Entertainment

Famous Buddhists 

David Jones
Updated September 27, 2019 115.9k views 30 items

A List of famous Buddhists. This list compiles well known individuals who practice or have heavily studied Buddhism. All branches of Buddhism have been included. Buddhism is a philosophy and religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known to most of us as "the Buddha." Though it's found throughout the world, Buddhism is most popular in Asia, and it originated within India. There are two major branches of Buddhism, Mahayana and Theravada, the former being the most popular. The common thread among all branches of Buddhism is the concept of "dependent origination", that reality is an interwoven web of cause and effect.

Though its origins are distant, there are plenty of famous American Buddhists. Buddhism is the philosophy held or studied by every individual on this list of celebrity Buddhists.
Adam Yauch is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list Famous Buddhists
Dec. at 48 (1964-2012)

Birthplace: Brooklyn Heights, New York City, New York, United States of America

Adam Nathaniel Yauch (pronounced ; August 5, 1964 – May 4, 2012) was an American rapper and filmmaker who was a founding member of the hip hop group Beastie Boys. He used the stage name MCA. ...more
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje... is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list Famous Buddhists
Age: 51

Birthplace: England, London, Islington

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (; born 22 August 1967) is a British actor, director, and former fashion model known for his roles as Simon Adebisi on Oz, Nykwana Wombosi in The Bourne Identity, Kurse ...more
Allen Ginsberg is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list Famous Buddhists
Dec. at 71 (1926-1997)

Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey, United States of America

Irwin Allen Ginsberg (; June 3, 1926 – April 5, 1997) was an American poet, philosopher and writer. He is considered to be one of the leading figures of both the Beat Generation during the 1950s ...more
Chow Yun-Fat is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list Famous Buddhists
Age: 63

Birthplace: Hong Kong, Lamma Island

Chow Yun-fat SBS (born 18 May 1955), previously known as Donald Chow, is a Hong Kong actor known in Asia for his collaborations with filmmaker John Woo in the action heroic bloodshed-genre films ...more
Courtney Love is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list Famous Buddhists
Age: 54

Birthplace: California, United States of America

Courtney Michelle Love (born Courtney Michelle Harrison; July 9, 1964) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. A figure in the punk and grunge scenes of the 1990s, Love's career has ...more
David Bowie is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list Famous Buddhists
Dec. at 69 (1947-2016)

Birthplace: Brixton, Eurasia, South London, United Kingdom, London, + more

David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie (, BOH-ee), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. He was a leading figure in the music industry ...more
George Dvorsky is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list Famous Buddhists
Age: 48
George P. Dvorsky (born May 11, 1970) is a Canadian bioethicist, transhumanist and futurist. He is a contributing editor at io9 and producer of the Sentient Developments blog and podcast. He was ...more
George Lucas is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list Famous Buddhists
Age: 74

Birthplace: Modesto, California, United States of America

George Walton Lucas Jr. (born May 14, 1944) is an American filmmaker and entrepreneur. Lucas created the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises and founded Lucasfilm, LucasArts and Industrial ...more
Goldie Hawn is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list Famous Buddhists
Age: 73

Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States of America

Goldie Jeanne Hawn (born November 21, 1945) is an American actress, producer, and singer. She rose to fame on the NBC sketch comedy program Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968–70), before going ...more
Herbie Hancock is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list Famous Buddhists
Age: 78

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States of America

Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, composer and actor. Hancock started his career with Donald Byrd. He shortly thereafter joined the ...more
Hermann Hesse is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list Famous Buddhists
Dec. at 85 (1877-1962)

Birthplace: Calw, Germany

Hermann Karl Hesse (German: [ˈhɛɐ̯man ˈhɛsə]; July 2, 1877 – August 9, 1962) was a German-born poet, novelist, and painter. His best-known works include Demian, Steppenwolf, Siddhartha, and The ...more
Jack Kerouac is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list Famous Buddhists
Dec. at 47 (1922-1969)

Birthplace: Lowell, Massachusetts, United States of America

Jack Kerouac (; born Jean-Louis Kérouac (though he called himself Jean-Louis Lebris de Kérouac); March 12, 1922 – October 21, 1969) was an American novelist and poet of ...more
Jeff Bridges is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list Famous Buddhists
Age: 69

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States of America

Jeffrey Leon Bridges (born December 4, 1949) is an American actor, singer, and producer. He comes from a prominent acting family and appeared on the television series Sea Hunt (1958–60), with ...more
Jet Li is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list Famous Buddhists
Age: 55

Birthplace: China, Beijing

Li Lianjie (born 26 April 1963), better known by his stage name Jet Li, is a Chinese film actor, film producer, martial artist, and retired Wushu champion who was born in Beijing. He is a ...more
k.d. lang is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list Famous Buddhists
Age: 57

Birthplace: Edmonton, Canada

Kathryn Dawn Lang (born November 2, 1961), known by her stylized stage name k.d. lang, is a Canadian pop and country singer-songwriter and occasional actress. Lang has won both Juno Awards and ...more
Kate Bosworth is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list Famous Buddhists
Age: 36

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States of America

Katherine Ann Bosworth (born January 2, 1983) is an American actress and model. Following minor roles in the films The Horse Whisperer (1998) and Remember the Titans (2000), she rose to ...more
Kate Hudson is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list Famous Buddhists
Age: 39

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States of America

Kate Garry Hudson (born April 19, 1979) is an American actress, author, and fashion designer. She rose to prominence for her performance in the film Almost Famous (2000), for which she won a ...more
Leonard Cohen is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list Famous Buddhists
Age: 84

Birthplace: Westmount, Canada

Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934 – November 7, 2016) was a Canadian singer, songwriter, poet, and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, sexuality, and romantic ...more
Naima Mora is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list Famous Buddhists
Age: 34

Birthplace: Michigan, USA, Detroit

Naima Mora (born March 1, 1984) is an American fashion model and the winner of Cycle 4 of America's Next Top Model.
Oliver Stone is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list Famous Buddhists
Age: 72

Birthplace: New York City, Area code 917, Contiguous United States, New York, United States of America, + more

William Oliver Stone (born September 15, 1946) is an American filmmaker, director, writer and conspiracy theorist.Stone won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay as writer of Midnight ...more
Orlando Bloom is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list Famous Buddhists
Age: 42

Birthplace: Canterbury, United Kingdom

Orlando Jonathan Blanchard Bloom (born 13 January 1977) is an English actor. After making his breakthrough as Legolas in The Lord of the Rings film series, he rose to fame by further appearing ...more
Patrick Duffy is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list Famous Buddhists
Age: 69

Birthplace: Townsend, Montana, United States of America

Patrick Duffy (born March 17, 1949) is an American actor, best known for his role on the CBS primetime soap opera Dallas, where he played Bobby Ewing, the youngest son of Miss Ellie and the ...more
Philip Glass is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list Famous Buddhists
Age: 82

Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America

Philip Glass (born January 31, 1937) is an American composer. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the late 20th century. Glass's work has been described as minimal ...more
Richard Gere is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list Famous Buddhists
Age: 69

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Richard Tiffany Gere (IPA: geer; born August 31, 1949) is an American actor. He began in films in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977) and a starring role in ...more
Sharon Stone is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list Famous Buddhists
Age: 60

Birthplace: Meadville, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Sharon Vonne Stone (born March 10, 1958) is an American actress, producer, and former fashion model. She is the recipient of a Golden Globe Award and has received nominations for an Academy ...more