Current lifetime: Born December 17, 1974 in Los Angeles
Most famous for: Playing the villain in 2009’s Avatar, other movie and television roles
Joined Scientology: Raised in it (along with his twin sister Marissa and younger sister Gina) by legendarily militant parents Al Ribisi and Gay (Landrum) Ribisi, now divorced
Fun Scientology completion: How to Improve Your Marriage, 1998
Known as “Vonni” to his friends, Ribisi grew up in Scientology and has enjoyed a very successful acting career in such films as Avatar and Lost in Translation and in the television series Sneaky Pete.
Like other celebrities who grew up in the church, Ribisi doesn’t appear to have gone very far up Scientology’s “Bridge to Total Freedom,” but he’s in one of Scientology’s most important celebrity clans and has nothing to prove. On the other hand, our Celebrity Centre source estimates that Ribisi has a slight chance of seeing the light and ditching the organization, especially since his daughter, Lucia, went public with her own defection and told a radio audience that her father had “questioned it.”
Giovanni has been hit not only with his daughter’s disillusion, but also one of his best friends slipping away when Jason Lee moved to Texas and spurned the church. On the other hand, he’s from a legendarily dedicated Scientology family. “He seems to be in a tug of war in his family right now. His grandfather, by the way, is still alive, and he’s not a Scientologist.” At this point, the pro-Scientology forces are probably winning the war, but there’s a small chance Giovanni may follow his daughter out.
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The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts
Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
