Famous Vegans

Although veganism—the ethical philosophy of avoiding all animal products, especially in diet—is by no means a recent stance, it goes without saying that celebrities like Pamela Anderson, Ellen DeGeneres, Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand have played a major role in popularizing it. The 18th century American reformer Amos Bronson Alcott—the father of writer Louisa May-- advocated a vegan diet even before the term was coined! The English animal rights advocate Donald Watson is credited with coining the term “vegan”; he also founded the Vegan Society. However, veganism as a social justice movement started gaining mainstream prominence only in the past few years with the emergence of vegan activists like Gary Yourofsky, Peter Daniel Young, and Shmuly Yanklowitz. In the contemporary times, several actors, directors and musicians are actively engaged in spreading awareness about veganism and animal rights. Actors Natalie Portman, Hillary Swank, and Tobey Maguire are prominent spokespersons for veganism as are musicians Russell Simmons and Moby. Famous vegan spiritual leaders like Alfredo Sfeir and Thich Nhat Hanh are also engaged in dispersing the message of universal peace for all irrespective of the species. Read on for more information about the life and works of famous vegans.

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Lena Headey

(Portrayed Cersei Lannister in HBO Series 'Game of Thrones' )

Birthdate: October 3, 1973

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Hamilton, Bermuda

Height: 5'5" (165 cm)

Bryan Adams

(Best Selling Pop, Pop-Rock Singer-Songwriter Of All Time)

Birthdate: November 5, 1959

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Kingston, Canada

Canadian rock guitarist and singer Bryan Adams, known for his cult classics Everything I Do and Summer of '69, has won 20 Juno Awards and a Grammy. The Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee is also an avid animal rights activist and a professional photographer who has held several exhibitions.

Birthdate: March 14, 1965

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Considered one of India’s most influential and best actors of all time, Aamir Khan is known for his interesting choice of films, which are well-crafted, entertaining and commercially successful. They mostly have a social message and are appreciated both by critics and the people. Sarfarosh, Lagaan, Rang De Basanti, 3 Idiots, PK and Dangal are some of his acclaimed films.

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Tricia Helfer

(Canadian-American Actress Best Known for Her Role on the Sci-Fi Television Show 'Battlestar Galactica')

Birthdate: April 11, 1974

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Donalda, Canada

Tricia Helfer is a Canadian actress and model. She gained international fame after portraying the enigmatic Cylon model Number Six in the Battlestar Galactica TV series. She began her career as a model and won the Ford Models' Supermodel of the World contest in 1992. Later on, she quit modeling to pursue a full-time acting career.

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Carl Lewis

(American Track-and-Field Athlete Who Won Nine Olympic Gold Medals During the 1980s and 1990s)

Birthdate: July 1, 1961

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama, United States

A dominant sprinter and long jumper, Carl Lewis has won ten Olympic medals, nine of them gold. From 1981 to 1991, he topped the world rankings in the 100 m, 200 m and long jump events, slowly starting to lose his dominance thereafter, eventually retiring in 1997. Currently a businessperson, he has also appeared in films and television productions.

Birthdate: March 7, 1971

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Illinois, United States

Peter Sarsgaard is a versatile American actor known for his work on stage, films, and TV series. A world-renowned actor, Peter is equally good with women and has dated several good-looking women like Dita Von Teese and Shalom Harlow.

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Shannon Elizabeth

(Actress and Poker Player Best Known for Her Films: ‘American Pie’, ‘Scary Movie’, and ‘Love Actually’)

Birthdate: September 7, 1973

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States

Shannon Elizabeth is best known as Nadia from the iconic sex comedy American Pie. She also appeared in films such as Scary Movie and Thirteen Ghosts, and on shows such as Celebrity Big Brother and Dancing with the Stars. She now manages her non-profit Animal Avengers in South Africa.

Eugenio Derbez

(Mexican Actor and Comedian Best Known for His Films: 'Instructions Not Included' and 'CODA')

Birthdate: September 2, 1961

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Villa Milpa Alta, Mexico

Eugenio Derbez is a Mexican actor and filmmaker best known for co-creating and starring in the family sitcom La familia P. Luche. After establishing himself in the Mexican film industry, he ventured into American films and TV series as well. His feature film Instructions Not Included became the most successful Spanish-language film in US.

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Birthdate: October 4, 1957

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Queens, New York, United States

Russell Simmons is a controversial American businessman who co-founded the hip-hop music label, 'Def Jam Recordings', and established the clothing line 'Phat Fashions'. He is noted for Harriet Tubman Sex Tape which generated a lot of heat in 2013. Simmons who calls himself a Christian yogi is accused of sexual assaults on several women. He has adopted veganism and advocates non-violence.

Alba Flores

(Spanish Actress Best Known for Her Role as 'Saray Vargas' in the TV Series 'Vis a Vis')

Birthdate: October 27, 1986

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Alba Flores, the only daughter of Spanish musician Antonio Flores, achieved international fame as Nairobi in the Spanish series La Casa De Papel, or Money Heist. Apart from drama, she is trained in the piano, too. She is also an avid animal lover and has campaigned for PETA.

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Krista Allen

(Actress and Stand-up Comedian Known for Her Television Series ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘Baywatch Hawaii’)

Birthdate: April 5, 1971

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Ventura, California, United States

Krista Allen is best known for playing Billie Reed in the series Days of Our Lives. She also played the titular role in the erotic movie series Emmanuelle in Space. She has also been part of films such as Liar Liar and series such as Significant Mother.

Summer Phoenix

(Actress and the Youngest Sibling of Joaquin Phoenix, Rain Phoenix and River Phoenix)

Birthdate: December 10, 1978

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Winter Park, Florida, United States

American actress Summer Phoenix is also an active supporter of numerous charities and activist groups. Summer is a member of The Paper Cranes, an alternative band that plays the New York City club. She appeared in the movies Kate's Secret and in Russkies and later appeared in movies Wasted, Dinner Rush, and The Faculty. Summer played lead roles in the movies Esther Kahn and Suzie Gold.

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Birthdate: January 5, 1962

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States

Suzy Amis Cameron is the wife of Titanic director James Cameron. Suzy is an environmental activist and had initially been an actor and a model. She appeared as Lizzy Calvert in Titanic, as Eddie in The Usual Suspects, and as the titular character in The Ballad of Little Jo.

Birthdate: August 10, 1971

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

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Birthdate: April 12, 1981

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Maoputasi County, American Samoa Leloaloa, American Samoa, U.S.

Born in American Samoa and raised in Hawaii, US Representative Tulsi Gabbard formed the environmental non-profit Healthy Hawai’i Coalition as a teenager. At 21, she was the youngest member of the Hawai‘i State Legislature. A US Army major, she later became the first Hindu to be part of Congress.

James McCartney

(English Musician and the Son of The Beatles Legend Paul McCartney)

Birthdate: September 12, 1977

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: London, England

Known for his uncanny resemblance to his father, legendary musician and former member of The Beatles Paul McCartney, James McCartney is a talented musician in his own right. Though he has played in some of his father’s tracks and has also released his own music, he has mostly been away from the limelight.

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Soko

(Actress and Singer Known for Her Remarkably Emotional Performances )

Birthdate: October 26, 1985

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Bordeaux, France

Soko is a French musician and singer-songwriter. The song We Might Be Dead by Tomorrow, which is part of her debut album I Thought I Was an Alien, reached the ninth position on the Billboard Hot 100. Soko is also a critically acclaimed actress, earning César Award nominations for her performance in films like In the Beginning and The Dancer.

Birthdate: April 8, 1984

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States

Height: 6'1" (185 cm)

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Maria Brink

(Frontwoman of American Alternative Metal Band 'In This Moment')

Birthdate: December 18, 1977

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Albany, New York, United States

Maria Brink is a singer and songwriter best known as the lead singer of the rock band In This Moment. She developed an early interest in performing and received encouragement from her mother. She began her musical career as a young woman and played with numerous other bands before forming In This Moment. She is also an aspiring artist.

Killer Kowalski

(Canadian Professional Wrestler)

Birthdate: October 13, 1926

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Died: August 30, 2008

Height: 6'7" (201 cm)

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Pete Holmes

(Known for his impressions, including most notably his one of Batman)

Birthdate: March 30, 1979

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Height: 6'5" (196 cm)

Dave England

(American Stunt Performer and Former Professional Snowboarder)

Birthdate: December 30, 1969

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Ventura, California, United States

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

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Birthdate: August 20, 1981

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Michael Rady is best known as Kostas Dounas from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and its sequel. He also played prominent roles in series such as Melrose Place, Greek, Intelligence, and Swingtown, and has appeared in quite a few Hallmark TV movies. He is a strict vegan.

Andrew Koenig

(Actor)

Birthdate: August 17, 1968

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA

Died: February 14, 2010

Height: 5'6" (168 cm)

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Marco Fu

(Snooker player)

Birthdate: January 8, 1978

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Hong Kong

Height: 5'11" (180 cm)

Birthdate: July 23, 1940

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Riverside

Died: December 27, 2019

Height: 6'2" (188 cm)

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Davey Havok

(Singer)

Birthdate: November 20, 1975

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Rochester, New York, USA

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

Birthdate: February 15, 1980

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska, United States

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

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Hannah Teter

(Olympic Gold & Silver Medalist in Snowboarding)

Birthdate: January 27, 1987

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Belmont, Mount Holly, Vermont, United States

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Jason Gillespie

(Australian Former Cricketer Who Played All Three Formats of the Game)

Birthdate: April 19, 1975

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Sydney, Australia

Height: 6'5" (196 cm)

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Brian Greene

(American Theoretical Physicist and Mathematician)

Birthdate: February 9, 1963

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

American theoretical physicist, mathematician, and string theorist Brian Greene is noted for popularising string theory through his books like The Elegant Universe, and The Fabric of the Cosmos and related PBS television specials. Greene taught as professor of physics at Cornell University, and presently serves as a professor at Columbia University. He is the co-founder and chairman of the World Science Festival.

Simon Amstell

(Comedian)

Birthdate: November 29, 1979

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Gants Hill, Ilford, England

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

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William Roache

(Actor)

Birthdate: April 25, 1932

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England, UK

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

Carl Palmer

(Drummer)

Birthdate: March 20, 1950

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Handsworth, Birmingham, England

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Attila Csihar

(Vocalist)

Birthdate: March 29, 1971

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary

Starting his music career with the Hungarian metal band Tormentor, Attila Csihar also worked with the Norwegian black metal band Mayhem after the suicide of its lead vocalist. Not known to many, the black metal vocalist is an electrical engineer and has also taught math and physics before venturing into music.

Jeff Mangum

(Founder, Songwriter, Vocalist and Guitarist of 'Neutral Milk Hotel')

Birthdate: October 24, 1970

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Ruston, Louisiana, United States

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Caroline Vreeland

(German-American Actress, Singer-Songwriter, Model, and Columnist)

Birthdate: October 26, 1987

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Washington, D.C, United States

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

Jim Morris

(American Bodybuilder)

Birthdate: August 31, 1935

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States

Died: January 28, 2016

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Mike Ness

(Musician)

Birthdate: April 3, 1962

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Lynn, Massachusetts, USA

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Dennis Kucinich

(Politician)

Birthdate: October 8, 1946

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

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Vatsal Sheth

(Actor)

Birthdate: August 5, 1980

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Bryant Jennings

(Boxer)

Birthdate: September 25, 1984

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Height: 6'3" (190 cm)

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Zack Sabre Jr.

(British Professional Wrestler)

Birthdate: July 24, 1987

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Isle of Sheppey, England

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

Traci Bingham

(Actress)

Birthdate: January 13, 1968

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: North Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

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Birthdate: May 3, 1957

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Julia Butterfly Hill

(Environmental Activist)

Birthdate: February 18, 1974

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Mount Vernon, Missouri, United States

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Michael Greger

(General Practitioner)

Birthdate: October 25, 1972

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: America

Rikki Rockett

(American Drummer for Rock Band 'Poison')

Birthdate: August 8, 1961

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, United States

Rikki Rockett is an American musician best known as the drummer of the popular rock band Poison, which he co-founded along with Bret Michaels, Bobby Dall, and C.C. DeVille. Rikki Rockett is also credited with co-forming a rock supergroup called The Devil City Angels. A multi-talented personality, he holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Mon Laferte

(Singer known for her musical versatility, having composed songs in a wide variety of genres such as pop, rock)

Birthdate: May 2, 1983

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Viña del Mar, Chile