Behind The Curtain
Despite all the fame and riches, celebrities can get involved in some shady things—like, cults, for instance. Turns out that many of the stars we've come to know and love have been linked to secretive, domineering organizations, and wealth and status doesn't make one immune from cult influence. Here are 20 celebrities who have been linked to a cult.
Andrew Keegan
Most people know Andrew Keegan for his role in 10 Things I Hate About You, but he also co-founded the spiritual community Full Circle in California. Speaking on his motivations for founding the community, he said he “passionately seeks to inspire and empower the community to co-create a better world".
Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Andrew Keegan
Inspired by Full Circle Venice, the Californian community promotes unity and enlightenment through natural activities like cuddling, meditation, and crystal use. Vice has described the community as "advanced spiritualism".
Rose McGowan
In her 2018 memoir, Rose McGowan revealed details of her childhood in the Children of God cult in Italy. She claims to have experienced negative consequences for not accepting God, and even witnessed her father marrying another woman.
Rose McGowan
McGowan said the cult promoted inappropriate relationships between its members. Eventually, her father left with his second wife, which gave McGowan's mother a chance to plan their escape.
Leah Remini
Leah Remini is widely known for her past involvement with the Church of Scientology, which many believe to be a cult. She left in 2013 after being a member for 35 years and has since become one of the religion’s most vocal critics.
Leah Remini
Remini recently filed a lawsuit against the church, alleging that they'd been harassing her with "mob-style operations and attacks". A judge has since tossed out parts of her lawsuit, claiming that some of the church’s statements are protected speech.
Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Pfeiffer once revealed that she got involved with a cult early in her career. Pfeiffer she moved to Los Angeles when she was 20 years old and found herself under the negative influence of a controlling couple. The couple practiced "breatharianism," and put Pfeiffer on an extreme diet based only on sunlight.
Michelle Pfeiffer
According to Pfeiffer, the small cult promoted vegetarianism, weightlifting, and enforced strict diets. Pfeiffer didn't live with the couple, but she spent a lot of time at their house—and at her own expense.
Glenn Close
Glenn Close revealed that her father, Dr. William Taliaferro Close, was the leader of a cult. In an interview on The Me You Can't See, a series co-created by Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey, Close described the impact the cult had on her childhood.
Glenn Close
Because of his extreme beliefs, Close's father moved the family to Switzerland. She would spend 15 years in the conservative group Moral Re-Armament before pursuing an acting career in Virginia.
Megan Marx
Megan Marx rose to fame from The Bachelor, sharing her unconventional upbringing in a strict religious community. However, many people thought the community sounded more like a cult—a label Marx firmly rejects.
Megan Marx
Marx once commented on the community, saying: “I don’t like to call it a sect or a cult, although many people would regard it as such. Its main purpose was to save individuals from hell—a perspective obviously I disagree with now".
Patricia Arquette
Patricia Arquette grew up in the Skymont Subud cult in Virginia. Her parents had founded the cult, and subjected the young Arquette to harsh conditions like no access to a bathroom, electricity, or running water—all so she could find "inner guidance".
Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Patricia Arquette
The family eventually left the cult, opting for a more traditional lifestyle. However, despite regaining some measure of freedom, Arquette said her family still had to deal with a lot of interpersonal drama.
River Phoenix
River Phoenix’s family became members of the Children of God cult in 1973. Eventually, the cult sent his family to Caracas, Venezuela, where they were to serve as missionaries.
River Phoenix
Tragically, Phoenix passed on due to substance overuse outside a West Hollywood Club on October 31, 1993. He was only 23 years old. Some people close to him raised questions as to whether his time with Children of God contributed to his substance use and demise.
Jason Beghe
Jason Beghe used to be a member of the Church of Scientology but he eventually left the Church and became one of its most well-known detractors. Beghe joined the Church in the '90s, and was an active participant for nearly a decade before leaving the group.
Jason Beghe
Beghe has made it no secret how much he dislikes the Church of Scientology, publicly speaking about his hostile encounters with Scientology members. He's also participated in many interviews and documentaries that discuss his time in the organization.
Kiera Maguire
Keira Maguire spent her early years in The Seaside Sect, a polygamist cult, founded by her father in the 1970s. Her mother was one of nine "wives," while Maquire was one of 64 children fathered by the cult leader.
Kiera Maguire
Maguire was five years old when she learned the identity of her mother. She celebrated her first birthday when she was seven. Despite the unusual upbringing, she embraces it as her own unique life story.
Paul Haggis
Canadian screenwriter Paul Haggis is best known for his work on films like Crash and Million Dollar Baby—but he was also a member of the Church of Scientology. Haggis was part of the Church for 35 years before finally leaving the organization in October 2009.
Daniele Venturelli, Getty Images
Paul Haggis
Following his exit, Haggis emerged as a prominent opponent of Scientology. He has spoken on several of the reasons behind his departure, including conflicts with the organization's policies and practices. His exit and ensuing critiques received extensive media coverage.
Daniele Venturelli, Getty Images
Winona Ryder
Unlike many other famous people who joined cults later in life, Winona Ryder grew up in a cult-like commune in Northern California.
Winona Ryder
Ryder has fondly recalled living in the commune with her family, and has described it as a peaceful place, surrounded by 380 acres of redwood trees. Despite its cult-like traits, she remembered it as a lovely experience.
Piccolo Missionario, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Kate Bornstein
Kate Bornstein, a writer, scriptwriter, and performer, was a member of Scientology for many years. Bornstein has openly talked about her involvement in the Church and her eventual decision to leave the organization.
Kate Bornstein
Bornstein documented her experiences with the Church in her memoir, and has also spoken about it in several interviews and public appearances. She continues to be critical about the organization’s practices.
Tom Cruise
It no secret that Tom Cruise is a prominent member of the Church of Scientology. Over the years, he's openly voiced his support of the organization and thanked them for being the foundation of his personal growth. Yet, despite Cruise's positive portrayal of Scientology, controversy surrounds its classification as a cult.
Tom Cruise
Critics argue that the organization exhibits cult-like behavior, while others like Cruise see it as a true religion. Today, Cruise continues to be one of the organization’s most famous and outspoken advocates.
Michelle Stafford
In 2019, news came out that Michelle Stafford of General Hospital was leaving the show after 16 years to return to The Young and the Restless. But what fans may not have know is that both shows have ties to Scientology—and Stafford is openly part of the religion.
Michelle Stafford
At one point, General Hospital introduced a cult storyline that looked eerily familiar to Scientology. The plot cut out a lot of Stafford's screen time, and some think it may even have contributed to her exit of the show.
Joaquin Phoenix
Like his brother River, Joaquin Phoenix had an unconventional upbringing. He and his siblings moved around a lot with his parents before joining the Children of God cult in 1977, led by David Berg.
Joaquin Phoenix
Years after Phoenix left Children of God, the cult faced serious allegations of physical and psychological torment. This no doubt had an effect on Phoenix's early years in Venezuela, Florida, and Hollywood.
Lisa Marie Presley
After the passing of her legendary father, Elvis, Lisa Marie Presley was on a downward spiral. Concerned about her substance use, Presley's mother introduced her to the Church of Scientology, and Presley signed on as a member in 1977. After 35 years, she left the Church.
Lisa Marie Presley
It seems that even after her passing, Presley tried to hold the Church of Scientology accountable for some of the events in her life. In a rediscovered 2015 interview, she revealed that the organization had pressured her to end her relationship with Michael Jackson, back in 1996.
Juliette Lewis
In 1989, when she was 16, Juliette Lewis got apprehended for entering a bar and was charged with underage drinking. Having grown up in the Church of Scientology, she credited Narconon for helping her overcome addiction.
Juliette Lewis
In 2010, Juliette confirmed that she was a Scientologist—but she was also a Christian. But in 2021, she switched things up again, stating she identified as a spiritualist, and had parted ways with the Church of Scientology.
Katie Holmes
While she was never really a true member of the Church of Scientology, Katie Holmes got to know the inner working of the organization through her marriage to Tom Cruise. Criticized for its cult-like qualities, the Church drew attention during their marriage.
Katie Holmes
In 2012, Holmes divorced Cruise to protect their daughter from Scientology, leading to speculation about her involvement with the controversial organization and its practices.
Flickr, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Allison Mack
Allison Mack, known for her role on Smallville, became deeply involved in a cult-like group called NXIVM. She recruited women into its inner circle, only for them to be exploited and manipulated.
Allison Mack
In 2019, Mack pled guilty to racketeering and conspiracy charges related to NXIVM's illicit activities. She is currently serving three years under supervised release.
.jpg){kind=link}