The vegan lifestyle took the world by storm in 2019, and 2020 is expected to be an eventful year for anyone participating in a plant-based diet. From plant-based burgers at Burger King and plant-based chicken at KFC to fine dining establishments like Avant Garden in New York City and Vedge in Philadelphia, vegan dining options are exploding as the vegan population booms.
As is the case with most popular trends, the celebrities are partaking as well.
Here are 15 celebrities you would’ve never guessed are vegan.
15. Joaquin Phoenix
The star of Joker might play the role of an evil supervillain, but Joaquin Phoenix would never hurt a fly. Vegan since three years old, he is an outspoken animal rights advocate.
14. Robert Fitzgerald Diggs (RZA)
That’s right; the leader of the Wu-Tang Clan eats an entirely plant-based diet. RZA recently took his vegan lifestyle to the next level, launching a campaign with PETA to promote his new vegan puffer jacket made from recycled ocean plastics.
13. Peter Dinklage
When he’s not slaying dragons on Game of Thrones, Peter Dinklage enjoys a nice plate of tofu and vegetables. He is very upfront about his stance on animal cruelty, announcing, “I wouldn’t hurt a cat or a dog or a chicken or a cow, and I wouldn’t ask someone else to hurt them for me.”
12. Corey Booker
Corey Booker is running for President of the United States of America, and he wants to help vegans fight against animal cruelty. He isn’t likely to win, but he is the first presidential candidate to mention the vegan lifestyle on a debate stage.
11. Jerome Flynn
First Tyrion, and now Bronn!? Yup. Game of Thrones has quite the animal-conscious cast. Jerome Flynn is also an advisor for a vegan cryptocurrency appropriately titled VeganCoin.
10. Benedict Cumberbatch
This makes Sherlock Holmes, The Grinch, and Dr. Strange all vegan, as well. Benedict Cumberbatch earned PETA’s 2018 most beautiful vegan award. Is there anything he can’t do?
9. Forest Whitaker
The Black Panther and The Last King of Scotland star isn’t as intense in real life. Forest Whitaker loves animals, and he frequently helps underprivileged children.
8. Paul McCartney
The Beatles’ co-lead vocalist and bassist Paul McCartney has been vegan for over 20 years. His vegan lifestyle must be working, as he is still touring around the world! He founded Meat Free Monday to encourage people to have at least one meat-free day per week.
7. Woody Harrelson
Despite killing tons of zombies in Zombieland, Woody Harrelson would never turn his gun against an animal. He has been vegan for over 10 years and forced the Zombieland cast to create fake Twinkies for him to eat in the movie because real ones aren’t vegan.
6. Bill Clinton
The former President of the United States of America Bill Clinton changed his lifestyle after an emergency heart surgery in 2010. He wants to live to see his grandchildren grow up, saying, “I just decided that I was the high-risk person, and I didn’t want to fool with this anymore. And I wanted to live to be a grandfather. So I decided to pick the diet that I thought would maximize my chances of long-term survival.”
5. Craig Robinson
Craig Robinson went vegan in 2017. The former The Office star lost over 50 pounds by quitting alcohol and committing to a vegan lifestyle. While Creed Bratton may have “stopped caring a long time ago,” Robinson cares now more than ever.
4. Travis Barker
Blink 182’s drummer Travis Barker is outspoken about his vegan lifestyle. He invested in Crossroads Kitchen, a local Los Angeles-based vegan restaurant, and he frequently speaks at vegan events. Rock on, Travis.
3. Kevin Smith
Kevin Patrick Smith, better known as Silent Bob from Jay and Silent Bob, lost weight and recovered from a massive heart attack via a new vegan lifestyle. The Clerks star’s daughter Harley Quinn Smith is also vegan, and one of the major reasons Kevin decided to give up meat.
2. James Cameron
James Cameron is a Canadian filmmaker and environmentalist. He is best known for Titanic, Avatar, and The Terminator, but recently, he created The Game Changers, a documentary about plant-based eating, protein, and strength. It stars vegan-advocate Arnold Schwarzenegger.
1. Leonardo DiCaprio
One of James Cameron’s most-used actors, Leonardo DiCaprio is also vegan. He puts his money where his mouth is, investing in various vegan companies like Beyond Meat and Hippeas. DiCaprio is extremely environmentally conscious as well, developing sustainable vacation destinations around the world.