Thread: Genuine Christian Actors/Actresses

Was just wondering if there are any real Christians in the movie/TV industry. And I'm not talking about the Gary Busey types who pop up on TBN and talk about their great faith in Jesus one day and go on a psychotic rant the next. How many genuine believers in Christ are working in front of the cameras and are really trying to live for Him I wonder.

Here are some to consider:

Kirk Cameron
Robert Duvall
Olivia Newton-John
Gavin McLeod
John Schneider
Paul Walker
Stephen Baldwin
Andy Griffith
Steve McQueen
Lisa Whelchel
Miley Cyrus
Jonas Brothers

Steve McQueen

Didn't know that.

Originally Posted by larryjf

Here are some to consider:

Kirk Cameron
Robert Duvall
Olivia Newton-John
Gavin McLeod
John Schneider
Paul Walker
Stephen Baldwin
Andy Griffith
Steve McQueen
Lisa Whelchel
Miley Cyrus
Jonas Brothers

I think you can strike Robert Duvall from that list. I love the guy as an actor, but he has said before "he does his own thing" as far as religion goes, and that was a recent interview. Patricia Heaton of Everybody Loves Raymond (a show I never watched) also claims to be a Christian. Though he's deceased, Charleton Heston could be on the list as well...

Add Richard Kiel ("Jaws" in the James Bond movies) to the list; he retired from the movie industry in part because his faith meant more to him: Richard Kiel Fan Club. Also Jennifer O'Neill ("Summer of '42," etc.): Jennifer O'Neill - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

I, too, read that Steve McQueen had been converted in the last few months of his life. He'd been leaning that way for quite some time.

Margaret

Originally Posted by larryjf

Here are some to consider:

Kirk Cameron
Robert Duvall
Olivia Newton-John
Gavin McLeod
John Schneider
Paul Walker
Stephen Baldwin
Andy Griffith
Steve McQueen
Lisa Whelchel
Miley Cyrus
Jonas Brothers

Paul Walker is a Mormon.

Also add Tom Lester, who was a star on Green Acres. I actually heard him speak at my previous church...

Originally Posted by Daniel Ritchie

Steve McQueen

Didn't know that.

That's news to me as well.

Glad to hear Miley Cyrus is a believer in Christ. Know she's been going through a rough time of it lately. May God keep her safe in the industry she works in.

I saw Stephen Baldwin on The Apprentice and I was not impressed with him. I know he claims to be "born again" but I did not see much difference between him and some of the others on the show. There is a fairly new actor who is a young man that has appeared in a few movies that is a member of a PCA congregation in North Carolina. There was an article about him in By Faith magazine a couple years ago, but I cannot recall his name. Are you sure that Miley Cyrus is a believer? What an amazing change we would see in the entertainment industry, if more Christians took the creation mandate serious.

I, too, read that Steve McQueen had been converted in the last few months of his life. He'd been leaning that way for quite some time.

He started going to the same mega church in Ventura that my family went to when I was a teenager. Missionary Church Alliance, solid Evangelical type. He introduced his daugher to one of my friends there and they started dating. His conversion was considered legit by everyone.

What, no Mel Gibson?!

I find it would be extremely difficult to be an actor in Hollywood and to be open with one's faith. From a professionally perspective the auditions that a Christian can apply for are quite slim. Up and coming actors aren't in the position to chose what roles they can take. Most of them will take anything that pays something. Secondly, once you get the part how will it affect the family? Does the role require kissing another person? Does the part require the Lord's name to be used in vain? Are they required to work on the Lord's Day? There are so many issues that it seems very difficult to be a devoted Christian and an actor who's committed to their craft. There's going to be a compromise somewhere.


The life of an actor is not all the glitz and fame the media promotes. It’s actually the worst profession in the entertainment industry. Aspiring actors are considered slime in the industry. Their treated like dirt and their asked to perform like dirt. It’s absolutely degrading beyond belief. People move to Hollywood waste 10-15 years of their lives waiting to be discovered only to find that age has caught up with them. They destroy their souls, waste money on worthless acting lessons, and jump from one workshop to the other, all with hopes of being discovered.

Originally Posted by Zenas

What, no Mel Gibson?!

Originally Posted by Blue Tick

I find it would be extremely difficult to be an actor in Hollywood and to be open with one's faith. From a professionally perspective the auditions that a Christian can apply for are quite slim. Up and coming actors aren't in the position to chose what roles they can take. Most of them will take anything that pays something. Secondly, once you get the part how will it affect the family? Does the role require kissing another person? Does the part require the Lord's name to be used in vain? Are they required to work on the Lord's Day? There are so many issues that it seems very difficult to be a devoted Christian and an actor who's committed to their craft. There's going to be a compromise somewhere.


The life of an actor is not all the glitz and fame the media promotes. It’s actually the worst profession in the entertainment industry. Aspiring actors are considered slime in the industry. Their treated like dirt and their asked to perform like dirt. It’s absolutely degrading beyond belief. People move to Hollywood waste 10-15 years of their lives waiting to be discovered only to find that age has caught up with them. They destroy their souls, waste money on worthless acting lessons, and jump from one workshop to the other, all with hopes of being discovered.

Yes, it would be difficult to be a Christian actor, but difficulties are for overcoming; we are to rule and subdue, not let the world walk all over us.

The truth is, that it is always difficult to be a Christian in any situation. But that is not an excuse for not perservering.

Originally Posted by Daniel Ritchie

Originally Posted by Blue Tick

I find it would be extremely difficult to be an actor in Hollywood and to be open with one's faith. From a professionally perspective the auditions that a Christian can apply for are quite slim. Up and coming actors aren't in the position to chose what roles they can take. Most of them will take anything that pays something. Secondly, once you get the part how will it affect the family? Does the role require kissing another person? Does the part require the Lord's name to be used in vain? Are they required to work on the Lord's Day? There are so many issues that it seems very difficult to be a devoted Christian and an actor who's committed to their craft. There's going to be a compromise somewhere.


The life of an actor is not all the glitz and fame the media promotes. It’s actually the worst profession in the entertainment industry. Aspiring actors are considered slime in the industry. Their treated like dirt and their asked to perform like dirt. It’s absolutely degrading beyond belief. People move to Hollywood waste 10-15 years of their lives waiting to be discovered only to find that age has caught up with them. They destroy their souls, waste money on worthless acting lessons, and jump from one workshop to the other, all with hopes of being discovered.

Yes, it would be difficult to be a Christian actor, but difficulties are for overcoming; we are to rule and subdue, not let the world walk all over us.

The truth is, that it is always difficult to be a Christian in any situation. But that is not an excuse for not perservering.

This is why dispensationalism has been so popular in the church, because we just live our Christian lives and wait for the rapture. We are starting to see a change with more of an emphasis on the creation mandate that was taught by the late Dr. James Kennedy and by men like Ken Gentry, Gary Demar, and George Grant. Francis Schaeffer was teaching this long ago.

Y'all are getting me riled up. Amen and pass the ammunition!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by larryjf

Here are some to consider:

Kirk Cameron
Robert Duvall
Olivia Newton-John
Gavin McLeod
John Schneider
Paul Walker
Stephen Baldwin
Andy Griffith
Steve McQueen
Lisa Whelchel
Miley Cyrus
Jonas Brothers

Paul Walker is Mormon

Originally Posted by No Longer A Libertine

Originally Posted by larryjf

Here are some to consider:

Kirk Cameron
Robert Duvall
Olivia Newton-John
Gavin McLeod
John Schneider
Paul Walker
Stephen Baldwin
Andy Griffith
Steve McQueen
Lisa Whelchel
Miley Cyrus
Jonas Brothers

Paul Walker is a Mormon.

Originally Posted by caddy

Originally Posted by larryjf

Here are some to consider:

Kirk Cameron
Robert Duvall
Olivia Newton-John
Gavin McLeod
John Schneider
Paul Walker
Stephen Baldwin
Andy Griffith
Steve McQueen
Lisa Whelchel
Miley Cyrus
Jonas Brothers

Paul Walker is Mormon

Now where have I heard that one before?

Originally Posted by Daniel Ritchie

Originally Posted by No Longer A Libertine

Originally Posted by larryjf

Here are some to consider:

Kirk Cameron
Robert Duvall
Olivia Newton-John
Gavin McLeod
John Schneider
Paul Walker
Stephen Baldwin
Andy Griffith
Steve McQueen
Lisa Whelchel
Miley Cyrus
Jonas Brothers

Paul Walker is a Mormon.

Originally Posted by caddy

Originally Posted by larryjf

Here are some to consider:

Kirk Cameron
Robert Duvall
Olivia Newton-John
Gavin McLeod
John Schneider
Paul Walker
Stephen Baldwin
Andy Griffith
Steve McQueen
Lisa Whelchel
Miley Cyrus
Jonas Brothers

Paul Walker is Mormon

Now where have I heard that one before?

LOL

Sorry...I'm guilty of not reading the whole thread before I post

Originally Posted by Backwoods Presbyterian

Y'all are getting me riled up. Amen and pass the ammunition!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can I get an amen. are Reformed people allowed to shout amen or is that a charismatic thing

Woooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Olivia Newton-John?

For real????

Originally Posted by jaybird0827

Olivia Newton-John?

For real????

Yeah, I had to laugh on that one, even though I liked her music when she was popular.

Originally Posted by Zenas

What, no Mel Gibson?!

Margaret

Originally Posted by jaybird0827

Olivia Newton-John?

For real????

Here's a recent quote from her fan site:
Quotes

"To me luxury is to be at home with my daughter, and the occasional massage doesn't hurt." -Olivia Newton-John.

The "Patrick McDermott gone missing" episode remains a bit tawdry...

"Fruit of the spirit?" Hopefully, in the bud, but -- not overly obvious right now.

Margaret

It's said Mandy Moore is, and Willie Ames of (Eight is Enough--and of course Bibleman)

Now, I wouldn't call some of these "Christians" but here is a list that I found..

Famous Christians in Sports, Entertainment, More

Actors
Willie Aames - former actor ("Eight is Enough") turned "Bibleman"
Corbin Allred - actor, "Robin Hood: Men in Tights"; "Teen Angel"
Billy Barty - actor, famed "Little People" activist, "Willow"
Justine Bateman - actress
Gary Burghoff - actor ("Radar O'Reilly" on M.A.S.H.)
Gary Busey - actor
Kirk Cameron - actor, "Growing Pains"
Carl Clarfalio - actor ("The Thing" in Corman's FF film)
Lacey Chabert - Actress from "Party of Five"
Anna Chlumsky - Actress
Deezer D - Actor on "E.R.", Christian rapper
Anne B. Davis - "Alice" on the Brady Bunch
Clifton Davis - movie star
Hazel Dawn - movie star
Laraine Day - movie star
Mark Deakins - actor ("Star Trek: Insurrection", Axum on "Star Trek: Voyager")
Donna Douglas - actress ("Ellie May Clampett" on "Beverly Hillbillies")
Roma Downey - actress on "Touched by an Angel"
Robert Duvall - actor
Aaron Eckhart - movie star ("The Pledge", "Erin Brockovich", "Possession", etc.)
Dale Evans (1912-2001) - actress
Kim Fields - actor, "Facts of Life"
Rhonda Fleming - movie star
Mel Gibson - movie star
Ryan Gosling - actor ("The Believer", Hercules on "Young Hercules")
Andy Griffith - actor, "Andy Griffith Show"
Charlton Heston - actor, "The Ten Commandments"
Tom Hanks - movie star
Dean Jagger - movie star (Academy Award for "Twelve O'Clock High", etc.)
Dean Jones - movie star
Danny Kamekona - actor (popular Hawaiian actor; "Hawaii 5-O"; Miyagi's rival "Sato" in "Karate Kid II")
Richard Kiel - actor; Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me; Moonraker
Carol Lawrence - singer/dancer/actress, once married to Robert Goulet
Olivia Newton-John - popular Australian-born singer, actress
Bruce Marchiano - actor, Jesus in The Gospel According to Matthew
Gavin McLeod - actor, Captain Stubing on The Love Boat
Terry Moore - Academy Award-nominated actress (Come Back, Little Sheba, etc.)
Tia and Tamer Mowry - Actresses on Sister Sister
Robert Newman - actor
Chuck Norris - actor, "Walker Texas Ranger"
Austen O'Brian - actor on Promised Land
Merlin Olsen - football player, actor (Little House on the Prairie; Aaron's Way)
Jennifer O'Neill - actor
Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond - popular singers, TV show hosts
Kelly Packard - Wonder Years; Blossom; Step By Step; Baywatch; Boy Meets World
Austin Peck - Soap Opera actor
Pat Priest - actress ("Marilyn Munster" on The Munsters TV show; Easy Come, Easy Go w/Elvis Presley)
Della Reese - actress, "Touched by an Angel"
Judge Reinhold - actor
Fred Rogers - "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood"
Roy Rogers (1911-1998) - TV star
Mickey Rooney - actor
Jane Russell - movie star
John Schneider - actor, "The Dukes of Hazzard", founder, FaithWorks!
Connie Seleca - actress
Nancy Stafford - actress, Matlock; MacGyver
David Suchet - actor ("Hercule Poirot" on the PBS series Mystery)
Mr T. - Actor
Russ Tamblyn - actor (Peyton Place, West Side Story, etc.)
Ben Vereen - Actor
Paul Walker - movie star (Varsity Blues, Meet the Deedles, The Fast and the Furious, etc.)
Robert Walker - actor (Strangers on a Train, etc.)
Lisa Whelchel - actress, The Facts of Life
Johnny Whitaker - actor, Family Affair
Demond Wilson - actor, Lamont Sanford
Marie Windsor - movie star
Elijah Wood - actor
Heather Young - TV star, Land of Giants
Loretta Young - movie star (Best Actress Academy Award for The Farmer's Daughter)

TV/Movie Producers and Directors
Martha Williamson - executive producer "Touched by an Angel"
John Woo - director, "Mission Impossible II", "Broken Arrow"
Don Bluth - animation director/producer (Land Before Time; Titan A.E.; The Secret of NIMH; etc.)
Richard Dutcher - director/screenwriter/actor (Girl Crazy; God's Army)
Kieth Merrill (Academy award-winning IMAX director; "The Great American Cowboy; "Amazon", etc.)
Jerry Molen - movie producer (Schindler's List; Jurassic Park, Twister; Hook; Rain Man; etc.)
Richard Rich - animation director (The King and I; The Black Cauldron)
Ken Wales - producer, "Christy"
Michael Warren - producer, "Family Matters"

Originally Posted by Galatians220

Originally Posted by jaybird0827

Olivia Newton-John?

For real????

Here's a recent quote from her fan site:
Quotes

"To me luxury is to be at home with my daughter, and the occasional massage doesn't hurt." -Olivia Newton-John.

The "Patrick McDermott gone missing" episode remains a bit tawdry...

"Fruit of the spirit?" Hopefully, in the bud, but -- not overly obvious right now.

Margaret

That's what I was thinking, Margaret.

In fact, the majority on the list provided makes me wonder: why is it so important that these Hollywood-types are Christian? I praise God if they are, but I'm more concerned with my own sancification and the members of my church than what goes on in Hollywood.

As far as Robert Duvall goes, here is a link to an interview with him..

The religion of Robert Duvall, actor

Every actor on that list that I've looked up has been a member of the LDS cult.

If you are referring to post number 26, I know for certain that some of them are not LDS.

Mandy Moore? Really? A Walk To Remember kinda left me scratching my head.

Originally Posted by Reformingstudent

Originally Posted by Daniel Ritchie

Steve McQueen

Didn't know that.

That's news to me as well.

Glad to hear Miley Cyrus is a believer in Christ. Know she's been going through a rough time of it lately. May God keep her safe in the industry she works in.

I read recently in National Review in their "The Week" section that Miley Cyrus just posed for Vanity Fair Magazine wearing nothing but a bedsheet. She's 15 and her father was with her and gave his consent to the photo shoot. This is wrong on so many levels I can't even start the list...

Daniel

Jane Fonda claimed to become a believer in 1998 and apparently still makes that claim. Does anyone know about this? Apparently she is a member of a church in Atlanta, GA and it was one of the factors that caused her split with Ted Turner.

Originally Posted by Zenas

Every actor on that list that I've looked up has been a member of the LDS cult.

For real? Every actor?
Wow.

Originally Posted by JBaldwin

Jane Fonda claimed to become a believer in 1998 and apparently still makes that claim. Does anyone know about this? Apparently she is a member of a church in Atlanta, GA and it was one of the factors that caused her split with Ted Turner.

Found this: How I Was Saved -- Beliefnet interviews Jane Fonda about her faith -- Beliefnet.com

No, only the ones I looked up.

I looked up Paul Washer, Kelly Packard, Mr. Barty, and a couple of others- all LDS.

Originally Posted by Reformingstudent

Originally Posted by JBaldwin

Jane Fonda claimed to become a believer in 1998 and apparently still makes that claim. Does anyone know about this? Apparently she is a member of a church in Atlanta, GA and it was one of the factors that caused her split with Ted Turner.

Found this: How I Was Saved -- Beliefnet interviews Jane Fonda about her faith -- Beliefnet.com

Thanks, that clarified things for me. Looks like she is one of those goddess Sophia types that I encountered in the PCUSA. That is not Christianity but a pagan goddess worship that pretends to be christian.

Here's another from Ms. Fonda's statement about her faith:

Excerpt from Jane Fonda's 'My Life So Far' -- Beliefnet.com

What do you all think?

Two you may not think of: Bono and Bettie Page.

Bono might not be that surprising, other than the fact that it's hard to imagine the lead singer of one of the top 5 all-time great rock bands being a believer. But he does make a clear profession of faith, and in a recent interview basically said you had to believe Christ or reject Him, and that there was no middle ground (he claims to believe in Him). When you think about it, about the worst thing U2 does is use profanity in some of their concerts. Their lyrics are relatively "clean" otherwise. So, I would tend to accept his profession of faith as legitimate.

As for Bettie Page, she was one of the first and still "greatest" nude pin-up models of the 1950's. She had a somewhat strange conversion experience in her 40's, and became reclusive afterwards, but is said to have maintained her faith, despite some serious mental problems. I'm not sure of the exact nature of her belief, but from what I've heard it was a real repentance and faith.

Originally Posted by JBaldwin

Jane Fonda claimed to become a believer in 1998 and apparently still makes that claim. Does anyone know about this? Apparently she is a member of a church in Atlanta, GA and it was one of the factors that caused her split with Ted Turner.

Yes... She caused quite a flap in Hollywood when she went to one of those feminist luncheons and the "mistress of ceremonies" started to pray to "Mother Earth" or someone. I read that at that point, Jane Fonda stood up and yelled, "You all need to be praying to Jesus Christ instead!" whereupon she stomped out of the event. She claimed that her Christian faith broke up her marriage to Ted Turner, but she also still claims to be a diehard pro-choicer. Her continued support of NARAL and Planned Parenthood gives proof positive of that. I don't know what she is, really.

There is another point to consider: there are some Reformed people who consider all drama and those who practice it in violation of the 2nd Commandment. Their arguments are that God did not create us to play roles as other people; He created us to live every moment as His precious, unique creations and we are to work for His glory and honor as ourselves. They also say that we are not to make "graven images," which they say movies are; when an actor plays the part of a murderer or an adulterer, he is putting aside his real identity for a moment and becoming that "other character" in order to provide titillating entertainment for others. Also, when, for example, a married-in-real-life actor or actress plays a love scene with someone not his/her spouse, that is really, really wrong. They also say that it's wrong for us to watch people doing such things in movies or plays.

I have a tract from a denomination that believes that; I'd heard that it was out there and requested the tract by phone. They required me, before they sent it, to prove my membership in a Reformed denomination prior to letting me have it. I provided them with such proof (my name on a roster of a congregation that they recognized) and they then decided that I was not a writer who would use the tract to humiliate or otherwise embarrass them, so they sent it. Now I can't find the tract, but it's here in this house somewhere. "The Evil of Drama," it was entitled, or something like that.

So is "Christian actor" or "actress" or "director" a contradiction in terms? I don't know, but that tract was pretty persuasive. I know that there are certain movies that I won't watch ever again, and I'm a lifelong movie aficionado. And some are considered to be the great movies... Married-in-real-life Jimmy Stewart doing a love scene with Grace Kelly in "Rear Window" (BTW, some say that he was a Christian) - okay, I watch that, but -- I feel kind of guilty doing it. "North by Northwest" - how many sins are on display in that? Even Martin Landau admitted that he changed his small role in that movie ever so slightly so as to play the character as a homosexual because he thought it would "enhance" the part and make him and the film more marketable. I've watched "NBN" probably 30 times... Cary Grant at his prime, after all... But I'm married... Shouldn't be admiring other men, even if they're no longer with us...

If anyone wants the name of the denomination that publishes that tract & would like to see if it's still in print, just send me a PM... I will abide by their wishes not to go really public with their stance on "what's wrong" with play-acting.

Margaret