Celebrities who converted to new religions

The Irish singer, best known for her 1990 hit version of the song 'Nothing Compares 2 U,' announced in 2018 she converted to Islam, changing her name to Shuhada' Sadaqat. O'Connor was raised a Roman Catholic but spoke out against the abuses of the Catholic Church frequently throughout her life. She said that her decision was "the natural conclusion of any intelligent theologian's journey." O'Connor sadly passed away in 2023.

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Sofia Richie -

Sofia Richie revealed on social media that she converted to Judaism prior to her 2023 wedding to Elliot Grainge, who is the son of Universal Music Group chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge. Sofia was raised Christian by her father Lionel Richie and even attended Oaks Christian School in California for a few years, but she said converting has been one of the greatest experiences of her life.

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Sofia Richie -

On her Instagram Story on April 3, 2023, the 24-year-old shared a photo of herself signing a document written in Hebrew and wrote, "What a magical day. I want to thank cantor Nathan Lam for helping me along this journey of converting to Judaism. It has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. Today was that day!!!” she concluded, adding five Star of David emojis.

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YoungBoy NBA -

In one of the more surprising twists of 2023, YoungBoy NBA revealed a change of faith. The 'Bad Morning' rapper appeared in a Billboard cover story on February 1 in which he detailed his religious awakening and change of direction. The 23-year-old has experienced a rapid rise to fame with five of his eight albums released in 2022 making it into Billboard's top 10. He has had connections to Salt Lake City, Utah, for several years, and when he was sentenced to house arrest for a 2020 weapons charge, he decided to take up residence in the predominantly Mormon community.

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YoungBoy NBA -

The first time two Mormon missionaries knocked on his door he sent them away, but after reflecting, he realized that he "wanted help very badly." When they came back, he invited them in and opened up to them about all the changes he desperately wanted to make. "It was just cool to see someone with a different mindset that had nothing to do with business or money—just these wonderful souls,” he recalled. The missionaries began to visit him daily and he is prepared for his official baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. YoungBoy says he was “very wrong about a lot of things" and regrets the violent lyrics that were common in his early music.

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Shia LaBeouf -

For Shia LaBeouf, his religious awakening came after he starred in the 2022 movie 'Padre Pio.' The movie tells the story of the famous Catholic saint of the same name, with LaBeouf playing the titular character. The controversial star has gained a reputation as a method actor, and true to form, he went to live in a Capuchin monastery to prepare for the role. "I know now that God was using my ego to draw me to Him. Drawing me away from worldly desires. It was all happening simultaneously," he explained on the 'Bishop Barron Presents' podcast.

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Shia LaBeouf -

LaBeouf revealed that he was in a dark place at the time, following public accusations of physical and sexual abuse by his ex-girlfriend, FKA Twigs. He shared that he was even considering taking his own life, but found forgiveness and salvation in Catholicism. "It was seeing other people who have sinned beyond anything I could ever conceptualize also being found in Christ that made me feel like, 'Oh, that gives me hope.'" LaBeouf was raised by a Jewish mother and previously practiced Judaism.

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Karlie Kloss - Since marrying Joshua Kushner in 2018, the supermodel has converted to Judaism.

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Tom Cruise - The former Catholic notoriously joined the Church of Scientology.

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Katie Holmes - Holmes converted to Scientology when she married Tom Cruise, but following their divorce she returned to the Catholic Church.

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Zooey Deschanel - Raised by a Quaker and a Roman Catholic, the actress converted to Judaism as an adult.

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David Chappelle - The son of the first ordained female African-American Unitarian Universalist minister, he became a Muslim in the late '90s.

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Madonna - The famous singer was raised Roman Catholic before getting deeply involved in Kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism.

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Julia Roberts - Though she was raised Catholic, Roberts eventually converted to Hinduism.

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Mike Tyson - Tyson became a Muslim while he was in prison. He continued to practice the faith even after he completed his sentence.

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Leah Remini - An outspoken critic of Scientology, Remini was with the Church until 2013. She has embraced Catholicism since her departure.

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Bob Dylan - Once a practicing Jew, Dylan became a Christian later in life.

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Snoop Dogg - The rapper has switched religions multiple times. The religions he's dabbled in include Islam, Mormonism, and Rastafarianism.

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John Travolta - Raised as a Catholic, Travolta later became a Scientologist.

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Tina Turner - Turner converted to Buddhism as an adult.

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Elizabeth Banks - Previously a Christian, Banks embraced Judaism when she married Max Handelman.

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Isla Fisher - Fisher, who attended Methodist Ladies' College, became Jewish after her marriage to actor Sacha Baron Cohen.

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Drew Barrymore - Barrymore converted to Judaism in 2012 when she married Will Kopelman and committed to raising their children Jewish. They divorced in 2016.

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Orlando Bloom - The actor is a Buddhist, but used to be Anglican before converting.

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Marilyn Monroe - Monroe’s mother was a Christian Scientist, but Monroe converted to Judaism when she married Arthur Miller.

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Marilyn Monroe -

Monroe’s mother was a Christian Scientist, but Monroe converted to Judaism when she married Arthur Miller.

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Ivanka Trump - Trump notoriously converted to Judaism before marrying Jared Kushner.

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Sharon Stone - The former Scientologist converted to Buddhism.

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Richard Gere - Raised Catholic, Gere later became a Buddhist.

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Abdul-Jabbar changed his name from Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor when he converted to Islam in the late '60s.

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Charlie Sheen - The former Catholic became a born-again Christian in the late '90s.

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Bob Marley - Marley denounced Rastafarianism and became a Christian before his death.

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Jack Black -

Black was raised Jewish, but didn’t so much formally convert as become "kind of an atheist" for a while. Apparently since becoming a dad, he’s returned to Judaism.

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Steven Seagal - Seagal reportedly converted to Buddhism.

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Jane Fonda - After her marriage to Ted Turner, Fonda converted to Christianity.

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Ice Cube - The rapper converted to Islam in the '90s.

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Mira Sorvino - The actress decided to become an atheist.

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Raekwon - The musician converted to Islam in 2009.

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Sammy Davis, Jr. - The singer reportedly converted to Judaism.

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Stephen Baldwin - In the early 2000s, Baldwin became a born-again Christian.

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Albert Einstein - Einstein was born to Jewish parents but later in life described himself as agnostic.

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Alice Cooper - Alice Cooper was born to an evangelist pastor. He left the Church then returned to it after some time, crediting Christianity for saving him from his alcohol addiction.

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Oliver Stone - The filmmaker became a Buddhist as an adult, but was raised Episcopalian.

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Elizabeth Taylor - Raised as Christian Scientist, she later converted to Judaism in 1959, adopting the Hebrew name Elisheba Rachel.

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George Harrison - Born into a Catholic family, this former Beatle embraced Indian culture and became a Hindu as an adult.

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David Bowie - Bowie explored several religions throughout his lifetime including: Tibetan Buddhism, Satanism, and Christianity, and even called himself an "almost atheist" at one point. His death was marked according to Buddhist rituals, as was his final wish outlined in his will.

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Moby - Moby converted to Christianity, even though he has been hesitant to call himself a Christian in the past.

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Tom Arnold - Raised Methodist, this actor also switched religions for marital reasons. He became a Jew after his marriage to Roseanne Barr in 1990.

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Anne Meara - The late actress also became Jewish after marrying Jerry Stiller. She was born and baptized Roman Catholic.

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A. R. Rahman - The Indian musician converted to Islam from Hinduism when he was in his early 20s.

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Ike Turner - Turner converted to Judaism in 1994.

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Bettie Page -

This bombshell became a Christian in 1957. Some believe this was the reason she left the modeling world.

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Adam Yauch - Despite being born to Jewish mother and a Catholic father, Yauch was a practicing Buddhist.

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Gary Busey - The actor became a born-again Christian after suffering a drug overdose.

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Nell Carter - The late singer and actress also switched to Judaism after marriage. She was born into a Roman Catholic family and raised Presbyterianism.

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Sharmila Tagore - The Indian film star converted to Islam before marrying her spouse. Previously she was a Hindu.

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Jim Croce - The musician went from Roman Catholicism to Judaism once he married his wife.

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Kate Capshaw - The actress married Steven Spielberg and converted to Judaism. She was originally Episcopalian.

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Soleil Moon Frye - Soleil Moon Frye was a Scientologist before leaving the Church and switching back to Judaism, the religion she was born into.

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Connie Chung - Journalist Connie Chung also converted to Judaism prior to marriage.

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Anne Rice - The late author was born into a Catholic family but as an adult became agnostic.

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Nagma - The Indian star converted from Islam to Christianity in 2008.

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Larry Flynt -

The late American publisher was an evangelical Christian for one year in 1977. Later, he referred to himself as an atheist.

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Sinéad O'Connor -

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Sofia Richie -

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Sofia Richie -

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YoungBoy NBA -

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YoungBoy NBA -

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Shia LaBeouf -

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Shia LaBeouf -

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Karlie Kloss - Since marrying Joshua Kushner in 2018, the supermodel has converted to Judaism.

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Tom Cruise - The former Catholic notoriously joined the Church of Scientology.

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Katie Holmes - Holmes converted to Scientology when she married Tom Cruise, but following their divorce she returned to the Catholic Church.

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Zooey Deschanel - Raised by a Quaker and a Roman Catholic, the actress converted to Judaism as an adult.

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David Chappelle - The son of the first ordained female African-American Unitarian Universalist minister, he became a Muslim in the late '90s.

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Madonna - The famous singer was raised Roman Catholic before getting deeply involved in Kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism.

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Julia Roberts - Though she was raised Catholic, Roberts eventually converted to Hinduism.

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Mike Tyson - Tyson became a Muslim while he was in prison. He continued to practice the faith even after he completed his sentence.

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Leah Remini - An outspoken critic of Scientology, Remini was with the Church until 2013. She has embraced Catholicism since her departure.

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Bob Dylan - Once a practicing Jew, Dylan became a Christian later in life.

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Snoop Dogg - The rapper has switched religions multiple times. The religions he's dabbled in include Islam, Mormonism, and Rastafarianism.

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John Travolta - Raised as a Catholic, Travolta later became a Scientologist.

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Tina Turner - Turner converted to Buddhism as an adult.

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Elizabeth Banks - Previously a Christian, Banks embraced Judaism when she married Max Handelman.

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Isla Fisher - Fisher, who attended Methodist Ladies' College, became Jewish after her marriage to actor Sacha Baron Cohen.

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Drew Barrymore - Barrymore converted to Judaism in 2012 when she married Will Kopelman and committed to raising their children Jewish. They divorced in 2016.

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Orlando Bloom - The actor is a Buddhist, but used to be Anglican before converting.

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Marilyn Monroe - Monroe’s mother was a Christian Scientist, but Monroe converted to Judaism when she married Arthur Miller.

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Marilyn Monroe -

Monroe’s mother was a Christian Scientist, but Monroe converted to Judaism when she married Arthur Miller.

Getty Images

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Ivanka Trump - Trump notoriously converted to Judaism before marrying Jared Kushner.

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Sharon Stone - The former Scientologist converted to Buddhism.

28 / 64 Fotos

Richard Gere - Raised Catholic, Gere later became a Buddhist.

29 / 64 Fotos

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Abdul-Jabbar changed his name from Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor when he converted to Islam in the late '60s.

30 / 64 Fotos

Charlie Sheen - The former Catholic became a born-again Christian in the late '90s.

31 / 64 Fotos

Bob Marley - Marley denounced Rastafarianism and became a Christian before his death.

32 / 64 Fotos

Jack Black -

Black was raised Jewish, but didn’t so much formally convert as become "kind of an atheist" for a while. Apparently since becoming a dad, he’s returned to Judaism.

TV Globo/Victor Pollak

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Steven Seagal - Seagal reportedly converted to Buddhism.

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Jane Fonda - After her marriage to Ted Turner, Fonda converted to Christianity.

35 / 64 Fotos

Ice Cube - The rapper converted to Islam in the '90s.

36 / 64 Fotos

Mira Sorvino - The actress decided to become an atheist.

37 / 64 Fotos

Raekwon - The musician converted to Islam in 2009.

38 / 64 Fotos

Sammy Davis, Jr. - The singer reportedly converted to Judaism.

39 / 64 Fotos

Stephen Baldwin - In the early 2000s, Baldwin became a born-again Christian.

40 / 64 Fotos

Albert Einstein - Einstein was born to Jewish parents but later in life described himself as agnostic.

41 / 64 Fotos

Alice Cooper - Alice Cooper was born to an evangelist pastor. He left the Church then returned to it after some time, crediting Christianity for saving him from his alcohol addiction.

42 / 64 Fotos

Oliver Stone - The filmmaker became a Buddhist as an adult, but was raised Episcopalian.

43 / 64 Fotos

Elizabeth Taylor - Raised as Christian Scientist, she later converted to Judaism in 1959, adopting the Hebrew name Elisheba Rachel.

44 / 64 Fotos

George Harrison - Born into a Catholic family, this former Beatle embraced Indian culture and became a Hindu as an adult.

45 / 64 Fotos

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Moby - Moby converted to Christianity, even though he has been hesitant to call himself a Christian in the past.

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Tom Arnold - Raised Methodist, this actor also switched religions for marital reasons. He became a Jew after his marriage to Roseanne Barr in 1990.

48 / 64 Fotos

Anne Meara - The late actress also became Jewish after marrying Jerry Stiller. She was born and baptized Roman Catholic.

49 / 64 Fotos

A. R. Rahman - The Indian musician converted to Islam from Hinduism when he was in his early 20s.

50 / 64 Fotos

Ike Turner - Turner converted to Judaism in 1994.

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Bettie Page -

This bombshell became a Christian in 1957. Some believe this was the reason she left the modeling world.

Getty Images

52 / 64 Fotos

Adam Yauch - Despite being born to Jewish mother and a Catholic father, Yauch was a practicing Buddhist.

53 / 64 Fotos

Gary Busey - The actor became a born-again Christian after suffering a drug overdose.

54 / 64 Fotos

Nell Carter - The late singer and actress also switched to Judaism after marriage. She was born into a Roman Catholic family and raised Presbyterianism.

55 / 64 Fotos

Sharmila Tagore - The Indian film star converted to Islam before marrying her spouse. Previously she was a Hindu.

56 / 64 Fotos

Jim Croce - The musician went from Roman Catholicism to Judaism once he married his wife.

57 / 64 Fotos

Kate Capshaw - The actress married Steven Spielberg and converted to Judaism. She was originally Episcopalian.

58 / 64 Fotos

Soleil Moon Frye - Soleil Moon Frye was a Scientologist before leaving the Church and switching back to Judaism, the religion she was born into.

59 / 64 Fotos

Connie Chung - Journalist Connie Chung also converted to Judaism prior to marriage.

60 / 64 Fotos

Anne Rice - The late author was born into a Catholic family but as an adult became agnostic.

61 / 64 Fotos

Nagma - The Indian star converted from Islam to Christianity in 2008.

62 / 64 Fotos

Larry Flynt -

The late American publisher was an evangelical Christian for one year in 1977. Later, he referred to himself as an atheist.

63 / 64 Fotos

Celebrities who converted to new religions

Some converted for marriage, while others went through dramatic spiritual awakenings

04/11/24 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Religion

Religion: it’s not polite to argue about it over dinner, but it’s also a big part of many people’s lives. Some celebrities are very public and open with their religious choices and beliefs, while others choose to keep their faith a little more private. It’s a deeply personal decision, often made as a result of marriage, trauma, or a hunt for meaning.

Which celebrities have converted over the years? Read on to learn more.