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A Scientologist is an adherent of the doctrines and beliefs of Scientology. [1]
This table includes members who were still Scientologists in the Church of Scientology at the time of their death.
This table represents individuals who were previously Scientologists, but who have since left the Church of Scientology.
Name | Lifetime | Left | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Larry Anderson | 1952– | 2009 | Actor, star of Orientation: A Scientology Information Film , left the church in 2009 and requested his money back. [124] |
Gerry Armstrong | 1946– | 1981 | Former Sea Org member for ten years and involved in a series of Scientology related lawsuits, collectively Church of Scientology of California v. Armstrong. [125] |
Jon Atack | 1955– | 1983 | Whistleblower and noted critic of the church. [126] |
Allen Barton | 1968– | 2000 | Playwright and acting teacher who would later become an outspoken critic of the church. [127] |
Jason Beghe | 1960– | 2007 | Actor, rose to Operating Thetan level V (OT V), left Scientology and subsequently spoke out publicly against the church in 2008. [128] [129] He joined the church through Milton Katselas' acting class, connecting with Bodhi Elfman and Mary Thompson. [130] [16] : 266-267 |
Cedric Bixler-Zavala | 1974– | 2017 | Musician. [131] |
Nazanin Boniadi | 1980– | Actress. [132] her mother was a Scientologist. [133] | |
Kate Bornstein | 1948– | 1981 | Transgender author, playwright, performance artist and gender theorist. Was previously a spokesperson for Scientology. [134] |
John Brodie | 1935– | American football player; [93] [135] credited Dianetics with his recovery from a sports injury; left after some of his friends "were expelled and harassed during a power struggle with church management" [93] | |
Stacy Brooks | 1952– | 1989 | Former managing editor of Freedom magazine and a Scientologist for over twenty years. She has since become president of the Lisa McPherson Trust and an expert witness in many high-profile Scientology lawsuits. [136] [137] [138] |
William S. Burroughs | 1914–1997 | 1960s | Author and poet. Joined and left the church during the 1960s. [139] In talking about the experience, he claimed that the techniques and philosophy of Scientology helped him and that he felt that further study into Scientology would produce great results. He was skeptical of the church itself, and felt that it fostered an environment that did not accept critical discussion. [140] His subsequent critical writings about the church and his review of Inside Scientology by Robert Kaufman led to a battle of letters between Burroughs and Scientology supporters in the pages of Rolling Stone magazine. He wrote the book Ali's Smile: Naked Scientology . [141] [142] |
Diana Canova | 1953– | 1993 | Actress; [143] critical of Scientology's "straightforward" desire for money. [144] [145] |
Tory Christman | 1947– | 2000 | Whistleblower and noted critic of the church. [126] |
Robert DeGrimston | 1935– | With wife, Marry Anne DeGrimston, founder of The Process Church of The Final Judgment. [146] [147] | |
Richard de Mille | 1922–2009 | 1954 | Author and journalist; at one point a personal assistant to L. Ron Hubbard. [16] : 37 [148] |
John Duignan | 1963– | Whistleblower and noted critic of the church. [149] | |
Dennis Erlich | 19xx– | 1982 | Former high-ranking official in the church and later critic of Scientology who joined the alt.religion.scientology discussion group on Usenet in late July 1994. [150] [151] : 153 |
Michael Fairman | 1934– | 2011 | Actor [152] |
Neil Gaiman | 1960– | Novelist, graphic novelist, and screenwriter. Son of David Gaiman, raised Scientologist in East Grinstead. Has left the church, although prefers not to speak publicly about it. [153] | |
Philip Gale | 1978–1998 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology student and primary developer of EarthLink's innovative ISP software; died by suicide in 1998. [154] | |
Paul Haggis | 1953– | 2009 | Film director, Academy Award winner; Left in response to the San Diego branch's public support of California Proposition 8 and other factors. [155] He progressed up to OT VII in the 1980s where he remained until he left the church. [130] |
Beck Hansen | 1970– | 2019 | Musician who promoted Scientology as a member for many years. [4] [5] [22] [23] [82] Stated in a 2019 interview that he is not a Scientologist and that he doesn't "have any connection or affiliation with it". [156] |
Marc Headley | 1974– | 2005 | Whistleblower and critic of the church. [126] |
Katie Holmes | 1978– | 2012 | Actress and formerly married to Scientologist Tom Cruise. [157] |
Jim Humble | 1933– | 1981 | Self-published author and founder of the Genesis II Church [158] [159] |
Robert Hunter | 1941–2019 | 1999 | Lyricist for the Grateful Dead. [160] |
Mark Janicello | 1962 | 2003 | Actor, Singer and Dramatist. Author of Naked in the Spotlight: My Life with Sex, Singing, and Scientology in German and in English [161] |
Jason Lee | 1970– | 2016 | Actor [5] [162] [163] [164] |
Arnie Lerma | 1950–2018 | 1977 | Son of a high-ranking member. Critic of Scientology who posted the Fishman Affidavit, including the Xenu story, to the Internet via the Usenet newsgroup alt.religion.scientology. [150] [151] : 153 |
Johnny Lewis | 1983–2012 | Actor [165] | |
Juliette Lewis | 1973– | 2021 | Actress [166] [167] |
Charles Manson | 1934–2017 | Identified as a Scientologist during his time in prison. [25] [146] [168] [169] [170] He ordered Manson Family member Bruce Davis to journey to the United Kingdom and work for the Scientology organization in London. [171] Manson completed 150 hours of auditing while researching his own religious practices, [172] [173] which borrowed heavily from Scientology. [146] | |
Jenna Miscavige Hill | 1984– | 2005 | Niece of David Miscavige, author and whistleblower. [174] |
Ron Miscavige | 1936–2021 | 2012 | Father of David Miscavige, author and whistleblower. [175] |
Vince Offer | 1964– | 2002 | Film director of The Underground Comedy Movie and pitchman for ShamWow. [176] |
Laura Prepon | 1980– | 2016 | Actress [177] |
Lisa Marie Presley | 1968–2023 | 2014 | Singer and songwriter who was the daughter of Elvis Presley. [178] |
Priscilla Presley | 1945– | 2017 | Businesswoman and actress [179] |
Mark Rathbun | 1957– | 2004 | Whistleblower, and critic of the Church. [126] In December 2018, Jezebel reported that Rathbun had posted videos on his website that praised Scientology and criticized ex-Scientologist Leah Remini. Jezebel also suggested that Rathbun had actually re-joined Scientology. [180] |
Joe Reaiche | 1958– | 2005 | Former rugby league footballer who is the father of Alanna Masterson and Jordan Masterson. He accused the church of framing him for financial misconduct and is estranged from his children. [57] |
Leah Remini | 1970– | 2013 | Actress [5] [181] [182] and critic of the church. She wrote an autobiography in 2015 entitled Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology , and produces and presents the A&E documentary series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath . |
Mike Rinder | 1955– | 2007 | Whistleblower and critic of the church. [183] |
Mimi Rogers | 1956– | Actress [184] | |
Amy Scobee | 19xx– | 2005 | Whistleblower and critic of the church. [185] |
Chris Shelton | 1969– | 2012 | Author and YouTuber; he was a member of the church for 27 years and has been outspoken about his experiences since leaving. [186] [187] [188] |
Aaron Saxton | 1974– | 2006 | Former Sea Org member who had influential positions in Sydney as well as the United States. He received attention when Australian Senator Nick Xenophon quoted statements by Saxton about Scientology into the parliamentary record of the Australian Senate. [189] [190] [191] |
Reed Slatkin | 1949–2015 | Sentenced in 2003 to 14 years in prison for running one of the largest Ponzi schemes in US history, scamming more than $600 million from 800 investors. [192] [193] | |
Jeffrey Tambor | 1944– | 2000's | Actor, left when he was pressured to leave his second wife. [194] [195] |
Paul Twitchell | 1908–1971 | 1959 | Spiritual writer and founder of Eckankar. [196] [197] Joined Scientology and achieved the status of "Clear". [198] |
Cyril Vosper | 1935–2004 | 1968 | Author and deprogrammer; wrote The Mind Benders which was the first book on Scientology to be written by an ex-member and the first critical book on Scientology to be published. [199] |
Matt Willis | 1983– | 2008 | Musician, singer, songwriter, television presenter and actor, and bassist and co-vocalist of the pop band, Busted. Was recruited to the church following a stint in rehab, but left the church after they reportedly advised that he separate from his wife Emma Willis, who the church deemed to be a "suppressive person". [200] |
Lawrence Wollersheim | 19xx– | 1979 | Former member and co-founder of the FACTNet, a non-profit organization that criticized the church, known for winning a multi-million dollar judgment against the church in a case about publishing material on the internet that the church claimed was protected by copyright. [201] [151] : 153 [202] |
Bonnie Woods | 19xx– | 1982 | Former member of the Sea Org who was subjected to a smear campaign by the church. [203] |
In December 1981, Armstrong and his wife left the Church...
Cedric and his wife, Chrissie Carnell, were members of the Church of Scientology, Chrissie since the late '90s and Cedric for a brief period in the mid-2010s.
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV is an American actor and producer. Regarded as a Hollywood icon, he has received various accolades, including an Honorary Palme d'Or and three Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for four Academy Awards. His films have grossed over $4 billion in North America and over $11.5 billion worldwide, making him one of the highest-grossing box-office stars of all time. He is consistently one of the world's highest-paid actors.
Xenu, also called Xemu, is a figure in the Church of Scientology's secret "Advanced Technology", a sacred and esoteric teaching. According to the "Technology", Xenu was the extraterrestrial ruler of a "Galactic Confederacy" who brought billions of his people to Earth in DC-8-like spacecraft 75 million years ago, stacked them around volcanoes, and killed them with hydrogen bombs. Official Scientology scriptures hold that the thetans of these aliens adhere to humans, causing spiritual harm.
Since its inception in 1954, the Church of Scientology has been involved in a number of controversies, including its stance on psychiatry, Scientology's legitimacy as a religion, the Church's aggressive attitude in dealing with its perceived enemies and critics, allegations of mistreatment of members, and predatory financial practices; for example, the high cost of religious training:191 and perceived exploitative practices. When mainstream media outlets have reported alleged abuses, representatives of the church have tended to deny such allegations.
David Miscavige is the second and current leader of the Church of Scientology. His official title within the organization is Chairman of the Board of the Religious Technology Center (RTC), a corporation that controls the trademarks and copyrights of Dianetics and Scientology. He is also referred to within the Scientology organization as "DM", "C.O.B." or "Captain of the Sea Org".
Jessica Feshbach, also known as Jessica Feshbach Rodriguez and Jessica Davis, is an American former official within the Church of Scientology organization. The daughter of a family with a long tradition in Scientology, she attended The Delphian School in Yamhill County, Oregon, a Scientology school.
The Church of Scientology is a group of interconnected corporate entities and other organizations devoted to the practice, administration and dissemination of Scientology, which is variously defined as a cult, a business, or a new religious movement. The movement has been the subject of a number of controversies, and the Church of Scientology has been described by government inquiries, international parliamentary bodies, scholars, law lords, and numerous superior court judgements as both a dangerous cult and a manipulative profit-making business. In 1979, several executives of the organization were convicted and imprisoned for multiple offenses by a U.S. Federal Court. The Church of Scientology itself was convicted of fraud by a French court in 2009, a decision upheld by the supreme Court of Cassation in 2013. The German government classifies Scientology as an unconstitutional sect. In France, it has been classified as a dangerous cult. In some countries, it has attained legal recognition as a religion.
Mark C. "Marty" Rathbun is a former senior executive of the Church of Scientology who last held the post of Inspector General of the Religious Technology Center (RTC), the organization that is responsible for the protection and enforcement of all Dianetics and Scientology copyrights and trademarks.
Youth for Human Rights is a program run by United for Human Rights, an American non-profit organization managed by Church of Scientology International. Founded in 2001, its mission is "To teach youth around the globe about human rights, thus helping them to become valuable advocates for the promotion of tolerance and peace."
Recruiting and retaining Scientologist celebrities and getting them to endorse Scientology to the public at large has been important to the Church of Scientology since its early days. 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. Early interested parties included former silent-screen star Gloria Swanson and jazz pianist Dave Brubeck. The Scientology organization has a particular interest in international focus on wealthy businesspeople and influencers to help promote its ideals. A Scientology policy letter of 1976 states that "rehabilitation of celebrities who are just beyond or just approaching their prime" enables the "rapid dissemination" of Scientology.
Mark Bunker, is an American politician, broadcast journalist, videographer and documentary filmmaker. He won a Regional Emmy Award in 2006 from the Pacific Southwest Emmy Awards division of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. In 2020, Bunker was elected city councilman for Clearwater Florida's 2nd district, and was selected as vice-mayor on April 4, 2023.
Jason Deneen Beghe is an American actor. Since 2014, he has starred in the NBC TV series Chicago P.D. as Sergeant Hank Voight. He is also known for starring in the 1988 George A. Romero film Monkey Shines, playing Demi Moore's love interest in G.I. Jane, appearing as a police officer in the film Thelma & Louise, starring opposite Moira Kelly in the television series To Have & to Hold, and having recurring roles on Picket Fences, Melrose Place, Chicago Hope, American Dreams, Cane, and Californication.
Thomas William Davis is an American financial executive. From 2005 to 2011, Davis was head of external affairs and the chief spokesperson of the Church of Scientology International and Senior Vice President at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International from the early 1990s. Between 2011 and 2013, Davis did not make any public appearances in the media. In June 2013, it was revealed that Davis and his wife had relocated from Gold Base in Riverside County, California, to Austin, Texas. He currently resides in Los Angeles.
Recognition of Scientology and the Church of Scientology varies from country to country with respect to state recognition for religious status, charitable status, or tax exempt status. Decisions are contingent upon the legal constructs of each individual country, and results are not uniform worldwide. For example, the absence of a clear definition for 'religion' or 'religious worship' has resulted in unresolved and uncertain status for Scientology in some countries.
Scientology is a set of beliefs and practices invented by the American author L. Ron Hubbard, and an associated movement. It is variously defined as a cult, a business, a religion, a scam, or a new religious movement. Hubbard initially developed a set of ideas that he called Dianetics, which he represented as a form of therapy. An organization that he established in 1950 to promote it went bankrupt, and Hubbard lost the rights to his book Dianetics in 1952. He then recharacterized his ideas as a religion, likely for tax purposes, and renamed them Scientology. By 1954, he had regained the rights to Dianetics and founded the Church of Scientology, which remains the largest organization promoting Scientology. There are practitioners independent of the Church, in what is referred to as the Free Zone. Estimates put the number of Scientologists at under 40,000 worldwide.
Kurt Weiland is a native of Austria and an executive in the Church of Scientology International. He is director of external affairs for the Church of Scientology's Office of Special Affairs, and Scientology's vice president of communications. He is a member of the organization's board of directors, and handles government, legal and public affairs for Scientology. He has often represented Scientology to the press as a media spokesman. Weiland works out of the Church of Scientology's offices in Los Angeles, California.
Scientology in the United Kingdom is practised mainly within the Church of Scientology and its related groups which go under names including "Hubbard Academy of Personal Independence" and "Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Centre". The national headquarters, and former global headquarters, is Saint Hill Manor at East Grinstead, which for seven years was the home of L. Ron Hubbard, the pulp fiction author who created Scientology. In the 2021 census, there were 1,844 individuals in England and Wales who listed themselves as Scientologists in their census returns, almost half of which lived in the area around East Grinstead in West Sussex, which hosts the British Scientology Headquarters at Saint Hill Manor. This is a decline of just under a quarter since census day, 2011.
The Church of Scientology has operated in Germany since 1970. German authorities estimate that there are 3,500 active Scientologists in Germany as of 2019. The Church of Scientology gives a membership figure of around 12,000. The Church of Scientology has encountered particular antagonism from the German press and government and occupies a precarious legal, social and cultural position in Germany.
The Church of Scientology of France is organized as a group of secular nonprofit organizations. France is a secular state, which protects the rights of citizens to practice their religion. Although citizens can form religious associations based on the 1905 French law on the Separation of the Churches and the State, which grants certain benefits, the Church of Scientology of France is instead organized into secular associations based on a 1901 law regarding nonprofit groups.
Blown for Good: Behind the Iron Curtain of Scientology is a memoir written by Marc Headley, a former Scientologist and Sea Org member, about his life and experiences in the Church of Scientology. It was self-published in the United States on November 5, 2009.
The Church of Scientology network operates as a multinational conglomerate of companies with personnel, executives, organizational charts, chains of command, policies and orders.
Religious Technology Center is the most powerful executive organization within the Scientology empire, and its current chairman, David Miscavige, is widely recognized as the effective head of the church.