked videos of Cruise using Scientology rhetoric have been the butt of jokes. Heres what he had to say about that: I was introduced to [Scientology] through Tom, and Im a student of world religion. ", In 2008, the infamous Cher casually revealed toAccess Hollywood that Sonny Bono had actually been a Scientologist, while she was discussing her short-term fling with Tom Cruise. Scientologists are notoriously recruited from celebrity ranks and those of up-and-coming actors and actresses. Leah has even documented being followed and photographed by private detectives who were hired by the church to stalk them, making sure they were aware of her every move, on her show, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on Taylor Swift Nashville tickets was $904 before fees on Vivid Seats. There are more famous things you should know aboutvisitJetfamousto see them. She would eventually win primary custody of her in a decision that would allow Holmes the ability to prevent her daughter to be raised within Scientology. The Bizarre Program to Treat Drug Addiction, What It's Like to Grow Up as a Scientologist, Revelations in Lawrence Wright's Book Going Clear, Auditioning Girlfriends for One Tom Cruise, The Infiltration of the American Government, Thomas Cruise (born July 3, 1962) is an American actor and film producer. Which Actress Do You Think Will Be The Next Meryl Streep? Stanley Clarke is the most popular Scientologists, who is most famous as a Jazz Bassist. And two, the church is so secretive; its hard for journalists to seek out the truth. If someone leaves Scientology, they are considered to be a "Suppressive Person" and Scientology members are not allowed to communicate with Suppressive People at all. It takes the weight off you and things become very easy.. Were talking figures that reach into the millions. Jenna Elfman. James Packer is the chairman of Crown Limited, one of Australias largest Leisure and resort groups. Weve rummaged around in the Scientology closet to find some secretive celebs hiding at the back and some out and proud celebrity Scientologists. www.dopeandbroke.com. And he found that help in a book called Dianetics, written by Scientology founder Ron L Hubbard. The hip-hop star told the world that Scientology was not just for white people and urged people to check it out. It wouldn't matter what it was, simply because no one is going to tell me how I need to think, no one is going to tell me who I can, and cannot, talk to. Jadas response: I have studied Dianetics and appreciate the merits of Study Tech but I am not a Scientologist. Yeah, right. 60 Famous People You Didn't Know Were Scientologists. Former Scientologists have gone on record saying that back in the day, Tom was actively trying to recruit David and Victoria which sounds super creepy. The actor's connections to the Church of Scientology were brought up in the trial. Famous Scientologists include Hollywood movie stars like Elisabeth Moss, but also musical performers like Beck. He toldPremiere,"At that point, I realized it was a con," said Simpson. Other popular names in Hollywood that are former members include Oscar-winning screenwriter Paul Haggis, Lisa Marie Presley, Orange is the New Black actress Laura Prepon, Demi Moore, Russell Crowe, and Chicago P.D. John Travolta has been an active member of Scientology for decades, alongside his wife Kelly Preston, who passed away in July of 2020. While some of these celebrities merely dabbled in Scientology, some were heavily involved in the church for years before finally leaving. But Jada, I had seen her at the Scientology Celebrity Centre all the time.. 8 Elisabeth Moss Mad Men star Elisabeth Moss has had a hot and cold relationship publicly with the church of Scientology. It was said that, in 2016, long after Demi and Bruce had been married and divorced, Demi was in a relationship with Sean Friday, and her interest in the controversial religion was sparked again, according toNational Enquirer. Jerry Seinfeld never considered himself a full-fledged Scientologist, though he admitted to NBCs Today Show in 2007 that he took preliminary courses as an amateur member of the church. It's just one aspect! ", Apparently, we have Mimi Rogers to thank for this recruit as well. What are the different types of watch movements? A fresh take on sports: the biggest news and most entertaining lists. Are you aware of the emotional, psychical and mental abuse that your cult inflicts on people?. By exposing or threatening to expose them, they will cower the person into silence.. Although the Church of Scientology was initially partially exempted by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from paying federal income tax, its two principal entities in the United States lost this exemption in 1957 and 1968. ThePremium offers ad free access to all TheClever content and so much more! In the last few months, the, Just hours before she picked up her Emmy win, she spoke out on, An American actress and star of the sitcom. Heres what we know. He became the first hip-hop artist to endorse the church after being introduced to their beliefs by a girlfriend. And this latest expos from former Scientologist Leah Remini seems fairly credible. Stanley Clarke joined Scientology when Brought to it in the 1970s by fellow musician Chick Corea. Laura Prepon is very vocal about her involvement with Scientology, and even credits it with helping her acting skills. She first gained recognition in 1982 playing the role of Saavik in the science fiction film star trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Not just that, but also that their disembodied spirits live in everyone alive today. 20 Celebrities Who Left the Church of Scientology by Allie Gemmill, Kristyn Burtt August 1, 2022 at 11:05am AM EDT Laura Prepon, Nicole Kidman Stephen Lovekin/Variety, Gilbert Flores for Variety.. Reeve took a few courses but once they started talking to him about recalling past lives, he became skeptical. Michael Pea is another name that might surprise some out there.