Most wanted: celebs investigated by the FBI

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, a supporter of former President Donald Trump and his false voter fraud claims surrounding the 2020 election, said September 13 2022 that the FBI served him with a grand jury subpoena and seized his cellphone as part of an investigation into a Colorado county clerk accused of tampering with voting machines. On his internet show, 'The Lindell Report,' he said he was in his car in a drive-thru at a Hardee's restaurant in Minnesota when the FBI surrounded him. Lindell also said the subpoena warned against disclosure, but told CNN, "They thought they were there to intimidate me; they won’t intimidate me."

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The Monkees -

The popular 1960s rock band was investigated by the FBI for "anti-Vietnam war activities." The last surviving member of the band, Micky Dolenz, decided to sue the FBI over their apparent refusal to release their files on the investigation. According to Dolenz's legal team, the federal agency are withholding "a 1967 Los Angeles Field Office memorandum on anti-Vietnam war activities and a second document redacted entirely." Dolenz already requested to access the documents under the Freedom of Information Act but received no response.

Dolenz's lawyer, Mark Zaid, says that he wants the FBI "to reveal its secret Monkees files and help the public learn more about an important era of American history." He refers to a period in the 1960s when the FBI kept close surveillance over certain celebrities due to their potential influence in fueling anti-war or anti-government sentiments.

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Donald Trump -

In an unprecedented move, the FBI raided President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Florida on August 8. They presented a search warrant in aid of their investigation into his handling of classified documents during his presidency. A few days later, the Justice Department requested that the warrant be made public. The Washington Post since reported that one area of focus in their search was classified documents relating to nuclear weapons. This is the second of two known investigations the Justice Department has underway involving the former president, the first being his role in the January 6 riots.

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Donald Trump - The FBI opened an inquiry into Trump in 2017 after his controversial firing of FBI director James B. Comey.

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Marilyn Monroe - Marilyn Monroe was investigated because of her marriage to Arthur Miller, who was a suspected communist.

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R. Kelly - In response to rampant allegations of abuse, R. Kelly was investigated by the FBI.

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Princess Diana - Diana's file is pretty brief, but does mention death threats against her, and a planned trip to New York City that was met with protests.

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Ryan Adams - According to reports, the FBI opened an inquiry into Ryan Adams, after reports that he allegedly engaged in sexual activities with a teenager.

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Whitney Houston - The FBI investigated threats to Houston by a fanatic in Vermont, who sent nearly 80 love letters to the singer. There was also an alleged extortion attempt on Houston.

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Jimi Hendrix - The rock icon has a brief file, outlining his criminal history of car thefts. "If he is found innocent of the charge, Canadian Immigration would like to deport him anyway to the US if it can be shown he has prior criminal convictions," one agent wrote.

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Walt Disney - Walt Disney actually worked as a FBI informant during the McCarthy era. In return, the Bureau let Disney film 'The Mickey Mouse Club' at the FBI HQ.

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Anna Nicole Smith -

Smith was investigated for an alleged murder plot on her late husband's son, who she battled with over inheritance. However, there wasn't enough evidence to charge her.

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Shakur -

2Pac is one the most famous rappers with an FBI file. He was investigated for death threats that he allegedly received from the Jewish Defense League.

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John Lennon - John Lennon was an active political figure, with strong anti-war messages that resonated with people around the world. The FBI attempted to revoke Lennon's visa.

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James Brown -

The Godfather of Soul served a six-year sentence during the late '80s and early '90s for a police car chase that raced through two states. Brown's wife said the local police were unlawful, and the FBI investigated the case. He was released from prison in 1991.

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Grace Kelly - The actress-turned-princess was briefly investigated, after she invited the FBI Director to a gala and banquet.

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Helen Keller - The deaf blind pioneer was heavily investigated for her socialist beliefs, support of birth control, and her co-founding of the American Civil Liberties Union.

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Steve Jobs - President George W. Bush considered Steve Jobs for his Senior Export Council. The FBI did a background check, and reported "several individuals questions Jobs' honesty, stating that [he] will twist the truth and distort reality in order to achieve his goals."

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Liberace - There are over 400 pages on Liberace's file. The pianist was once robbed of his famous jewels, and there were also attempts to extort the pianist too. He was also allegedly involved in illegal horse race betting.

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Michael Jackson - MJ was investigated for controversial allegations of child molestation, between 1993 and 2004. Agents allegedly attempted to get accuser Jordan Chandler to testify in 2004, but he refused.

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Fidel Castro - The FBI did a lot of investigating into the Cuban communist leader. He was theoretically tied to the assassination of JFK, but Castro denied any involvement.

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The Notorious B.I.G. -

Biggie was actually investigated after he died, in December 2002. Funnily enough, an agent misspelled the rapper's name in one report.

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Charlie Chaplin - The FBI file on Charlie Chaplin is over 2,000 pages long. He was a suspected communist sympathizer, and even MI5 helped spy on him. Chaplin was barred from re-entering the US, so the Chaplin crew moved to Switzerland.

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Jim Morrison - The Doors front man was one controversial figure. One report from 1969 said Morrison "pulled out all stops in an effort to provoke chaos among a huge crowd of young people."

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George Steinbrenner -

Steinbrenner was the owner of the New York Yankees. The FBI found a lot of dirt on his file, including illegal contributions to Richard Nixon's re-election campaign.

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John Denver - The FBI thought Denver's drug use, and appearance at an anti-war rally, were quite fishy. He was also investigated for death threats that he received.

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Jackie Robinson - Jackie Robinson was more than a baseball player. He was also involved in the Civil Rights movement, which the FBI found to be pretty suspicious.

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Rock Hudson -

The movie star was investigated for allegedly having an affair with a man. "In view of the information that Hudson has homosexual tendencies, interview will be conducted by two mature, experienced Special Agents," read the report.

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Truman Capote - Truman Capote was involved in the activist group, Fair Play for Cuba Committee. The author also circulated rumors about J. Edgar Hoover. "And it got me…about 200 pages in an FBI file," he said.

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Lucille Ball - Lucille Ball had alleged connections to the communist party. However, she was not put on their "security index."

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The Kingsmen - The Kingsmen scored a hit with 'Louie Louie,' which features hard-to-discern lyrics. The FBI got suspicious, and investigated the song and band.

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Jerry Garcia -

Jerry Garcia was the front man of the Grateful Dead, a popular band with a mostly-redacted FBI file. Garcia was investigated for connections to LSD dealers, but nothing conclusive was found.

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Mike Lindell -

1 / 33 Fotos

The Monkees -

Getty Images

2 / 33 Fotos

Donald Trump -

Getty Images

3 / 33 Fotos

Donald Trump - The FBI opened an inquiry into Trump in 2017 after his controversial firing of FBI director James B. Comey.

4 / 33 Fotos

Marilyn Monroe - Marilyn Monroe was investigated because of her marriage to Arthur Miller, who was a suspected communist.

5 / 33 Fotos

R. Kelly - In response to rampant allegations of abuse, R. Kelly was investigated by the FBI.

6 / 33 Fotos

Princess Diana - Diana's file is pretty brief, but does mention death threats against her, and a planned trip to New York City that was met with protests.

7 / 33 Fotos

Ryan Adams - According to reports, the FBI opened an inquiry into Ryan Adams, after reports that he allegedly engaged in sexual activities with a teenager.

8 / 33 Fotos

Whitney Houston - The FBI investigated threats to Houston by a fanatic in Vermont, who sent nearly 80 love letters to the singer. There was also an alleged extortion attempt on Houston.

9 / 33 Fotos

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Walt Disney - Walt Disney actually worked as a FBI informant during the McCarthy era. In return, the Bureau let Disney film 'The Mickey Mouse Club' at the FBI HQ.

11 / 33 Fotos

Anna Nicole Smith -

Smith was investigated for an alleged murder plot on her late husband's son, who she battled with over inheritance. However, there wasn't enough evidence to charge her.

Getty Images

12 / 33 Fotos

Shakur -

2Pac is one the most famous rappers with an FBI file. He was investigated for death threats that he allegedly received from the Jewish Defense League.

Getty Images

13 / 33 Fotos

John Lennon - John Lennon was an active political figure, with strong anti-war messages that resonated with people around the world. The FBI attempted to revoke Lennon's visa.

14 / 33 Fotos

James Brown -

Getty Images

15 / 33 Fotos

Grace Kelly - The actress-turned-princess was briefly investigated, after she invited the FBI Director to a gala and banquet.

16 / 33 Fotos

Helen Keller - The deaf blind pioneer was heavily investigated for her socialist beliefs, support of birth control, and her co-founding of the American Civil Liberties Union.

17 / 33 Fotos

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20 / 33 Fotos

Fidel Castro - The FBI did a lot of investigating into the Cuban communist leader. He was theoretically tied to the assassination of JFK, but Castro denied any involvement.

21 / 33 Fotos

The Notorious B.I.G. -

Biggie was actually investigated after he died, in December 2002. Funnily enough, an agent misspelled the rapper's name in one report.

Getty Images

22 / 33 Fotos

23 / 33 Fotos

Jim Morrison - The Doors front man was one controversial figure. One report from 1969 said Morrison "pulled out all stops in an effort to provoke chaos among a huge crowd of young people."

24 / 33 Fotos

George Steinbrenner -

Steinbrenner was the owner of the New York Yankees. The FBI found a lot of dirt on his file, including illegal contributions to Richard Nixon's re-election campaign.

Getty Images

25 / 33 Fotos

John Denver - The FBI thought Denver's drug use, and appearance at an anti-war rally, were quite fishy. He was also investigated for death threats that he received.

26 / 33 Fotos

Jackie Robinson - Jackie Robinson was more than a baseball player. He was also involved in the Civil Rights movement, which the FBI found to be pretty suspicious.

27 / 33 Fotos

Rock Hudson -

28 / 33 Fotos

29 / 33 Fotos

Lucille Ball - Lucille Ball had alleged connections to the communist party. However, she was not put on their "security index."

30 / 33 Fotos

The Kingsmen - The Kingsmen scored a hit with 'Louie Louie,' which features hard-to-discern lyrics. The FBI got suspicious, and investigated the song and band.

31 / 33 Fotos

Jerry Garcia -

Jerry Garcia was the front man of the Grateful Dead, a popular band with a mostly-redacted FBI file. Garcia was investigated for connections to LSD dealers, but nothing conclusive was found.

32 / 33 Fotos

Most wanted: celebs investigated by the FBI

Celebs who caught the eye of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

10/12/24 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Investigations

When the FBI investigates, you should know it's important. The Federal Bureau of Investigation was founded in 1908, and looks into crime across the USA. Whether it's for song lyrics, death threats, or even mob ties, plenty of celebrities and public figures have been investigated by the FBI. From R. Kelly to Marilyn Monroe, get to know the FBI's most-wanted celebrities, or figures they just find a little bit suspicious.