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Celebrities who have dabbled in Scientology
Posted: February 6, 2024 | Last updated: April 8, 2024
Celebrities who have dabbled in Scientology
Only having been around since 1952, Scientology has skyrocketed in popularity throughout the years, with numerous famous faces having joined its ranks at some point in their careers.
Click through to find out which famous faces have connections to Scientology—you may be surprised!
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Leah Remini
Actress Leah Remini was brought into the church by her parents at the age of nine and raised a Scientologist. The 'The King of Queens' star spent decades with the church before leaving in 2013, burning bridges in her wake. She became a vocal anti-Scientology activist, and in 2016 she created the Emmy-winning documentary series 'Scientology and the Aftermath,' in which she aimed to expose the church's practices. She's now taking it to another level by bringing a lawsuit against the church and its leader, David Miscavige.
“For 17 years, Scientology and David Miscavige have subjected me to what I believe to be psychological torture, defamation, surveillance, harassment, and intimidation, significantly impacting my life and career. I believe I am not the first person targeted by Scientology and its operations, but I intend to be the last,” Remini said in a statement on August 3, 2023. She filed a bombshell 60-page suit with the California superior court, the aim of which is to "require Scientology, and any entity it controls and funds, to cease and desist its alleged practice of harassment, defamation and other unlawful conduct against anyone who Scientology has labeled as an ‘enemy.’” Remini alleges that the church has pursued her with a malicious and carefully planned strategy to destroy her reputation and livelihood since she left, describing their actions as “mob-style operations and attacks." Remini isn't the first person to speak about the church's ruthless retaliation against those who leave and try to speak out about alleged corruption and abuse. She likely has a long and difficult road ahead as she takes on one of the most powerful organizations in Hollywood.
Juliette Lewis
The 'Natural Born Killers' actress is a longtime Scientologist and vocal defender of the religion.
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Juliette Lewis
She told The Daily Beast that the mainstream media funded by the pharmaceutical industry has a vendetta against Scientology.
Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt dabbled in Scientology for three years after being introduced by then-girlfriend Juliette Lewis in the '90s. New information in The Sun surfaced from an ex-follower of the church, detailing Pitt’s turbulent time there, which apparently involved being “twinned” with a 15-year-old girl for up to five hours a day in a hot sauna, and being screamed at as part of therapy.
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Brad Pitt
The time spent with the 15-year-old girl, the teenage daughter of an established Scientologist, was supposedly an element of the “purification rundown,” as part of founder L. Ron Hubbard's method which consists of high doses of vitamins, long saunas, and exercise.
Brad Pitt
Another part of the therapy and training program involved a church supervisor “bullbaiting”–screaming verbal abuses at Pitt. The supervisor, Michael Mallen, who left the church after 40 years and wrote the book ‘Brainwashed,’ said he insulted Pitt, and the actor stormed out.
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Tom Cruise
Cruise is the Church’s poster boy. He became involved with the church in 1990 via his then-wife, Mimi Rogers.
Tom Cruise
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Elisabeth Moss
The 'Handmaid’s Tale' actress was raised in the faith and continues to practice, though she rarely discusses it publicly.
Elisabeth Moss
However, she did defend it in the comment section of an Instagram post in 2017 after a 'Handmaid’s Tale' fan asked about the similarities between Scientology and the religion portrayed in the show.
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Beck
The musician is a second-generation Scientologist who’s been involved in it most of his life.
Beck
He first acknowledged his affiliation in a 2005 interview with The New York Times Magazine.
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John Travolta
Right there with Cruise, Travolta is one of the Church’s most highly prized members.
John Travolta
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Mimi Rogers
The prolific actress was exposed to the faith as a child through her father, who was a member and friends with L. Ron Hubbard.
Mimi Rogers
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Katie Holmes
The actress joined the Church upon her marriage to Tom Cruise.
Katie Holmes
She left it upon her divorce with the faith’s poster boy in 2012.
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Nicole Kidman
Another of Tom Cruise's former wives, Kidman became involved around the same time as their marriage in 1990.
Nicole Kidman
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Christopher Reeve
The 'Superman' star discussed his dabbling in Scientology in his 2002 book 'Nothing Is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life.'
Christopher Reeve
He visited the headquarters in 1975 but decided not to join after reading more about Scientology.
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Kirstie Alley
The actress and spokesmodel became interested in Scientology after moving to Los Angeles in the 1970s.
Kirstie Alley
She has told the Daily Mail that the Church has helped her overcome cocaine addiction.
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Jenna Elfman
The 'Dharma & Greg' actress is an outspoken supporter and member of the Church of Scientology.
Jenna Elfman
She has compared the treatment Scientologists receive to the Roman's persecution of Christianity.
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![<p><span>Though Elvis Presley reportedly said “[ ] those people” after visiting a Scientology center, his daughter was indoctrinated in the 1970s by her mother, Priscilla Presley. </span></p><p><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/community/channel/vid-7xx8mnucu55yw63we9va2gwr7uihbxwc68fxqp25x6tg4ftibpra?cvid=94631541bc0f4f89bfd59158d696ad7e">Follow us and access great exclusive content every day</a></p>](https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1m5ryd.img "Lisa Marie Presley")
Lisa Marie Presley
Though Elvis Presley reportedly said “[ ] those people” after visiting a Scientology center, his daughter was indoctrinated in the 1970s by her mother, Priscilla Presley.
Lisa Marie Presley
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Michael Peña
The 'Ant-Man' actor joined the Church after watching a Jenna Elfman interview with Barbara Walters in the late 1990s.
Michael Peña
He told The Guardian that the religion has made him a better actor.
Alanna Masterson
The 'Walking Dead' actress was raised in the Church of Scientology.
Alanna Masterson
Danny Masterson
The 'That '70s Show' star is Reaiche's stepson and remains involved in the religion.
Danny Masterson
Reaiche has accused Scientology of brainwashing his children in an interview with the Daily Mail.
Giovanni Ribisi
The 'Sneaky Pete' who is also known for his recurring roles in 'My Name Is Earl' and 'Friends' is an active and longtime Scientologist.
Giovanni Ribisi
Erika Christensen
The 'Parenthood' actress was raised in the Church by her parents who also chose to homeschool her.
Erika Christensen
Christensen has defended the religion as recently as June 2018 in an interview with People.
Doug E. Fresh
The rapper best known for pioneering beatboxing joined the faith in the early 2000s and isn’t afraid to defend it.
Doug E. Fresh
He said in a 2009 interview with Essence: "I found it fascinating. It changed how I thought."
Jason Lee
The marriage of the 'My Name Is Earl' actor reportedly fell apart because of his commitment to Scientology, his ex-wife Carmen Llywelyn told Inside Edition.
Jason Lee
In a 2016 interview with The Dentonite, he said he no longer practices the religion.
Catherine Bell
The 'Army Wives' actress is an active member of the Church and has supported several organization affiliated with the faith.
Catherine Bell
Bell has reportedly attained the Scientology State of Clear, one of the major states on the way up the Bridge to Total Freedom.
Nancy Cartwright
The voice behind Bart Simpson, Cartwright joined the Church of Scientology in 1991.
Nancy Cartwright
She donated US$10 million—nearly twice her annual salary—to the Church in 2007, according to the New York Post.
Isaac Hayes
The singer-songwriter and actor became involved in the faith in the early 1990s.
Isaac Hayes
Hayes also voiced the Chef in the popular animated series 'South Park,' but he quit after a 2006 episode poked fun at the religion. Hayes's son said, however, that the Church made him quit against his wishes, according to Billboard.
Anne Archer
The 'Fatal Attraction' actress joined the Church in the mid-1970s and has remained active since.
Anne Archer
In a 2014 interview with The Guardian, Archer states that the religion has been "very meaningful" in her life.
Jerry Seinfeld
The popular actor and comedian admitted he took courses on Scientology in his 30s and he is interested in self-help, he told Today.
Jerry Seinfeld
David Duchovny
David Duchovny shared his close encounter with Scientology in an interview with The Daily Beast. The actor was attending the wedding of a Scientologist friend, actor Jason Beghe, back in 2000. The wedding was held at the church's Celebrity Centre in Los Angeles and members approached him to attempt recruitment. Duchovny admitted that he tried out some of their famed "auditing" procedures, but he quickly decided it wasn't from him when they started asking extremely personal questions. His friend Beghe eventually quit Scientology and branded the church a cult.
Laura Prepon
'Orange Is the New Black' actress Laura Prepon started practicing Scientology in 1999 and has long been seen as one of Hollywood's devout members, but she revealed in 2021 that she actually quit—and without a sound, nearly five years prior. In an interview with People published on August 17, the actress opened up about her decision. "I'm no longer practicing Scientology," Prepon said. "I've always been very open-minded, even since I was a child. I was raised Catholic and Jewish. I've prayed in churches, meditated in temples. I've studied Chinese meridian theory. I haven't practiced Scientology in close to five years and it's no longer part of my life." She says now she and her husband, who has never practiced Scientology, prefer to meditate daily, which has helped her "hear my own voice."
Laura Prepon
In a 2015 interview with Celebrity magazine (via Salon) prior to her departure from the church, she said that the religion had made her "more me."
Will and Jada Pinkett Smith
Rumors connecting the power couple to the controversial religion abound, including Leah Remini's statements that Jada is a member.
Will and Jada Pinkett Smith
Jeffrey Tambor
The 'Arrested Development' actor was reported to be a Scientologist in 2007 in a New York Times Magazine article.
Jeffrey Tambor
He said he took classes for two years but left the Church abruptly because members were pressuring him to leave his second wife, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Charles Manson
The cult leader reportedly said he followed Scientology in the 1970s, according to The Underground Bunker.
Charles Manson
The report contends that Manson started to make progress for the first time in his life thanks to the religion.
J.D. Salinger
The famous American author dabbled in Scientology, his daughter told The New York Times. The eccentric writer pursued the religion alongside other belief systems, including homeopathy and Christian Science.
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