It’s not incredibly common for celebrities to leave the entertainment industry in order to pursue lives of faith. However, it has happened! There have been a notable figures over the years that have turned their back on fame and fortune. In order to devote to God, and we’ll be taking a look at some of the most prominent individuals! Join Facts Verse as we take a look at celebrities who left Hollywood for God.
Rick Moranis
Any fans of 1980s comedies will immediately recognize SCTV alum and popular comedic actor Rick Moranis. However, not everyone will have made the observation that the actor seems to have been missing sometime in early 1990s. As it turns out, Rick Moranis didn’t just get up and disappear from the entertainment industry for no reason. The Ghostbusters actor made a conscious choice to leave the industry. In an effort to get closer to God after the tragic death of his wife in 1991. Her name was Anne, and Rick and their two children survived her.
After the death of his wife, he felt that it would be difficult to continue working in Hollywood while trying to be a single dad. Instead, Rick made the choice to abandon his career as an actor and attempt to live a normal life. For Rick, part of living a normal life has been trying to strengthen his faith. Despite the fact that Rick Moranis has essentially been absent from the media for three decades, the actor did recently appear in a commercial alongside actor Ryan Reynolds for a cellphone company by the name of Mint Mobile. Perhaps, the actor may be ready to step back into the spotlight now that his bond with God has been properly strengthened!
Cat Stevens
With the release of the album Tea for Tillerman in 1970, folk singer Cat Stevens became one of the most prominent musical artists of the 1970s. However, an experience in which the folk singer almost drowned in 1976 changed his life completely, and he has since dedicated himself much more strongly to his faith than to his music. Cat Stevens can still be found performing music under the name of Yusuf Islam, but he does so only in the name of his creator! When Yusuf Islam does deign himself to take to the stage nowadays, it’s most often in support of some kind of charitable cause.
Chris Tucker
Chris Tucker is a phenomenal stand-up comedian and actor who became a Hollywood superstar. Thanks to his breakout performance in the 1995 sleeper hit Friday. The actor became even better known thanks to his role in the 1998 action comedy Rush Hour. In which he starred alongside martial arts legend Jackie Chan. Although Chris Tucker opted out of returning for Friday’s two sequels, he appeared in both Rush Hour 2 and Rush Hour 3.
Despite the immense amount of success that Chris Tucker ended up finding in his Hollywood career, he soon came to the decision that life in the entertainment industry wasn’t for him. Chris’ change of heart started occurring soon after the filming of the 1997 comedy Money Talks. Chris’ growing relationship with God was the reason that he turned down the two sequels to Friday. Though he felt that the Rush Hour franchise provided more family-friendly entertainment. In the days since Rush Hour 3’s release, Chris Tucker has become even more removed from the spotlight. His relationship with God has strengthened even further.
Nowadays, Chris Tucker isn’t above taking the occasional acting role, but he spends the vast majority of his time performing family-friendly stand-up comedy. His family-friendly comedy isn’t nearly as successful as his old stand-up comedy, and likely wouldn’t tickle the funny bone of those who only knew the comedian from his comparatively risqué performance in 1995’s Friday. However, Chris Tucker is certainly proud of the work that he is doing! Chris has appeared in two films since Rush Hour 3. With those being Silver Linings Playbook and Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. This suggests that, regardless of his faith, Chris Tucker is still willing to appear on the screen so long as he deems the work to be of high enough quality. In addition to these two films, a fourth Rush Hour sequel has been rumored.
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Kirk Cameron
Up until the age of 17, former television star Kirk Cameron has claimed that he was an atheist. However, a transformative experience during his years working on the hit sitcom Growing Pains opened the star’s eyes up the existence of God. From that moment forward, Kirk has dedicated his life to sharing the message of his creator. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Kirk has left the entertainment industry! Instead, the former television icon has spent his time making faith-based movies for Christian audiences, such as 2014’s Saving Christmas. Although Kirk’s time as a Christian film star hasn’t made him quite as ubiquitous with global audiences as his tenure as a teen idol did back when Growing Pains was on. Kirk is content with his decreased fame so long as he’s following God!
While Kirk Cameron maintains a strong base of fans amongst the faith-based community, some mainstream audiences have criticized the former television star in recent years for his decidedly negative views on homosexuality. However, given the star’s new faith-based predilection, it only stands to reason that the actor has to be at least a little judgmental of others. The majority of the controversy came when Kirk appeared on Piers Morgan Tonight. On the program, Kirk said being homosexual was unnatural.
Angus T. Jones
Angus T. Jones is another former child star that started out on a majorly successful television series before deciding to call it quits on mainstream entertainment altogether. While Kirk Cameron had Growing Pains, Angus T. Jones came to prominence thanks to his turn as the titular half of a man on the hit series Two and a Half Men. Angus was quite young when the series began, and audiences got to watch him blossom into young adulthood as seasons went on.
Although television audiences got to watch as Angus T. Jones grew up, they were likely unaware of one specific change that was happening within the boy’s head. As Angus started coming of age, he became more and more interested in devoting his life to his faith. He felt like a hypocrite during his final years performing Two and a Half Men. Because the series’ themes didn’t jive with his own religious views. Since Angus finally broke free from the series, he has dedicated the majority of his time to his faith. In 2012, he publicly called Two and a Half Men trash.
Stephen Baldwin
In Hollywood, it often seems as if there are too many Baldwin brothers to count. However, Stephen Baldwin’s escape from the entertainment industry in the wake of his Christian transformation. And made the brothers slightly easier to keep track of! Before finding God, Stephen could be seen in such features as Bio-Dome and The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas. While neither film was critically successful, they were both big hits with audiences and helped Stephen make a memorable impression during his time in the industry.
According to Stephen Baldwin, it was the events of 9/11 that caused him to reevaluate his faith and decide that he wanted to strengthen his connection with his creator. Several years later, Stephen made the transition from working in frivolous entertainment to working in conservative radio! Stephen’s work on conservative radio has given him an opportunity to share his faith with the world. His radio work features him working alongside fellow conservative Kevin McCullough.
Montell Jordan
Regardless of age, most people have likely hard the classic 1990s hip-hop song “This Is How We Do It”. Fewer people can actual name the artist, let alone know that said artist is now a born-again Christian! A hip-hop artist by the name of Montell Jordan recorded “This Is How We Do It”. Though the song became a huge hit, Montell claimed to have a religious vision. Not long after it’s release that inspired him to take a step back from the mainstream music industry. And pursue a career making gospel music. In addition to becoming a minister, former hip-hop artist Montell Jordan has released his very own gospel album.
Dolores Hart
Dolores Hart is a former actress that is notable for having been the one to give music legend Elvis Presley his very first kiss on the screen. This kiss came in 1957’s Loving You. After Dolores’ appearance in the film and went to appear in a few other films before leaving the industry. Over the course of the 1960s, Dolores Hart left Hollywood and instead became a nun. Dolores’ story was documented in the film God Is the Bigger Elvis. Which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary.
Despite all of the riches and fame that a Hollywood career, there are still times when celebrities have turned their backs. In order to get closer to God. It’s time to hear from you: did you know that the woman who gave Elvis his very first on-screen kiss went on to become a nun?. And that star Kirk Cameron had a religious awakening while working on the hit sitcom Growing Pains? As always, like this video to show your support, and subscribe and hit the notification bell. If you’d like to be among the first to know when more Facts Verse videos are on their way!
