20 Popular Celebrities Linked to Cults

20 Popular Celebs Linked to Cults

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at twenty famous celebrities who have a history with cults.

The Scientologists

This whole list could be populated just with Scientologists, so let’s just clump them all together for the sake of variety. Founded in the 1950s by a science fiction writer, the Church of Scientology has long been described as such by its critics and the people who have escaped it. The Church has its claws firmly implanted within the Hollywood system, attracting a slew of popular household names. John Travolta, Michael Peña, Laura Prepon, Danny Masterson, Jason Lee, Juliette Lewis, Elisabeth Moss - all have identified themselves as Scientologists at one point or another, and that’s just a fraction of the very long list. And of course, we’d be remiss not to mention Tom Cruise, the most famous and outspoken Scientologist of them all.

Keira Maguire

A popular reality star, Keira Maguire made her name on “The Bachelor” franchise in the late 2010s. And she has quite the fascinating backstory. Maguire was born into an Australian polygamist cult called The Seaside Sect, which was led by her father, Alistah Laishkochav. He styled himself as a messianic figure and believed that he was Jesus, marrying nine women and fathering over sixty children, according to various sources. Luckily, Maguire’s mother eventually removed her from that environment when she was a child, and she was subsequently raised by her mother and grandmother in Brisbane. She has since stated that she has no relationship with her father and remains estranged from him.

Sharon Gans

While she was never a huge name, Sharon Gans found a modicum of success in 1972 playing Valencia Merble Pilgrim in “Slaughterhouse-Five.” The movie was a huge critical success, even winning the Jury Prize at Cannes. But just as her career was taking off, Gans became deeply involved in the teachings of the Fourth Way, a spiritual system developed by the Russian mystic G.I. Gurdjieff. Alongside her husband, Alex Horn, Gans ran a number of schools teaching something called “The Work.” Unfortunately, these schools were widely criticized for their cult-like behavior, including intense secrecy, isolation, and psychological manipulation. Journalistic exposés and survivor accounts have painted a consistent picture of the group as cult-like, but Gans maintained a strong following until her death in 2021.

Dennis Wilson

You’d be surprised at how many people knew Charles Manson back in the day. In the late 1960s, Manson was an aspiring musician and was attempting to break into the Los Angeles music scene. Enter Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys. He befriended the famous cult leader after picking up two hitchhiking members of The Family, and he became captivated by Manson’s charisma and musical ambition. He allowed Manson and several followers to live in his Sunset Boulevard home, and he even recorded one of his songs, retitled “Never Learn Not to Love.” But over time, Wilson grew disillusioned with Manson’s increasingly erratic behavior, and, fearing for his safety, Wilson severed ties and abandoned his own house to escape the Family.

Bethany Joy Lenz

Best known for playing Haley on “One Tree Hill,” Bethany Joy Lenz has spoken openly about her decade-long experience in a cult - something she kept private during her acting career. Lenz joined a Christian cult called The Big House Family after moving to L.A., describing it as a seemingly innocent Bible study group. However, the group eventually shifted into something far more malicious, becoming highly manipulative, isolating, and controlling. Lenz was also indoctrinated during her entire time on “One Tree Hill,” partly alienating her from her castmates - many of whom continuously told her to leave the group. She also claims to have lost roughly $2 million to the cult, which was a significant chunk of her “One Tree Hill” earnings.

Andrew Keegan

Following a successful run on television, Andrew Keegan turned to film and found a great role as Joey in “10 Things I Hate About You.” And after that, he turned to cult leadership. Allegedly. In 2014, Keegan founded a religious movement called Full Circle, which he described as a “non-denominational spiritual community” where people “come together to meditate, practice yoga, and engage artistically.” Other people called it a cult. Whatever it was, the group didn’t last long, with its main center closing in 2017 after facing financial difficulties. Keegan continues to defend Full Circle, claiming on the podcast “Pod Meets World” that the media had spun the story out of proportion.

Christopher Owens

Art is often born from pain. Take a look at Christopher Owens, a musician who found success both as a solo artist and as a member of the indie group Girls. Owens was raised in a famous cult called Children of God, which is known for targeting minors. Owens’ infant brother died of pneumonia before Christopher was born, as his parents failed to seek medical intervention. While he was mostly raised on religious music, Owens was introduced to famous bands through the movies that he watched, and he quickly developed an interest in harder rock. He ran away from the cult when he was sixteen, joining his sister in Texas and learning how the outside world operated by busking on the streets.

Jeremy Spencer

Many celebrities were born into Children of God. Very few joined as adults. But Jeremy Spencer did. Spencer was a member of Fleetwood Mac in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, playing both slide guitar and piano. But in February of 1971, the band was on tour in Los Angeles when Spencer stepped out to get a magazine. He never returned, and the band later discovered that he had joined the Children of God. And just like that, he was out of the band, having chosen a new direction in life. He has expressed regret about how he abandoned his bandmates, but not about joining the cult. He is still a practicing member to this day, and many survivors have accused him of sexual assault.

Marilyn Monroe

Before she was The Marilyn Monroe, Norma Jeane Mortenson was just another girl from west L.A. Her mother, Gladys, had been raised in a Christian Science household, and some of that background filtered into Marilyn’s early years and development. But when Gladys was institutionalized, Marilyn was sent to live with Ana Lower, or “Aunt Ana” was she was known, who was also a devout Christian Scientist. The group does not believe in doctors, and Aunt Ana worked as a “healing practitioner” within the movement. Despite the upbringing, Monroe eventually left the group while making it in Hollywood, seeking spirituality through other outlets.

Neil Young

We told you you’d be surprised at how many people knew Charles Manson. Manson met several notable musicians through his personal connection to Dennis Wilson, including Neil Young, who at the time was known for being a member of Buffalo Springfield. Young reportedly saw Manson play and thought he had talent, and he even suggested to music executive Mo Ostin that they consider Manson for a recording contract, but nothing came of it. But Young distanced himself from Manson after the infamous murders, describing him as a talented albeit dark and troubled man. The association remains a minor footnote in Young’s career, but it illustrates how closely the counterculture briefly intersected with a famous killer.

Jaden Smith

Energy of the mind and body are at the center of the cult of Orgone. Jaden Smith is one of a number of celebrities with an interest in this idea, which was first introduced back in the 1930s by Austrian physician Wilhelm Reich. The approach of young people like Jaden, his sister Willow and Kylie Jenner in Orgone seems to be purely focused on the vibes, energy and libido of its source material. Still, Will and Jada's little boy has also been known to wax faux-philosophical on conspiracy theories, so who knows if Orgone's more esoteric schools of thought are far behind?

James Hetfield

Contrary to popular belief, not all heavy metal lyrics have roots in hellfire, brimstone or the devil. In fact, many metal bands utilize their aggressive music to touch upon serious personal issues in their life. One such musician was Metallica's James Hetfield, who channeled his youthful anger and bitterness towards his parents into lyrics for songs such as the intense "Dyers Eve." Hetfield was born to strict Christian Scientists, who believed that prayer and faith, rather than modern medicine, should be used to treat disease and illness. James' mother Cynthia died from cancer when he was still a teenager, and the memory of this loss continued to inspire the front man for years to come.

Val Kilmer

Speaking of Christian Science, the next celebrity on our list is anything but bitter about his faith in this controversial religion...even to the point of challenging his own health. Val Kilmer was a superstar throughout the 1980s and '90s, a handsome and charismatic actor who delivered consistently impressive performances in such films as "Tombstone," "Heat" and "Willow." However, Kilmer's strong devotion to Christian Science caused him to ignore the initial signs of throat cancer, including an obvious lump in his throat. He only underwent chemotherapy after his children begged him to do so, and he lost his voice in the ordeal.

The Arquette Family

"Alternative living" was all the rage back in the 1960s and '70s, the idea that a commune of like-minded people could make a go of it, constructing a small society outside the confines of the modern world. These communes usually attracted hippie-types, as well as those seeking to profit from those same hippies. Hollywood's Arquette family lived on such a commune back in the early seventies, a place called Skymont with no running water or utilities. Patricia Arquette told the Wall Street Journal that she, her parents and her four siblings all slept in the same bare cabin room, living in poverty until eventually making their way back into the city.

R. Kelly

If there's any R&B performer who seems to be a magnet for controversy, it's R. Kelly. The singer - best known for songs like "I Believe I Can Fly" and the epic "Trapped In The Closet" - has raised eyebrows for the sort of behavior which went on behind closed doors at his various homes. Accusations of a "sex cult" atmosphere were levied against Kelly, who was described as both mentally and physically abusive. Kelly's demands of personal submission and control have been compared to a Stockholm Syndrome type of situation, and he was said to be in charge of what the women wore, when they ate, and how they communicated. He is currently serving a 31-year sentence for sexual abuse.

Michele Pfeiffer

It's a story as old as time: a young and optimistic young girl arrives in Hollywood, with all of the hopes and dreams of becoming a star. So far so good, right? But what happens when you make some poor decisions as to the sort of company you keep? Well, then you might find yourself in a situation such as the one Michelle Pfeiffer told reporters when she was promoting her 2013 film "The Family." Pfeiffer revealed that she fell in with a niche cult run by two personal trainers early on in her career. It was called "Breatharianism," and stated that food and water were unnecessary to sustain life. Riiiiight.

Rose McGowan

We return to the Children of God for the story of Rose McGowan. This actress grew up as a member of this religious cult, which first gained prominence back in the 1960s. Rose's father ran a chapter of the organization in Italy, a commune-esque existence which was noted by its acceptance of polygamy, as well as its sexual grooming of young girls for service to the men. McGowan and her father did eventually escape from the Children of God, but the organization still exists today, under the moniker of The Family International.

Allison Mack

If you were looking for proof that not every cult was born from the psychedelic sixties and seventies, then look no further than our next troubling entry. Onetime "Smallville" actress Allison Mack was one of a number of performers- alongside her co-star Kristin Kreuk and Grace Park of "Battlestar Galactica" - to be connected with a disturbing cult known as NXIVM. Mack was arrested in 2018 on charges of sex trafficking for the organization, recruiting young women for the cult's founder, Keith Raniere. Mack was even accused of branding some women during "initiation ceremonies" for NXIVM, as well as blackmailing them into cooperating with the cult's wishes.

Glenn Close

Glenn Close made no bones about her bitterness towards her experience as a young child living under the watch of a cult known as the MRA, or Moral Re-Armament. Glenn's father moved the family to Switzerland when the actress was seven, and they lived there in commune-like conditions for fifteen years. Close's entire life and behavior was reportedly under the scrutiny of the MRA. Yet she told the New York Times in 2017 that it was the trials of this behavior which gave her the strength and the skills to become an actress.

Joaquin Phoenix

We return one last time to the Children of God, and to perhaps its most famous follower. Joaquin Phoenix, along with his brother River and other siblings, lived with their parents under the cult's rules for over a decade. The family traveled together with members of the cult throughout South America, and Joaquin, for his part, told Playboy Magazine that he understood his parents' desire to commune with other, like-minded people. Phoenix went on to add that he felt his life alongside his parents within the Children of God was rather "innocent," although the family would break ties with the cult and return home to the U.S. in 1978.

Do you know of any other examples? Let us know in the comments below!