The number of celebrities who have fallen under government surveillance is quite alarming. In the United States throughout the 20th century, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) tracked numerous entertainers and other prominent figures for their political beliefs and allegiance to organizations deemed "un-American."
In Britain, too, celebrities were hounded by the intelligence services for their radical views and perceived unpatriotic behavior. Indeed, a single public statement, song lyric, or personal opinion expressed in the open could see an unwitting subject placed under the radar of the security forces for decades.
In this gallery, we list 30 famous people who were watched closely by government agencies, the majority of whom did not deserve the scrutiny or invasion of privacy.
To learn who they are, continue reading.