Over the years, there have been many famous Scientologists whose connections to the Church have stirred up controversy.
Notable members of the Church of Scientology include Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and Elisabeth Moss, but many other celebrity Scientologists fly under the radar.
Why do so many Hollywood stars join the Church of Scientology? In the 1950s, Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard launched an initiative to recruit famous stars to promote the Church in a move that became known as “Project Celebrity,” according to Business Insider.
While the Church of Scientology is open to the public, it has long since catered to famous members, or as the Church’s website puts it, “artists, politicians, leaders of industry, sports figures and anyone with the power and vision to create a better world.”
Thus, the Church has become beloved by some members of Hollywood elite, attracting some of the biggest names in the arts. While many famous Scientologists prefer to stay quiet about their religion, we have gotten insights from celebrities who have left the Church of Scientology.
Actress Leah Remini became one of the Church’s most outspoken critics after she left in 2013, later accusing the Church of playing roles in the physical, emotional, and sexual abuse of its members.
But even with all of the recent bad press, there is still a grip of celebrities who are Scientologists. Many claim Scientology “saved” them and deny the claims set forth by Remini and other former Scientologists.
To see which celebrities are proud Scientologists, read below.
A version of this story was originally published in Dec 2016.
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Rebecca Minkoff
Image Credit: Kristina Bumphrey/Variety Fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff first revealed that she is a Scientologist in a 2021 interview with The New York Times.
“I think there’s a lot of confusion when people hear the word ‘religion’ — immediately you hear that I pray to L. Ron Hubbard,” she explained. “I study it, I take classes and that’s the extent of it, and it’s helped me stay centered. I don’t have all the answers. When I needed someone, it was a place for me to go get some answers.”
Minkoff opened up further about her beliefs while appearing on The Real Housewives of New York City, revealing that she identifies as both Jewish and a Scientologist, and practices both religions.
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Emily Armstrong
Image Credit: Sam Morris/Getty Images Linkin Park lead vocalist Emily Armstrong was allegedly raised in the Church of Scientology, according to the BBC.
After she was announced as the new Linkin Park lead singer in September 2024, Armstrong was accused of supporting Danny Masterson, who is also a Scientologist.
Mars Volta singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala, the husband of one of Masterson’s accusers, Chrissie Carnell-Bixler, claimed that Armstrong is “friends” with Masterson, who was convicted on two forcible rape charges in early 2024.
Bixler-Zavala wrote in an Instagram Story via Rolling Stone: “@linkinpark’s new lead singer is a hardcore Scientologist who supported convicted serial rapist both in and out of court. Emily Armstrong is a true believer of the Scientology cult/criminal organization that engages in human and child trafficking, child and elder abuse, the coverups of countless SAs on children and adults. Also is a true believer of LRH who said Homosexuals are sexual deviants on the same level as pedophiles and all homosexuals should be sent off to a leper colony.”
While she has yet to comment on being a Scientologist, she did comment on Masterson, saying via Variety: “Several years ago, I was asked to support someone I considered a friend at a court appearance, and went to one early hearing as an observer. Soon after, I realized I shouldn’t have.”
“Unimaginable details emerged and he was later found guilty. To say it as clearly as possible: I do not condone abuse or violence against women, and I empathize with the victims of these crimes,” she concluded.
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John Travolta
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety Raised Roman Catholic, John Travolta allegedly converted to Scientology in 1975.
The actor rarely speaks publicly about his beliefs but did defend the Church in 2016 after actress Leah Remini released a documentary criticizing the organization.
“It’s been nothing but helpful to me for 40 years, through all my losses of my mother, my girlfriend, my son,” he told E! News at the time. “They never left my side, so why would I want buy into something that’s not what I feel?”
However, there has been speculation that Travolta distanced himself from the Church after his wife Kelly Preston’s 2020 death after a battle with breast cancer. L Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Church of Scientology, is staunchly against chemotherapy.
Travolta was notably absent from a 2023 Scientology gala, hosted by Tom Cruise.
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Catherine Bell
Image Credit: Getty Images for Hallmark Media Army Wives alum Catherine Bell is a longtime member of the Church of Scientology. She defended the Church to Page Six in 2023, saying, “People don’t really understand what Scientology is.”
“There is so much false information [out there],” she claimed. “I always say read something for yourself, pick up a book and read ‘Dianetics’ [by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard], direct from the source, and then make a decision.”
Page Six also claims the actress appeared in a 2006 promo for the Church.
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Elisabeth Moss
Image Credit: Michael Buckner/Variety The Mad Men alum was reportedly raised in the Church but is notoriously tight-lipped about it.
That said, Moss did defend the religion back in 2017 when a fan compared Scientology to the oppressive situations in her show, The Handmaid’s Tale.
“That’s actually not true at all about Scientology,” Moss wrote in an Instagram comment, per The Guardian. “Religious freedom and tolerance and understanding the truth and equal rights for every race, religion and creed are extremely important to me. The most important things to me, probably. And so Gilead and THT hit me on a very personal level. Thanks for the interesting question!”
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Anne Archer
Image Credit: Taylor Hill/Getty Images. Fatal Attraction star Anne Archer reportedly joined the Church of Scientology in 1975 alongside husband, Terry Jastrow. Her son, Tommy Davis, even served as the head of the Church of Scientology’s Celebrity Centre International in Los Angeles from 2005 to 2011.
Archer spoke about her relationship with the Church to The Guardian in 2014, saying, “Scientology has been very meaningful in my life.”
“My older son has embraced Scientology but my younger son hasn’t, which is absolutely fine. There is no conflict. It’s only true if it’s true for you,” she said.
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Marisol Nichols
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores for Variety In a 2020 interview with Marie Claire, Riverdale star Marisol Nichols said that she has been a member of the Church of Scientology since 1996.
She credited the Church with helping her get sober after a drug addiction. “Honestly, Scientology is what saved my freaking ass,” she said. “I’d probably be dead.”
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Tom Cruise
Image Credit: Christopher Polk for Variety. Tom Cruise is perhaps the most famous member of the Church of Scientology.
The actor was reportedly introduced to the Church by his first wife, Mimi Rogers, in 1986 and quickly became one of the Church’s most prominent members.
Cruise is incredibly private about his religion, which is widely speculated to have played a role in his splits from Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes.
He did give a rare comment on the controversial religion in 2016, saying, per The Daily Beast, “I’ve been a Scientologist for over 30 years. It’s something that is, you know… without it, I wouldn’t be where I am. So, it’s a beautiful religion. I’m incredibly proud.”
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Danny Masterson
Image Credit: James Atoa/Everett Collection That ’70s Show actor Danny Masterson was raised in the Church of Scientology and was vocal about his support of the Church until he was sentenced to serve 30 years to life in prison for raping two women in 2023.
Throughout the trial, Masterson’s accusers, who were also in the Church at the time of the assaults, claimed the Church tried to cover up Masterson’s actions and discourage his victims from going to the police.
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Christopher Masterson
Image Credit: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic via Getty Images Danny’s younger brother, Malcom in the Middle star Christopher Masterson, is also a member of the Church of Scientology, though not as vocal as his brother.
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Alanna Masterson
Image Credit: Penske Media via Getty Images The Walking Dead star, and half-sister of Danny and Christopher Masterson, has also been a Scientologist since childhood.
In 2015, her father, Joe Reaiche, opened up about being estranged from his children after leaving the Church in 2005. “They’re good kids, but they’re ill-informed and they’re brainwashed,” he told The Daily Mail.
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Michael Peña
Image Credit: Michael Buckner/Variety. Michael Peña, known for roles in American Hustle, Fury, and The Martian, talked about being in the Church of Scientology in a 2016 interview with The Guardian.
He credited a Scientology program, Study Tech, for making him a more confident reader. “Which made me a better actor,” he said, “because I felt like it helped my understanding of scripts.”
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Erika Christensen
Image Credit: Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images Parenthood actress Erika Christensen was raised in the Church of Scientology by her parents in Seattle, Washington.
In a 2018 interview with People, she said, “It’s hard to raise someone as a Scientologist because it’s something that you do, it’s not something that you believe.”
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Marissa Ribisi
Image Credit: Rick Kern/WireImage via Getty Images Dazed and Confused star Marissa Ribisi was reportedly raised in the Church of Scientology but does not speak about it publicly.
The actress was previously married to Beck from 2004 until 2021. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Beck identified himself as a Scientologist in a 2005 interview. “Yeah, I’m a Scientologist. My father has been a Scientologist for about 35 years, so I grew up in and around it and stuff,” he said.
The Hollywood Reporter also claimed Ribisi is “heavily involved in Scientology events and fundraising.”
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Giovanni Ribisi
Image Credit: Alberto Rodriguez Marissa’s twin brother, Giovanni Ribisi, is also a prominent member of the Church of Scientology.
The actor, best known for playing Phoebe’s brother in Friends, defended the Church during a 2017 appearance on the Jim and Sam Show, saying, “It’s a personal thing, it’s something that works for me, and I think it’s that simple.”
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Jenna Elfman
Image Credit: Penske Media via Getty Images In a 2018 interview with People, Jenna Elfman revealed that she’s been a proud Scientology since 1990.
“I use it every single day of my life and it keeps me energized and vivacious and happy,” she said.
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Jason Dohring
Image Credit: Michael Buckner/Deadline. The Veronica Mars star was introduced to Scientology by his father and credits the Church with his success in Hollywood.
“The misconceptions that occur with people who haven’t ever read a book about [Scientology], or don’t know what it’s about,” he told BuddyTV in 2008. “They’re just taking someone else’s false opinion of what it is.”
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Michelle Stafford
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images The Young and the Restless star Michelle Stafford is reportedly a member of the Church of Scientology.
Reports allege that Stafford left General Hospital in 2019 after the show wrote a storyline that was eerily similar to the Church of Scientology. The longtime member was allegedly uncomfortable about the shade toward her religion.
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Nancy Cartwright
Image Credit: Chelsea Lauren/Variety. Nancy Cartwright, best as the voice of Bart Simpson, is a longtime member of the Church of Scientology.
In 2023, she was honored by the Church for her cumulative donations of over $20 million, calling the award “the most beautiful acknowledgement I have ever received in my entire life,” according to The Daily Mail.
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Ethan Suplee
Image Credit: David Buchan/Variety. My Name is Earl star Ethan Suplee is widely reported to be a practicing Scientologist for over two decades, but remains quiet on the subject.
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Lynsey Bartilson
Image Credit: Mark Sullivan/WireImage for Hollywood Reporter. In the 2000s, Grounded for Life star Lynsey Bartilson was part of a Hollywood clique that included many current and former Scientologists, including the Masterson siblings, Laura Prepon and Jason Lee.
Today, the actress lives a relatively quiet life but is allegedl still a practicing Scientologist/
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Doug E. Fresh
Image Credit: Variety via Getty Images Rapper and producer Doug E. Fresh revealed his involvment with the church back in 2009 in an interview with Essence.
“It is not just for white people. Scientology is not written with disrespect toward God. It doesn’t worship something that is evil. It is scientific, mathematical, and spiritual. The Black community has to check it out and see what’s there. I’m not saying it’s for everyone, but you have to take a look,” he said at the time.
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Greta Van Susteren
Image Credit: Getty Images According to CBS, news anchor Greta Van Susteren is a Scientologist. Van Susteren revealed her membership to People in 1995, saying she is “a strong advocate of their ethics.”
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