Jason Beghe

Atlas Shrugged Part Two: Why can't the free market make this movie any better?

Voice Readers Raise Thousands For Couple That Refused to Spy for Scientology

We've always been suckers for the final scene of It's a Wonderful Life. No matter how many times we see it, we tear up at the sight of George Bailey's friends coming to his aid in his time of need, proving to him that he really is the richest man in town. Over the last couple of days, we watched so ... More >>

Jason Beghe's Letter to Scientology Attorneys: Yes, I'll Settle Your $1 Million Lawsuit for $19K

Breaking news that will be of interest to Scientology watchers: just this afternoon, Jason Beghe's lawyer notified church attorneys Gary Soter and Kendrick Moxon in a letter that the actor is accepting their offer to settle a lawsuit for $19,000. After the jump, we have that letter for you. I talk ... More >>

Scientology Book Bonanza! Jeff Hawkins Delivers, and More Reasons for Librarians to Hide

Friday, we told you about a spate of new books on Scientology that are in various states of publication. We're happy to say that there's even more on the way, and we wanted to highlight one you can get into your e-book reader right now. If you read our stories about Scientology, you've seen how muc ... More >>

It's a Scientology Book Avalanche! RUN FOR COVER!

A slow week was suddenly broken wide open as we were hit with an avalanche of new books, promised books, and barely-begun books with one thing in common: Disapproval of David Miscavige's brand of Scientology. After the jump, we'll tell you about the book that legendary cult-busting attorney Paul Mo ... More >>

Lisa Marie Presley Says "So Long" to Scientology

Last month, we noted that Lisa Marie Presley's single "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet," which she released ahead of her new album, Storm and Grace, came with lyrics that read like a kiss-off to the Church of Scientology, even using some of Scientology's jargon -- like the very telling word suppressive. ... More >>

Scientology's "Super Power Rundown:" What is it, Anyway?

Prepare to unleash your super self! Secrets ahead!​On Monday and Tuesday, we released previously unseen renderings and architectural drawings of what Scientology's $100 million "Flag Mecca" -- also known as the "Super Power Building" -- is going to look like when it finally opens. (The buildin ... More >>

Scientology, Cooked: Commenters of the Week!

"This Debbie Cook show is just too much!"​If the rest of 2012 is going to be like this first week, the hooch reserves in the underground bunker are going to need some bolstering. Things started off one second after midnight as 2012 began, when our pre-loaded first story of the year, "What is ... More >>

Scientology in Turmoil: Debbie Cook's E-Mail, Annotated

Since news broke Sunday of Debbie Cook's stunning e-mail, sent to thousands of her fellow Scientologists, word of a serious rift inside the church has been appearing in many news outlets, particularly in Europe. In the meantime, we provided additional depth and context about Debbie Cook, her career, ... More >>

All Scientologists Look Alike, Right? -- And More in our Weekly Stats Roundup!

Is that a famous Scientologist we spy?​Every Thursday at 2 pm, Scientology staff members race to turn in their weekly statistics. We like to do the same by rounding up the week's Scientology news from around the world and weigh how the church is doing. We're going to start this week with a ni ... More >>

Is Scientology Imploding? Watching the Panic After a Former Executive Dares to Question Church Management

UPDATE: We look back at Debbie Cook's career, from enforcer to whistleblower. The world of Scientology watching is still reeling after Debbie Cook's New Year's Eve e-mail landed in the inboxes of thousands of church members Saturday night. A few minutes after midnight, we began receiving copies of ... More >>

Our Scientology Puzzle Solved!

In yesterday's story celebrating our commenting community at the end of the year, I mentioned that back in the summer, I had planted a puzzle in our very successful series, The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology. Despite the large readership of that series, no one managed to spot the little visua ... More >>

Scientology on the High Seas: Yuletide Cheer, Including Dickens Adapted with Evil Psychs

​On November 18, we started a new feature here on Fridays: the Voice has obtained hundreds of copies of L. Ron Hubbard's previously unpublished "Orders of the Day," which he gave to crew members as he sailed the Mediterranean. Our documents cover the period from 1968 to 1971, and this time we' ... More >>

Scientology Cruise Ship as Hellhole: The Ramana Dienes-Browning Story

Ramana Dienes-Browning and Iyana​Last week, Steve Cannane of Australia's ABC network and its program Lateline broke the story of Valeska Paris, a woman who says she was held against her will on Scientology's private cruise ship, the Freewinds, from 1996 to 2007. In that story, Cannane also ta ... More >>

Scientology Capsize: Commenters of the Week!

The scene here in the underground bunker is like the quiet after a major storm. A hurricane blew up out of the Caribbean this week and hit us square on. The place is a mess. The cats are skittish. But the excitement has finally died down a bit, the lights are low, the empty bottles have been cleared ... More >>

L. Ron Hubbard Schools Richard Nixon: Sailing on the Apollo Nov 27 - Dec 3

On November 18, we started a new feature here on Fridays: the Voice has obtained hundreds of copies of L. Ron Hubbard's previously unpublished "Orders of the Day," which he gave to crew members as he sailed the Mediterranean. Our documents cover the period from 1968 to 1971, and this time we're look ... More >>

Hey, Scientology Celebrity, Here's Your Media Training Checksheet!

Our readers send us the most wonderful things. By e-mail and snail mail, our far-flung correspondents put in our hands Scientology's tasteless fundraising mailers (which we use in our recurring Sunday Funnies posts), they send us over-the-top glossy Scientology magazines, and of course they send us ... More >>

Scientology vs. Pollution, a Lisbon Cocktail Party, and More: Sailing on the Apollo Nov. 20-26

Last week, we started a new feature here on Fridays: the Voice has obtained hundreds of copies of L. Ron Hubbard's previously unpublished "Orders of the Day," which he gave to crew members as he sailed the Mediterranean. Our documents cover the period from 1968 to 1971. In this installment, we're lo ... More >>

Scientology Wins Some, Loses Some in our Thursday Stats Roundup!

Scientology Dumpster-Dive: Commenters of the Week!

Clearing the planet, one dumpster at a time​For our longtime, loyal readers and commenters (of all persuasions), I just want to say how much I appreciate your continued interest in things we're doing here at the underground bunker. This week, we got a huge influx of new folks as our stories we ... More >>

Mark Chauppetta, Private Eye Who Worked for Scientology at the time of the South Park Investigation: "I'm a Fucking Mercenary"

Mark Chauppetta, comparing notes with a certain presidential candidate​Just got off the phone with Mark Chauppetta, a private investigator who has done work for the Church of Scientology, sifting through the trash of the church's perceived enemies. Chauppetta worked for Scientology for severa ... More >>

Scientology Effervescence: Commenters of the Week!

​Here in the underground bunker, this was something of a strange week. While enduring a middling but annoying cold, we tried to get back in the swing of things after a week out of town. And while things started a bit slow, by Friday this had turned into one slammin' sevenday. Things kicked of ... More >>

Scientology Symposium: Commenters of the Week!

It was an unusual week here for us at our Scientology watching operation. We left the underground bunker for a trip to Southern California, but still managed to put together a few stories while on the road. And our commenters did not let us down, with some of them carrying over debates they were hav ... More >>

The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 2: David Miscavige

On August 5, we started a countdown that will give credit -- or blame -- to the people who have contributed most to the sad current state of Scientology. From its greatest expansion in the 1980s, the church is a shell of what it once was and is mired in countless controversies around the world. Some ... More >>

The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology: Readers Poll Results!

LRH came out on top of our countdown, but did he top out our readers poll? Take a look inside!​Actually, make that the top fifty people crippling the Church of Scientology -- we received more than 3,000 individual choices by 141 voters, with more than 300 different people receiving votes. Our ... More >>

The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 3: Marty Rathbun

​On August 5, we started a countdown that will give credit -- or blame -- to the people who have contributed most to the sad current state of Scientology. From its greatest expansion in the 1980s, the church is a shell of what it once was and is mired in countless controversies around the worl ... More >>

Scientology Dropkick: Commenters of the Week!

DM's minions keep dropping the ball!​Before we look back at the week that was, we wanted to remind you of our upcoming schedule. Monday morning at 9 am we'll reveal #3 in our big countdown, and then at noon we'll close voting on our readers poll. So if you haven't yet put in your own ballot, ... More >>

The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology: The Readers Poll!

​You've watched us reveal all but the top five entries in our big countdown, The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology -- now it's your turn to vote for your own list! Here's the link you've been waiting for -- now go and tell us who you think is doing the most to contribute to the Church of Sc ... More >>

Scientology Oz-fest: Commenters of the Week!

This kangaroo is volunteering its time and no contract is implied​Every Saturday, we say "what a week." But this time -- What a week! Right? With Scientology news breaking Down Under, and the countdown getting to single digits, and wacky stuff leaking in the UK -- the underground bunker was ri ... More >>

The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 9: Jason Beghe

​On August 5, we started a countdown that will give credit -- or blame -- to the people who have contributed most to the sad current state of Scientology. From its greatest expansion in the 1980s, the church is a shell of what it once was and is mired in countless controversies around the worl ... More >>

Benjamin Ring, LA Sheriff's Deputy, Under Official Inquiry for Endorsing Expensive Scientology Services

​I just got off the phone with Steve Whitmore, Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca's spokesman, who tells me that an official inquiry has been opened in the matter of an LA sheriff's deputy named Benjamin Ring. The deputy appeared in a Scientology mailer that encourages church members to spend money ... More >>

Ex-Scientology Actor Attacks Ex-Scientology Plaintiff in TMZ Story Clearly Not Planted by Scientology

Marty Rathbun and Jason Beghe​After spending more than a week frozen in a mixture of glycol and alcohol, this thetan is ready to re-enter the volcano! We're going to pierce the WALL OF FIRE! (Um, actually, it was a case of walking pneumonia, but whatever. It's good to be back to work.) And wh ... More >>

George Romero, Monkey Lover

Experiments in terror from the master, at BAM

Tom Cruise Was Secretly Videotaped So Scientology Leader David Miscavige Could Regale Party Guests?

David Miscavige, regaling party guests with Tom Cruise's secrets?​Mark Bunker (Wise Beard Man) pointed us to something remarkable over at Marty Rathbun's blog. Rathbun is a former high-level member of Scientology who defected and is now providing some of the most damning statements against hi ... More >>

Jason Beghe Tells Me to Shut the Hell Up About Anderson Cooper's Scientology Special

Beghe, right, and Marty Rathbun, a man who should figure prominently in Cooper's special.​Just had a great conversation with Jason Beghe, the actor who famously defected from Scientology two years ago. He understands the point I made yesterday -- that it irks me when Anderson Cooper announces ... More >>

The 20 Most-Read Village Voice Stories of 2009

Barring a massive surge of readership between now and Thursday night (and with Michael Musto half-naked on this week's cover, anything is possible), we can safely say that the following stories generated the most interest from our readers this year. (And watch out for #3 -- it's definitely Not Safe ... More >>

Ex-Scientology Official Scrambles As His Blog Gets Hacked

Marty Rathbun (left) and actor Jason Beghe​Our old pal, Mark Bunker (a/k/a Wise Beard Man) sends along this holiday breaking news... Marty Rathbun's blog has been hacked and hijacked, and with Wordpress folks unavailable for a week or so, the former high-level Scientologist is relying on a ba ... More >>

Post-Xenu Beghe Reveals TV's First 'Mangina'

​We know we're a little late on this one, but we're still in shock (and awe) after watching Jason Beghe's star turn in this week's Californication season premiere, in which he revealed series television's first "mangina." You remember Beghe, a veteran TV (Melrose Place) and film (Monkey Shine ... More >>

Tom Cruise Lured Back Into Scientology By Man The Church Now Says Was "Demoted" And A "Lunatic"

Today, the St. Petersburg Times unveiled part two of its devastating series on David Miscavige, diminutive leader of Scientology.An indication of how much this series is hitting Scientology to the bone: rare and vehement denunciations by Miscavige himself, and by his spokesman, the clearly in-over-h ... More >>

Jason Beghe Is Still Denouncing Scientology -- This Time in Germany

Isaac Hayes Was No Expert Scientologist

Jason Beghe Turned Away at NY Scientology Building

Scientology Reacts to the Voice

Jason Beghe to Scientology Mouthpiece Tommy Davis: 'You're Losing Your Soul'

Letters

Letters

Jason Beghe on Scientology: The Full Interview

Jason Beghe: Scientologist Feared a Gay Friend Caused My Car Crash

Scientology's First Celebrity Defector Reveals Church Secrets

'I was Miscavige's favorite boy,' says veteran TV actor Jason Beghe

The Dead Zones