Mormon Celebrities List

Over the past few years, Mormonism has emerged as a fascinating cultural lens in entertainment. From A24’s chilling Hereditary to Hulu’s buzzworthy The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and from Senator Mitt Romney to American Idol’s David Archuleta, the intersection of faith and fame continues to offer compelling stories and unique perspectives worth exploring.

How Mormon Are They?

Mormonism is a religion known for its structure and strict adherence to spiritual guidelines. Members are expected to follow a comprehensive set of rules governing nearly every aspect of life, from dietary restrictions to modesty and chastity. These expectations create a natural, but often harsh, divide between those who remain fully active in the church and those who do not.

For clarity, we’ll use the following classifications to describe each celebrity’s affiliation with the church:

Active

Actively participate in the church and strive to follow its guidelines.

Less-Active and Inactive

Do not regularly participate in the church and/or do not follow all its guidelines but still consider themselves members.

Ex-Mormons

Actively reject the church, no longer identify as members, and may or may not have requested formal removal from church records.

Excommunicated Mormons

Have been formally removed from church membership through excommunication.

These distinctions are important to understanding how individuals with ties to Mormonism navigate their faith and public identities, particularly in professions where personal and religious values might be incompatible with public expectations. 

A final note: The activity levels noted below are based on internet research using social media, news interviews, and personal websites. The activity levels noted are based on what information is available currently online, and may not present a full picture of someone’s faith or lack thereof.    

Actors & Entertainers

Aaron Eckhart

Actor | Born 1968 | Inactive

Golden Globe-nominated actor known for The Dark Knight and Thank You for Smoking.

Amy Adams

Actress | Born 1974 | Inactive

Five-time Academy Award-nominated actress known for Enchanted, American Hustle, and Arrival.

Chelsea Handler

Comedian | Born 1975 | Ex-Mormon

Comedian and talk show host best known for Chelsea Lately.

Glenn Beck

Commentator | Born 1964 | Active

Conservative political commentator, author, and television personality.

Jeanette McCurdy

Actress & Author | Born 1992 | Inactive

Actress and author best known for iCarly and her memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died.

Jon Heder

Actor | Born 1977 | Active

Actor and comedian best known for his role in Napoleon Dynamite.

Julianne & Derek Hough

Dancers & Choreographers | Born 1988 (Julianne) and 1985 (Derek) | Less-active/inactive

Sibling dancers and choreographers, both winners of Dancing with the Stars.

Katherine Heigl

Actress | Born 1978 | Inactive

Emmy-winning actress known for Grey’s Anatomy and 27 Dresses.

Kaycee Stroh

Actress & Singer | Born 1984 | Active

Actress and singer best known for her role in High School Musical.

Paul Walker

Actor | 1973–2013 | Inactive

Actor best known for his role in The Fast and the Furious franchise.

Roseanne Barr

Comedian & Actress | Born 1952 | Inactive

Comedian and actress best known for her sitcom Roseanne.

Ryan Gosling

Actor | Born 1980 | Inactive

Academy Award-nominated actor known for La La Land, Drive, and The Notebook.

Musicians

Alex Boyé

Singer | Born 1970 | Active

British-American singer known for his Africanized pop covers and uplifting music.

Benson Boone

Singer-songwriter | Born 2002 | Unknown

Rising pop artist with viral success on TikTok and charting singles.

Brandon Flowers (The Killers)

Musician | Born 1981 | Active

Lead singer of The Killers, known for hits like Mr. Brightside and Somebody Told Me.

Brendon Urie (Panic! at the Disco)

Singer | Born 1987 | Ex-Mormon

Frontman of Panic! at the Disco, known for High Hopes and I Write Sins Not Tragedies.

Christina Aguilera

Singer | Born 1980 | Inactive

Pop icon known for hits like Genie in a Bottle and Beautiful.

Dan Reynolds (Imagine Dragons)

Musician | Born 1987 | Ex-Mormon

Lead singer of Imagine Dragons, known for songs like Radioactive and Believer.

David Archuleta

Singer | Born 1990 | Ex-Mormon

American Idol runner-up known for Crush.

Dinah Jane Hansen (Fifth Harmony)

Singer | Born 1997 | Active

Member of Fifth Harmony, known for Work from Home.

Elaine Bradley (Neon Trees)

Drummer & Vocalist | Born 1984 | Unknown

Drummer and vocalist for Neon Trees, known for Everybody Talks.

Gladys Knight

Singer | Born 1944 | Active

Legendary singer known for Midnight Train to Georgia.

Jenny Oaks Baker

Violinist | Born 1975 | Active

Grammy-nominated violinist known for her classical and inspirational music.

Jon Peter Lewis

Singer-songwriter | Born 1979 | Unknown

American Idol finalist and contestant on The Voice.

Kaskade (Ryan Raddon)

DJ | Born 1971 | Active

Prominent DJ known for his work in electronic dance music.

Keala Settle

Singer & Actress | Born 1975 | Less-active/inactive

Known for her powerful performance of This Is Me in The Greatest Showman.

Lindsey Stirling

Violinist | Born 1986 | Active

Hip-hop violinist known for blending classical music with electronic and dance.

Marie Osmond (The Osmonds)

Singer & Actress | Born 1959 | Active

Part of The Osmonds and known for her hit Paper Roses.

Mindy Gledhill

Singer-songwriter | Born 1981 | Ex-Mormon

Indie folk singer known for her uplifting and faith-inspired music.

Nathan Pacheco

Tenor | Born 1980 | Active

Classical crossover singer known for his powerful operatic vocals.

Neon Trees (Tyler Glenn, Elaine Bradley)

Band | Formed 2005 | Mixed (Tyler Glenn is Ex-Mormon; Elaine Bradley is Unknown)

Rock band known for hits like Animal and Everybody Talks.

Tal Bachman

Singer-songwriter | Born 1968 | Ex-Mormon

Known for the 1999 hit She’s So High.

The 5 Browns (Desirae, Deondra, Gregory, Melody, Ryan)

Pianists | Born 1980s | Active

Classical sibling pianists known for their innovative performances.

The Aquabats (Ian Fowles, Christian Jacobs)

Band | Formed 1994 | Active

Rock band known for their humorous songs and kids’ show Yo Gabba Gabba.

The Jets

Band | Formed 1980s | Active

1980s pop group known for Crush on You.

The Killers (Brandon Flowers)

Band | Formed 2001 | Active

Rock band known for hits like Mr. Brightside.

The Osmonds (Alan, Donny, Jay, Jimmy, Marie, Merrill, Wayne)

Band | Formed 1970s | Active

Family band known for One Bad Apple and Love Me for a Reason.

The Piano Guys (Jon Schmidt, Steven Sharp Nelson)

Pianist & Cellist | Formed 2010 | Active

YouTube sensations known for classical-pop fusion videos.

The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square

Choir | Established 1847 | Active

Renowned choir known for their inspirational performances worldwide.

Tiffany Alvord

Singer-songwriter | Born 1992 | Inactive

YouTube musician known for covers and original songs.

Win Butler (Arcade Fire)

Musician | Born 1980 | Inactive

Lead singer of Arcade Fire, known for albums like Funeral and The Suburbs.

Internet Personalities, Reality Stars, and Influencers

Ballerina Farm (Hannah Neeleman)

Influencer & Farmer | Born 1988 | Active

Instagram influencer and former Miss New York, known for promoting farm life and homemaking.

Brooklyn and Bailey McKnight

YouTubers | Born 1999 | Active

Twin influencers known for their beauty, fashion, and lifestyle YouTube channel.

Jordan and McKay

Influencers | Unknown | Ex-Mormon

YouTube duo known for exploring and critiquing Mormonism from an ex-Mormon perspective.

Nara Smith & Lucky Smith

Models & Influencers | Born 1998 (Nara) and 1997 (Lucky) | Likely Less-Active

High-profile influencers known for their modeling careers and family-focused content.

Roman Atwood

YouTuber & Vlogger | Born 1983 | Active

Popular YouTuber known for his family-friendly prank and lifestyle videos.

The Bucket List Family (Garrett and Jessica Gee)

Travel Influencers | Born 1980s | Active

Family travel vloggers known for documenting adventures around the world.

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

Reality TV Cast | Ongoing | Mixed (varied activity levels)

Reality TV series centered on the lives of women in Salt Lake City, often exploring Mormon culture.

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives

Reality TV Cast | Ongoing | Mixed (varied activity levels)

Reality series highlighting the lives of women navigating unique challenges in Mormon culture.

Zelph on the Shelf (Tanner Gilliland and Samantha Shelley)

YouTubers | Born 1990s | Ex-Mormon

Ex-Mormon YouTube creators known for their satirical and critical takes on Mormonism.

Writers

Brandon Mull

Author | Born 1974 | Active

Bestselling author of the Fablehaven and Beyonders series.

Brandon Sanderson

Author | Born 1975 | Active

Renowned fantasy author of Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive.

Fawn M. Brodie

Author & Biographer | 1915–1981 | Ex-Mormon

Biographer of Joseph Smith, known for No Man Knows My History.

James Dashner

Author | Born 1972 | Unknown

Bestselling author of The Maze Runner series.

Orson Scott Card

Author | Born 1951 | Active

Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of Ender’s Game.

Shannon Hale

Author | Born 1974 | Active

Newbery Honor-winning author of Princess Academy and The Goose Girl.

Stephen R. Covey

Author | 1932–2012 | Active

Author of the bestselling self-help book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

Stephenie Meyer

Author | Born 1973 | Active

Author of the globally successful Twilight series.

Athletes & Sports Figures

Cael Sanderson

Wrestler | Born 1979 | Active

Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Dale Murphy

MLB Player | Born 1956 | Active

Retired MLB player and two-time National League MVP.

Jimmer Fredette

Basketball Player | Born 1989 | Active

Former BYU basketball star and NBA player.

Kenneth Rooks

Track Athlete | Born 1998 | Active

Silver medalist in the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Noelle Pikus-Pace

Skeleton Racer | Born 1982 | Active

Silver medalist in skeleton at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

Rulon Gardner

Wrestler | Born 1971 | Active

Olympic gold medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Shawn Bradley

NBA Player | Born 1972 | Active

Retired NBA player known for his height and shot-blocking ability.

Steve Young

NFL Player | Born 1961 | Active

Hall of Fame NFL quarterback and Super Bowl MVP.

Torah Bright

Snowboarder | Born 1986 | Active

Olympic gold medalist in the halfpipe at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Activists & Advocates

Jeremy Runnells

Activist & Author | Born 1979 | Ex-Mormon

Author of the CES Letter, a critical analysis of LDS doctrine.

John Dehlin

Activist & Podcaster | Born 1969 | Excommunicated

Host of the Mormon Stories podcast and advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Kate Kelly

Activist & Advocate | Born 1980 | Excommunicated

Founder of Ordain Women, a movement advocating for women’s priesthood in the LDS Church.

Alyssa Grenfell

Activist & Advocate | Born 1992 | Resigned 

Author of How to Leave the Mormon Church and ExMormon content creator 

Politicians & Public Leaders

Harry Reid

Politician | 1939–2021 | Active

Longtime Senate Majority Leader from Nevada.

Jeff Flake

Politician | Born 1962 | Active

Former U.S. Senator from Arizona.

Mike Lee

Politician | Born 1971 | Active

U.S. Senator from Utah known for his conservative policies.

Mitt Romney

Politician | Born 1947 | Active

U.S. Senator from Utah and former Republican presidential candidate.

Orrin Hatch

Politician | 1934–2022 | Active

Longest-serving U.S. Senator in Utah’s history.

Infamous Mormons

Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow

Criminals | Born 1968 (Chad) and 1973 (Lori) | Excommunicated

Central figures in the “doomsday cult” murders.

Julie Rowe

Author & Speaker | Born 1970s | Excommunicated

Apocalyptic influencer tied to fringe LDS survivalist movements.

Mark Hofmann

Forger & Murderer | Born 1954 | Excommunicated

Master forger behind the 1980s “Mormon document scandal.”

Ruby Franke (8 Passengers)

Influencer | Born 1982 | Ex-Mormon

Family vlogger arrested and charged with child abuse.

Ted Bundy

Serial Killer | 1946–1989 | Excommunicated

Infamous serial killer who briefly converted to Mormonism.

Warren Jeffs

Polygamist Leader | Born 1955 | Excommunicated

FLDS leader convicted of child sexual assault.

The Intersection of Faith and Fame

There’s something inherently fascinating about Mormon celebrities. Their lives invite curiosity, blending the mystique of fame with the structured and often misunderstood world of Mormonism. For some, it’s the contrast between the Church’s strict moral codes and the often chaotic, image-driven industries of entertainment, sports, and media.

For others, it’s the way their faith informs—or conflicts with—their public personas. Whether actively practicing or openly critical, these figures offer a lens into how a highly structured religion intersects with the unpredictable nature of fame.

But fame brings challenges, especially for those navigating Mormonism’s rigid expectations. The Church’s emphasis on modesty, morality, and obedience can be at odds with industries where compromise is often key to success.

Active members risk being held to impossibly high standards, scrutinized by both the faithful and outsiders alike. For those who have distanced themselves from Mormonism, fame amplifies their departures, turning personal decisions into public debates. These tensions make Mormon celebrities more than just entertainers—they become symbols of the friction between belief, identity, and visibility.

Conclusion

Growing up, many Mormons are encouraged to develop their talents—whether through music, sports, or other creative pursuits. This emphasis has created a pipeline where some rise to fame, becoming household names. But navigating faith and fame is rarely simple.

The demands of public life often clash with the expectations of Mormonism, leaving many to make difficult choices where one cannot be fully reconciled with the other. These stories, whether of devotion, departure, or something in between, remind us of the unique challenges and contradictions that come with life in the spotlight.