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Famous Buddhists

See if you can guess these people who were either Buddhist or who have seriously studied Buddhism.
Quiz by
interopia
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Last updated: November 20, 2025
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First submittedMay 7, 2020
Times taken352
Average score47.4%
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Life
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Person
1915–1973
British-American Way of Zen author who popularized Buddhism in the West
Alan Watts
1922–1969
On the Road beat novelist who explored Buddhism in The Dharma Bums
Jack Kerouac
1926–1997
Beat poet of “Howl” who became a major student of Tibetan Buddhism
Allen Ginsberg
1926–2022
Vietnamese Zen master who founded the Plum Village tradition
Thích Nhất Hạnh
1934–2016
Canadian singer-songwriter of "Hallelujah" who was Tibetan Buddhist
Leonard Cohen
1935
Tibetan spiritual leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Dalai Lama
1937–
Sulu from Star Trek who was raised in a Buddhist family
George Takei
1937–
Minimalist composer (Koyaanisqatsi) who is long-time Tibetan Buddhist
Philip Glass
1939–2023
"Private Dancer" singer who practiced Nichiren Buddhism for decades
Tina Turner
1940–
"Rockit" jazz legend and lifelong Nichiren Buddhist practitioner
Herbie Hancock
1944–
"Buddhist-Methodist" who incorporated Buddhist philosophy into Star Wars
George Lucas
1946–
Director of Wall Street and Platoon who has practiced since 1993
Oliver Stone
1947–2016
"Space Oddity" rock icon who almost became a monk in the 60s
David Bowie
1949–
Pretty Woman actor who is long-time Tibetan Buddhist
Richard Gere
1949–
Big Lebowski actor who practices meditation and is "Buddhistly bent"
Jeff Bridges
1955–
Crouching Tiger action star who lives as a practicing Buddhist
Chow Yun-fat
1958–
Go-Go's singer who has practiced Nichiren Buddhism since 2002
Belinda Carlisle
1964–2012
Beastie Boys rapper who became a Tibetan Buddhist and activist
Adam Yauch
1968–
The Ring and Mulholland Drive actress who converted around 2006
Naomi Watts
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3 Comments
interopia
+1
Level 90
May 7, 2020
Also try Aaron197's quiz for more!
mre97
+2
Level 49
Aug 7, 2021
I like the two two-for-one answers.
interopia
+1
Level 90
May 2, 2026
Apparently Emma Watson also considers herself a Buddhist.
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