50 Most Famous Buddhists

David Bowie explored many religions, including Buddhism. He studied under Tibetan lama Chime Rinpoche at one time. Bowie called himself a "mid-art populist and postmodernist Buddhist surfing through the chaos of the late 20th century."

David Bowie appears in the list of 50 Most Famous Buddhists.Source)

Star Wars appears in the list of 50 Most Famous Buddhists.George Lucas calls himself a "Buddhist Methodist," linking Eastern philosophy with his childhood religion.

(Source)

Goldie Hawn grew up with Jewish and Presbyterian parents. As an adult, she turned to Buddhism.

(Source)

Steve Jobs visited India in 1974. This trip sparked a lifelong interest in Buddhism. Jobs' Buddhist ideas influenced his Apple products.

(Source)

Jeff Bridges is a Buddhist and believesThe Big Lebowski appears in the list of 50 Most Famous Buddhists.could be a Zen Buddhist classic.

(Source)

Beat poet Allen Ginsberg learned Buddhism from Jack Kerouac. He later followed Tibetan Buddhist teacher Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

(Source)

Actor Jet Li is a devout Tibetian Buddhist. He once thought about quitting acting to study spirituality.

(Source)

Former Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch was raised with Catholicism and Judaism. He started practicing Buddhism in 1994.

(Source)

Kate Bosworth started exploring Buddhism while dating Orlando Bloom, who is also Buddhist. She said, "It's just a really incredible state of mind. It's just a beautiful place to try and be at."

(Source)

Kate Hudson got Buddhist influences from her mother, Goldie Hawn. Hawn showed her how to live Buddhism. Hudson said, "Her philosophy stopped me from becoming cynical, which squashes the good things. If you focus on positivity and honesty, you’ll be happy."

(Source)

Orlando Bloom practiced Soka Gakka Buddhism for many years.

(Source)

Tina Turner grew up in a Baptist home. She found comfort in Buddhist ideas as an adult, though she does not reject her past religion. "I still believe in the Lord's Prayer. I find a form of the Lord's Prayer in Buddhism," Tina Turner told Oprah. "Every religion has rules for living a good life."

(Source)

Tiger Woods practices Buddhism and credits it with his golf success.

(Source)

Hollywood director Oliver Stone was raised Episcopalian. He later converted to Buddhism.

(Source)

Richard Gere first met the Buddhist dharma in his twenties. He stays active in the faith.

(Source)

America's Next Top Model appears in the list of 50 Most Famous Buddhists.contestant Naima Mora lives her Buddhist beliefs daily. She explained, "Buddhism is about everyday life. The average person here and now—anyone—has the potential to attain enlightenment."

(Source)

Singer k.d. lang became a devoted Buddhist in 2000.

(Source)

British actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje practices Buddhism. He enjoys chanting with friends.

(Source)

Actor Chow Yun-Fat lives a non-materialistic Buddhist life. He donated nearly all his $714 million net worth to charity.

Chow Yun-Fat appears in the list of 50 Most Famous Buddhists.Source)

Courtney Love is a Nichiren Buddhist. She said daily chanting "turned everything around" in her practice.

Courtney Love appears in the list of 50 Most Famous Buddhists.Source)

Activist and environmentalist George Dvorsky calls himself a "secular Buddhist" and humanist.

Seagal is a Buddhist. The oldest sect of Tibetan Buddhism formally recognized him as a tulku, a reincarnated lama.

Steven Seagal appears in the list of 50 Most Famous Buddhists.Source)

Herbie Hancock practiced Nichiren Buddhism as a member of the Buddhist association Soka Gakkai International.

Herbie Hancock appears in the list of 50 Most Famous Buddhists.Source)

Hermann Hesse grew up Christian. He moved toward Hinuism. Then, he reached Buddhism. Later, he explored Chinese Taoism.

(Source)

From the mid-to-late 1950s, writer Jack Kerouac became a serious Buddhist. Later, he followed a looser philosophy.

(Source)

Leonard Cohen studied Zen Buddhism for thirty years. He also became a Buddhist monk for five years in the 1990s.

(Source)

Actor Patrick Duffy practiced Buddhism for more than forty years.

(Source)

Composer and pianist Philip Glass started studying Buddhism in 1966.

(Source)

Sharon Stone is a Buddhist. She believes in the yin-yang practice.

(Source)

Penélope Cruz was raised Catholic. She sought a different spiritual path. She accepts Buddhism because it respects others and does not claim to be the only way.

(Source)

Jackie Chan is a Buddhist. His beliefs and desire to be a good role model kept him from taking villainous roles or cursing on screen.

(Source)

Civil rights activist Rosa Parks adopted yoga and Buddhist teachings in her later years.

(Source)

Boy George summed up his spiritual life: "I'm Catholic in my complications and Buddhist in my aspirations."

(Source)

Feminist, social critic, and author bell hooks learned about Buddhism at age 18. She has followed the religion since then.

(Source)

Angelina Jolie practices Buddhism. She sees it as part of her adopted son Maddox's identity. She has a Buddhist tattoo on her upper back to protect her son.

(Source)

Uma Thurman grew up in a Buddhist home. Though she does not see herself as devout, the religion still affects her life.

(Source)

Jennifer Lopez became interested in Buddhism after several talks with her Wedding Planner co-star Richard Gere.Wedding Plannerco-star Richard Gere. She stated, "Now I know there’s a force in the world. There’s an energy that if you put out good and you put out love it comes back to you."

(Source)

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg got involved with Buddhism because of his wife, Priscilla. He said, "Buddhism is an amazing religion and philosophy, and I have been learning more about it over time. I hope to continue understanding the faith more deeply."

(Source

Alex Rodriguez grew closer to Buddhism while dating Buddhist Kate Hudson. He acts like a "religious chameleon" but studied the faith.

Naomi Watts converted to Buddhism in 2006 after filming "The Painted Veil".The Painted Veil.

(Source)

Alanis Morissette is a Buddhist. She has a whole room at her house just for meditating.

(Source)

Sarah Jessica Parker was raised Jewish. She practices Buddhism now, though she keeps her Jewish roots.

(Source)

The Police singer and bassist practices Buddhism. He wears a necklace tied to the faith.

(Source)

American actress Marcia Wallace married Dennis Hawley on May 18, 1986, during a Buddhist ceremony.

(Source)

Ford Motor Company chairman William Clay Ford Jr. studied Zen, Tibetan, and Vipassana Buddhism. He uses these Buddhist ideas in his leadership.

(Source)

Actress Tisca Chopra says Buddhism helped her find acting jobs and build better relationships.

(Source)

Former basketball player and coach Phil Jackson follows Buddhist principles in his "Zen Christian" mix. He puts zen into his training.

(Source)

Actor and gay rights activist George Takei is a Buddhist. He says Buddhism "made a lot of sense" for him.

(Source)

John Cleese ofMonty PythonJohn Cleese says fame is a practicing Buddhist. He states, "I used to desire many, many things. But now I have just one desire and that's to get rid of all my other desires."

(Source)

Ellison Onizuka, the first Asian-American astronaut, practiced Buddhism. Onizuka flew the Challenger shuttle that exploded in 1986.

(Source)