List of atheists in film, radio, television and theatre

This is an incomplete, non-exhaustive list of notable people in film, radio, television and theatre who are identified as atheist.

Film, radio, television and theater

Douglas Adams (1952–2001): British radio and television writer and novelist."I am a radical Atheist..." Adams in an interview by American Atheists . Mary Adams (1898–1984): English producer and BBC television administrator."She was a socialist, a romantic communist, and could charm with her charisma, spontaneity, and quick informed intelligence. She was a fervent atheist and advocate of humanism and common sense, accepting her stance without subjecting it to analysis." Sally Adams: 'Adams, Mary Grace Agnes (1898–1984)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 (accessed April 29, 2008). Phillip Adams (born 1939): Australian broadcaster, writer, film-maker and left-wing thinker. He was the Australian Humanist of the Year in 1987.In a letter by Adams dated August 10, 1993: "I've spent a life-time attacking religious beliefs and have not wavered from a view of the universe that many would regard as bleak. Namely, that it is a meaningless place devoid of deity". Adithya Menon (born 1974): Indian actor. Joe Ahearne (born 1963): British television screenwriter and director.Interviewer: "Has researching subjects such as exorcism and possession forced you to challenge your belief system?" Ahearne: "No I'm a devout atheist and endlessly fascinated with the issue of faith in the impossible. It's true I bought a cross when we were shooting in Rome and I'm still wearing it. And it's true some of the actors had unnerving stories to tell during the shoot. My unfaith remains unshaken however. I need big miracles to make me believe. So far I've just been teased by the paranormal." Interview with writer, Joe Ahearne, BBC Press Office, October 31, 2008 (accessed November 28, 2008). Javed Akhtar (born 1945): Indian Screenwriter and Poet. Mikael Åkerfeldt (born 1974): Swedish musician, singer-songwriter, and producer. Keith Allen (born 1953): British comedian, actor, singer and writer."One of the many reasons Allen made the documentary was to explore his own atheism. Unlike most non-believers, he claims, in all seriousness, to have once seen God. It was at Glastonbury during the 1980s, and (as is the case with most of the splendid anecdotes that litter his conversation), it involved enough mind-altering substances to stun a baby elephant. [...] Like any considered atheist, particularly one who will burn in Hell, he lives according to a moral code that refuses to romanticise things like love, or devotion." Guy Adams, , The Independent June 21, 2007 (accessed April 25, 2008). Woody Allen (born 1935): American film director, writer, actor, comedian, and playwright. Robert Altman (1925–2006): American film director."Still, it's worth noting that by the age of 20 this whistle-blower had resisted two of the most powerful institutions – church and army, both. He is an atheist, "And I have been against all of these wars ever since." " Suzie Mackenzie interviewing Altman, 'Still up to mischief', The Guardian, May 1, 2004, Pg. 30. Alejandro Amenábar (born 1972): Spanish-Chilean film director."Though the crusaders in this film are actually Christian, Amenabar – who when pushed during the conversation Sunday said he was personally an atheist – said he had no particular present group in mind when making 'Agora.' " Brian Brooks, "Amenabar: Not anti-Christian, but Crusading Against Fundamentalism with 'Agora' ", IndieWire, May 18, 2009 (accessed December 25, 2021). Wil Anderson (born 1974): Australian comedian, radio presenter, and television host."Of course, Anderson has never avoided controversy, but this show promises to be his most contentious yet. As an out-and-proud atheist, he's asking, "If the world truly does have an intelligent design, why is everything so f——ed?"—Lallo, Michael (April 5, 2007), Wil to Succeed, The Age, Fairfax Media. Retrieved April 28, 2022. Seth Andrews (born 1968): American author and host of The Thinking Atheist radio podcast. Aziz Ansari (born 1983): American actor and comedian.Itzkoff, Dave. "Feeding the Comedy Beast Without Serving Leftovers", The New York Times, June 3, 2010. Fred Armisen (born 1966): American actor, comedian. Michelangelo Antonioni (1912–2007): Italian modernist film director, screenwriter, editor and short story writer.Tassone, 43. Jane Asher (born 1946): English film and television actress."I don't believe in God. My sense of awe, wonder and utter insignificance comes from reading the New Scientist, rather than the Bible." Jane Asher interviewed by Allan Burnett, 'A Piece of My Mind', Sunday Herald, January 25, 2009, Magazine, Pg. 4. Kevin Bacon (born 1958): American film and theater actor."I think there is a puritanical wind that is blowing. I have never seen such a lack of separation between church and state in America, I don't believe in God, but if I did I would say that sex is a Godgiven right. Otherwise it's the end of our species." Wendy Ide interviewing Bacon, 'The Outsider Wants In', The Times (London), December 1, 2005, Features, Pg. 20 Joan Bakewell CBE (born 1933): English television presenter and journalist."What has stayed with me is the need for and love of ritual, the language of the authorised version of the Bible, the liturgy of the Anglican services, the beauty of its places of worship, the music and painting created to celebrate Christianity's central mystery. I think I remain to this day an unbelieving Anglican. None of this is rational, or particularly logical. It is how religion happens: a heap of childhood influence, a questing mind as the search begins, a failure to find new or surprising answers, a sound respect for the minds that once shaped doctrine and then the settling for a quiet and untroubled agnosticism. It is merely a timid temperament that inhibits me from declaring a bold, defiant atheism. Mine has been an outlook evolved from its time, growing from a particular period of history of absolutes and certainties. Everything shifted for devoutly held faith when schools began teaching comparative religion. From then on, the game was up. If each religion, it was now taught, has its own legitimacy, its own beliefs and concept of the divine, what is to say whether one is any better than another?" Joan Bakewell, 'Portrait: Just 70', The Guardian (London), February 20, 2004, G2: Guardian Features Pages, Pg. 7. Javier Bardem (born 1969): Spanish actor. MC Paul Barman (born 1974): American rapper.THE ONION: Is there a God? PAUL BARMAN: Obviously not. O: Why obviously not? PB: Isn't believing in God like wearing chain mail? O: In that it protects you from being lanced? PB: [Laughs.] In that you just don't do it anymore.[The Onion A.V. Club, Sept. 6, 2000] Pelin Batu (born 1978): Turkish actress and author. Andréa Beltrão (born 1963) Brazilian actress, comedian and author.Andréa Beltrão tem 45 anos de vida, 30 de carreira, pouquíssimas rugas e uma grande família, dentro e fora de casa. Marie Claire, 2009. "A atriz, que há sete anos arranca gargalhadas como a cabeleireira Marilda de A grande família, é uma ateia convicta. 'Sou cética mesmo. Não acredito em nada. Só em mim e nas pessoas que amo', diz." Sarah Bernhardt (1844–1923): French stage actress. She was asked by French composer Charles Gounod if she ever prayed. Bernhardt replied "No, never. I'm an atheist". Later returned to the Roman Catholicism in which she was baptized as an infant. Bernardo Bertolucci (1941–2018): Italian film director and screenwriter. Paul Bettany (born 1971): English actor."I was brought up Catholic. I'm lapsed. From the age of three I was with the nuns. Now I'm an atheist. I think religion does a lot for us but I can't quite believe it, alas... It's just a personal choice. I love the idea of heaven though. Who doesn't? It's lovely." Paul Bettany, Bettany the Non-Believer , Movie & Entertainment News, WENN.com, May 10, 2006 (accessed June 10, 2008). Aleister Black (born 1985): Professional wrestler cite "I'm an atheist. I don't have a religion" Frankie Boyle (born 1972): Scottish comedian.Boyle was on Room 101 and one of his choices was 'celebrity atheists'. Explaining his choice, he said, "I am an atheist, but I don't like celebrity atheists." Frankie Boyle vs Celebrity Atheists – Room 101 Orla Brady (born 1961): Irish actress.Brady had a Catholic upbringing bu.t now considers herself an atheist. Brannon Braga (born 1965): American television producer and writer. Neal Brennan (born 1973): American comedian, writer, producer, and director. Jim Broadbent (born 1949): English theatre, film, and television actor."Does the prospect of his own inevitable death frighten him? 'I don't think it does. I don't fret about it. I think it was partly to do with seeing my father go. It didn't frighten him. Upset him a bit but not ... I think if you are an atheist, what's there to be frightened of? ... But I don't want to die yet.' " Nigel Farndale, 'The Heartbreak Kid: Jim Broadbent', The Sunday Telegraph, September 23, 2007, Section 7, Pg.8. Jeremy Brock (born 1959): British actor, producer, writer, and director." Nor does organised religion emerge with honour, and Brock says he has been an atheist for many years. "My father was an intelligent and articulate advocate for old-fashioned notions of kindness and liberalism, but in the end I just did not feel that loving him was a justification for believing in a whole theocratic system. Religion in certain circles has become increasingly exclusive and aggressive. Fundamentalist attitudes pervade, and that, in its most extreme form, means you can kill anybody you want to because they're an unbeliever." " A very British charmer, The Daily Telegraph August 18, 2006 (accessed April 22, 2008). Charlie Brooker (born 1971): British writer and satirist best known for his television show Screenwipe."Yeah, that's right. I'm an atheist defending moderate Christians. Wanna make something of it?" . The Guardian August 23, 2008 Derren Brown (born 1971): English psychological illusionist, mentalist, and skeptic of paranormal phenomena. Professed to being an atheist in his book Tricks of the Mind and described Bertrand Russell's collection of essays Why I Am Not a Christian "an absolute joy." Luis Buñuel (1900–1983): Spanish film-maker, activist of the surrealist movement. Known for his one-liner, "Thank God I'm an atheist.""Father Julian... and I often talk about faith and the existence of God, but... he's forever coming up against the stone wall of my atheism..." Luis Buñuel (1982, 1985). My Last Breath: p.254. Richard Burton (1925–1984): Welsh actor. Kari Byron (born 1974): American television host and artist. Peter Caffrey (1949–2008): Irish actor."Born in Dublin in 1949, Caffrey enjoyed acting in school plays but subsequently went to a seminary for two years with a view to becoming a priest (he later played one in Coronation Street). He came out an atheist and studied English at University College, Dublin, before teaching at a primary school for a year." Anthony Hayward, 'Peter Caffrey; Padraig in 'Ballykissangel' ', The Independent (London), January 4, 2008, Obituaries, Pg. 42. James Cameron (born 1954): Canadian film director. Richard Carleton (1943–2006): Current affairs journalist.Described as a "devout atheist" in Richard Carleton 1943–2006 – The death of a legendary journalist – The Bulletin, May 16, 2006. George Carlin (1937-2008): Actor, comedian. Speaking about God and religion in his stand-up, saying "an invisible man in the sky." Adam Carolla (born 1964): American comedian, actor, author, radio host, and podcaster. Regularly refers to himself as an atheist. Jimmy Carr (born 1972): English comedian, author, actor, and presenter of radio and television.Jimmy Carr on Richard Dawkins , December 28, 2008