Jehovah’s witness celebrities are famous people who are or have been members of the religious sect. Some of them include Michael Jackson, Sherri Shepherd, Childish Gambino, Terrence Howard, and Ja rule. The sect is famous for its style of evangelism which is predominantly door-to-door.
Most of these Jehovah’s witness celebrities were involved in evangelism while growing up. However, some have left the sect due to one reason or the other, while some are still active members of the religious group.
Meet Some Jehovah’s Witness Celebrities
1. Jill Scott
Multi-talented artist, Jill Scott is a Grammy award-winning African-American singer-songwriter, actress, poet, and model born on April 4, 1972, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The actress was raised by her mother and grandmother, in what she refers to as a “happy childhood”. While growing up, Jill and her family were members of Jehovah’s Witness. She credits the church for her humility. However, she was not baptized, has left the church, and does not identify with any religious association.
She is famous for movies like Tyler Perry’s “Why did I Get Married?” (2007), “Why did I get Married Too” (2010), and “Baggage Claim” (2013).
2. Michael Jackson
One of Jehovah’s witness celebrities is the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Born on August 29, 1958, Michael Jackson is famous for being the most-awarded individual music artist in history with 13 Grammy awards, 6 Brit awards, 5 Billboard Music Awards, and 24 American Music Awards among others.
His mother, Katherine Jackson, became a devout Jehovah’s Witness in 1963 after leaving the Baptist tradition. However, The music artist disassociated himself from the religious sect in 1987, after their disapproval of his “Thriller” video.
3. Damon Wayans Sr.
Born on September 4, 1960, American actor, comedian, producer, and writer, Damon Wayans was raised in Harlem, New York. He is famous for “Beverly Hills Cop” (1984), “Bulletproof” (1996), and “Never Better” (2008) among many others.
Wayans was raised as Jehovah’s Witness alongside his brothers. However, Damon is the only one of Wayans brothers still a member of the religious sect.
4. Terrence Howard
The “Empire” actor is one of Jehovah’s witness celebrities. He was born on March 11, 1969, in Chicago, Illinois. The actor became famous for movies like “Big Momma’s House” (2000), “The Best Man” (1999), and “Love Chronicles” (2003).
While some sources claim that Terrence became a member of Jehovah’s Witness in 2013 when he met his third wife, Mira, who is a witness, Others claimed he only expressed interest in joining the sect.
However, the actor featured in a movie about the religious body called “Knocking”. The actor and his wife are currently raising their children according to the principles of the sect.
5. Notorious B.I.G
The American Rapper was born Christopher George Latore Wallace, on May 21, 1997, in Brooklyn, New York. Notorious BIG is considered one of the greatest rappers of all time.
The famous rapper who died on March 9, 1997, due to wounds sustained from a drive-by shooting was a member of the Jehovah’s Witness. However, Notorious BIG denounced the sect before his death.
6. Serena Williams
Retired Tennis Star, Serena Williams was born on September 26, 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan. She is famous for winning 23 Grand Slam titles, the highest won by any player in the Open Era, and the second-highest of all time.
Serena Wiliams is one of the practicing Jehovah’s witness celebrities who ascribed her success to God and never seizes the opportunity to talk about her faith. The tennis star upholds all the doctrines of the religious sect and doesn’t celebrate birthdays, even that of her daughter, Olympia. Her husband though not a member of the sect, respect her views and lives by it as well.
7. Naomi Campbell
British model, actress, singer, and businesswoman, Naomi Campbell is one of Jehovah’s witness celebrities. She was born in Lambeth, London on May 22, 1970. She is famous for being one of the most recognizable and in-demand models of the last four decades.
Naomi was raised as a Jehovah’s witness by her mother Valerie. However, the supermodel is no longer a member of the religious body as her mother allowed her to choose her path.
8. Marques Houston
American R&B singer, Marques Barrett Houston who is famous for his role in the 1990s sitcom, “Sister Sister”, was born on August 4, 1981, in Los Angeles, California.
Houston converted to Jehovah’s witness in 2016 and became baptized in the same year. Ever since the actor took the big step, he has remained loyal to the sect and is currently raising his children in the faith alongside his wife, Miya Houston.
9. Prince
One of the most sexually charged artists in music history, Prince Rogers Nelson, was born on June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is famous for being of the greatest musicians of his generation.
The R&B singer became a Jehovah’s witness in 2001, after the death of his mother. Prior to his conversion, he was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist, a Christain sect with many similarities to the Jehovah’s Witness.
Prince died on April 21, 2016, at the age of 57, his death was attributed to the fact that he refused some form of treatment due to his faith and its doctrines.
10. Ja Rule
Jeffrey Bruce Atkins is an American rapper and actor popularly known as Ja Rule. He was born on February 29, 1976, in New York. Ja Rule became famous for his multiple hits that made it to the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Ja Rule was raised as a member of Jehovah’s Witness but left due to how his family members shunned his mother after she was disfellowshipped from the sect.
11. Luke Evans
Born on April 15, 1979, in Pontypool, Wales, Luke Evans is an actor and singer. He is famous for “Clash of the Titans” (2010), “Immortals” (2011), “The Raven” (2012), and “Beauty and the Beast” (2017).
Luke Evans was raised in Aberbargoed, a small village in Rhymney Valley, Wales, by his Jehovah’s witness parents. However, the actor left the religious sect at the age of 16.
The actor revealed that he celebrated his first birthday at the age of 18, 2 years after leaving the sect. He came out to his parents as gay in 2020, and he said they have been very supportive ever since.
12. Dave Mustaine
American singer, Dave Mustaine was born on September 13, 1961, in La Mesa, California. He is the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and primary songwriter of the thrash metal band, Megadeth.
Dave was raised as Jehovah’s witness alongside his older sisters, Michelle, Suzanne, and Debbie. However, the singer left the sect and joined witchcraft and satanism. He currently practices Black Magic.
13. Patti Smith
Patricia Lee Smith was born on December 30, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois. She is an American singer, songwriter, poet, painter, and author who became famous for being a component of the New York City punk rock movement.
Patti was raised by an atheist father and a Jehovah’s witness mother. She was involved in house-to-house evangelism as a child. However, she battled to balance her love for the arts and her faith. The singer is no longer a member of the sect.
14. Geri Halliwell
Geraldine Estelle Halliwell was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, on August 6, 1972. She is a singer, songwriter, author, and actress. Geri is also known as Geri Horner and Ginger Spice. She is a member of the all-time best-selling girl group, Spice Girls.
The singer was raised as a Jehovah’s witness after her mom converted when she was still young. However, she became agonistic before returning back to Christianity.
15. Donald Glover
Popularly known as Childish Gambino, Donald Glover was born on September 25, 1983, at Edwards Airforce Base, California. He is an American actor, rapper, singer, writer, comedian, director, and producer. Donald Glover is famous for winning a Primetime Emmy Award and 2 Golden Globe Awards for his role in the TV Series, “Atlanta”. He was nominated for many others as well.
The singer grew up as a Jehovah’s witness and was starved of exposure to contemporary culture, for fear of getting tempted by satan. However, Donald has left the religious sect and now refers to himself as an “Airport atheist”.
16. Michelle Rodriguez
Mayte Michelle Rodriguez is an American actress and screenwriter. She was born on July 12, 1978, in San Antonio, Texas, to a Dominican mom and a Puerto Rican dad. She is famous for her role as Letty Ortiz in “The fast and Furious” franchise.
Michelle was partly raised by her grandmother who was a member of the Jehovah’s Witness. She spent her childhood indulging in door-to-door evangelism. However, the fast and furious actress no longer practices the beliefs of the church.
17. Sherri Shepherd
Born on April 22, 1967, Sherri Shepherd is an American actress, comedian, author, broadcaster, and television personality. She is famous for being the host of “The View”, a daytime talk show that received several awards including the Daytime Emmy Awards.
Sherri was raised as a Jehovah’s witness, her father was a deacon at the church. Unfortunately, her father was disfellowshipped after he confronted the church for punishing her for committing sexual sin. She and other members of her family had to stop talking to their father, even though they lived in the same house.
The TV host believes that the religious sect was responsible for breaking her family. However, after she left the sect, she joined a “Black Pentecostal Church” where he claimed he found salvation and learned about the forgiveness of sins.
18. Marc John Jeffries
American actor, Marc John Jeffries, began his career as a toddler. He was born in the Bronx, New York, on May 16, 1990. Marc is famous for “Losing Isaiah” (1995), “Power” (2014-2020), “Brown Sugar” (2002), and “Nerve” (2016) among many others.
The American actor was raised by Jehovah’s witness parents and he is still a member of the religious sect.
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19. Lark Voorhies
Born Lark Holloway on March 25, 1974, Lark Voorhies is an American actress, singer, spokesperson, and model. She was born in Nashville, Tennessee. The actress became famous after she played the role of Lisa Marie Turtle in NBC’s sitcom, “Saved by the Bell” (1989-1993).
Lark has acknowledged that being a Jehovah’s witness has affected her career as she could not accept some roles due to the restrictions of her religious sect. In November 1996, she was released from her contract with “The Bold and Beautiful” because her character required her to act in sex scenes and she couldn’t because of her religious restrictions.
20. Coco Rocha
Mikhaila “Coco” Rocha is a Canadian fashion model, born on September 10, 1988, in Toronto, Ontario. She is considered to be one of the first digital supermodels and is famous for her advocacy for younger models. Coco is one of Jehovah’s witness celebrities.
The supermodel has worked with numerous brands including Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, Shiatzy Chen, Christain Lacroix, and Emanuel Ungaro.
The Canadian model is a practicing Jehovah’s witness and she declared that her faith is very important to her. She is managed by her husband, who is also a member of the religious sect.
This article does not cover all Jehovah’s witness celebrities, as the list is inexhaustible. Other famous Jehovah’s Witness members not mentioned in this article are Venus Williams, Janet Jackson, and Marlon Wayan among others.
