Famous people who rock climb (for real)

Apart from being the coolest activity in the world, climbing can also be a social icebreaker. It seems more and more Hollywood celebrities, writers, and artists share this common passion for climbing. But what drives these famous people to rock climb?

Keep on reading and find out who are these rockstars, why they climb, and how hard they climb.

Jared Leto – A rock star on the wall

Jared Leto is an accomplished American figure in both music and film and likely the first Oscar-winning actor to climb El Capitan, aside from Jimmy Chin.

He has made his mark through roles in iconic films such as Fight Club, Girl Interrupted, Panic Room, American Psycho, Alexander, Requiem for a Dream, Lord of War, Prefontaine, Mr. Nobody, and Suicide Squad, where he played the role of The Joker.

Moreover, he is the lead vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and main songwriter for Thirty Seconds to Mars.

Apart from other film projects, he recently also directed Great Wide Open – a 6 short film series that celebrates America’s National Parks and the incredible adventurers who explore them.

The series opens with this:

‘‘Blessed are those who live out their dreams. That’s the difference between listening to the knock on the door and going and answering.”

Jason Momoa – The climbing enthusiast with Samoan strength

Jason Momoa made his cinematographic debut in Baywatch and later gained fame for his portrayal of Khal Drogo in ‘Game of Thrones’ as well as for his role as the superhero Aquaman.

He has been a lifelong friend of Chris Sharma, and together they joined forces to create ‘The Climb’ – a climbing TV series in which ten amateur climbers face a variety of mental and physical challenges, in a competition to crown the world’s best amateur climber.

Mariel Hemingway – The holistic climber

To me, Mariel Hemingway is one of the most inspiring celebrities who are also part of the climbing community. She is an Academy Award-nominated actress and the author of several books on healthy living and fitness. Additionally, she is the granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway.

Her most notable achievements in Hollywood include a Golden Globe-nominated breakout role in ‘Lipstick’ and Academy and BAFTA Award nominations for her performance in Woody Allen’s ‘Manhattan’.

What is climbing to Mariel?

‘’Since I began to climb I have an understanding of mountains in a different way. I am sure you have heard that climbing makes you present. For me, it makes me humble, real and aware. I cannot do the shopping or worry about my daughters or my career or what I am going to make for dinner. I can only ‘be’ when I am on the side of a rock.”

Having come from a family affected by mental illness, Mariel turned to climbing as a means of finding balance and healing. Watch Mariel climbing here:

She even authored a book called ‘Running With Nature,’ highlighting the virtues of adventurous pursuits and the importance of reconnecting with nature and oneself

Lady Gaga – Climbing rocks for love

Lady Gaga (Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) is a Grammy winner, an American singer, songwriter, and actress. But most of it, a pop icon and amazing artist. She started occasionally rock climbing out of love for Michael Polansky, her fiancée.

She claims to be loving it and while we didn’t find any actual pictures of her rock or indoor climbing we can confirm she is into climbing via Ferrata.

And to be honest, climbing those when you have a metal hip and a pain disorder is pretty badass!

Watch about her climbing experience:

Tom Cruise – The one who’s doing it for the thrill

Tom Cruise stands out as perhaps the most renowned celebrity on our rock-climbing list, and he certainly needs no introduction.

Not everybody knows that Tom does his own stunts and rock climbing is no exception!

In fact, the opening scene of ‘Mission Impossible 2’ showcases Cruise rock climbing without any ropes.

While there’s no concrete evidence of him climbing regularly, here are Tom’s 5 most challenging climbs that undoubtedly prove he’s an adrenaline junkie!

4 of the most super famous professional climbers

While many exceptional climbers have remarkable achievements in the sport, those often remain within the climbing community.

However, as climbing has gained mainstream popularity, certain climbers have become rock stars in their own right, recognised even by those unfamiliar with the sport.

Who am I referring to?

Alex Honnold

Alex Honnold is a familiar name for many of us, particularly known for his solo climbs and his remarkable feat of completing The Nose in just 1 hour and 58 minutes alongside Tommy Caldwell. Watch it here:

Additionally, Honnold may have made history as the first climber (real dirtbag even) to become a Hollywood star through “Free Solo”, an Oscar-winning documentary that served as a stepping stone in showcasing climbing to a broader audience.

Chris Sharma

There was a time when every climber wanted to be like Chris Sharma, who is now regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rock climbers in history.

Chris made waves by establishing the world’s first 5.15a route, Biographie, in Ceuse, France – an achievement that led him to dominate sport climbing for over a decade. During the same period, he kept pushing and established the world’s first 5.15b, and the second-ever 5.15c during that period, as well as numerous other routes of the same grades.

In 2023, Sharma teamed up with his friend Jason Momoa to bring a Hollywood flair to the climbing scene by creating “The Climb”.

This HBO Max series dives into the world of climbing, aiming to make it known on a global scale.

Yet another material meant to make climbing a worldwide sport!

Even though Sharma is 43 now he is still climbing hard and remains a name that resonates globally in the climbing community and outside.

Sasha diGiulian

Sasha is one of the few rock climbers to make it to Forbes and she is deeply committed to promoting sports for girls and women.

In her movie Here to Climb, she passionately advocates for climbing as a means of developing essential life skills, such as self-belief, resilience in the face of failure, and the ability to rise and try again.

Lynn Hill

Lynn is considered the greatest all-round climber of all time and was one of the most influential figures in the climbing world.

An accomplished ex-competition climber, elite big wall climber, and sport climber, she is best known for being the first woman and the first climber to successfully free climb The Nose on El Capitan in Yosemite.

Even at 63 years old, Lynn remains wholeheartedly dedicated to her passion for climbing.

Watch more about Lynn here:

Do you want to know more about her? Then read her book Climbing Free! But I’d suggest taking a day off because it’s one of those books that you’ll be having a hard time not finishing by the end of the day.

Janja Garnbret

Janja hasn’t made it to any Oscar-winning documentaries just yet but she’s now worldwide known and left her mark in history by winning the climbing Olympics twice, claiming the most IFSC gold medals ever, and impressively on-sighting two 8c sport routes.

She is the climbing star and I don’t know a single person who doesn’t admire this climbing phenomenon – even non-climbers.

For those of you who want to know Janja even better, watch this super interesting series created by Adidas, her primary sponsor. It offers a great insight into her journey and achievements.

What motivates celebrities to rock climb?

Celebrities take up rock climbing for various reasons, from preparing for roles to improving fitness and mental clarity. Here are some key motivations:

1. Training for acting roles

Actors like Brie Larson and Tom Cruise use climbing as a functional workout to build strength, agility, and stamina for demanding roles.

2. Fitness

Through climbing you can get a pretty good full-body workout and it seems that celebrities like Zac Efron and Emma Watson prefer climbing to classic fitness.

3. Mental resilience and connection to nature

The mental focus required in climbing attracts high-achieving individuals seeking mindfulness and stress relief such as Mariel Hemingway.

Other stars like Jared Leto and Jason Momoa, who value the natural world and seek balance in their busy lives also resonate with outdoor climbing.

Watch Alex Honnold breaking down famous rock-climbing scenes in Hollywood movies

• Iconic rock-climbing scenes in famous Hollywood movies part one

• Iconic rock-climbing scenes in famous Hollywood movies part two

List of some of the best real rock climbing and adventure movies

Dawn Wall

Dawn Wall tells the story of one of the most challenging and historic rock climbing feats ever achieved: the first free ascent of the Dawn Wall, a sheer 914 m granite face on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.

Caldwell, who climbs with the left index finger missing and Jorgeson spent 19 days on the wall, attempting to free climb each section without falling while using ropes only for safety reasons.

In my opinion is one of the best climbing films ever made. Wach the trailer here:

Valley Uprising

Valley Uprising presents highlights from the past 60 years of Yosemite climbing and how climbers carved out a counterculture lifestyle of dumpster-diving and wild parties that clashed with the conservative values of the National Park Service in the shady campgrounds of Yosemite Valley.

From the first routes up El Cap to recent speed solos, it has it all.

The Dodos

The Dodos is an adventure documentary that highlights rock climbing and musical escapades of Belgian climbers Nicolas Favresse, Sean Villanueva O’Driscoll, and friends, who are renowned not just for their daring big-wall expeditions but also for their quirky, musical approach to climbing.

Free Solo

Free Solo is an Oscar-awarded documentary film directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin.

The film is a stunning, intimate, and unflinching portrait of the free soloist climber Alex Honnold, as he prepares to achieve his lifelong dream and free solo El Capitan: a 900 m vertical granite wall in Yosemite National Park.

Free soloing is an extreme form of climbing where the climber uses no ropes, harnesses, or safety gear, relying solely on physical and mental strength.

Watch the Free solo trailer here:

Touching the Void

Touching the Void (2004) has a powerful and dramatic plot and may go down in history as one of the best films about mountaineering.

It is a classic featuring Joe Simpson’s survival story after breaking his leg and falling into a crevasse on Siula Grande in the Peruvian Alps.

Our take on famous people climbing

We think it’s fantastic that climbing is gaining more recognition from the general public. For many, it is an eye-opening sport and a social icebreaker.

The sport’s growth is not just about its physical appeal but also its ability to inspire resilience, foster creativity, and bring people together regardless of their background.

Whether someone is climbing Yosemite’s walls, competing in the Olympics, or simply climbing at their local gym, climbing offers a profound experience: a chance to challenge oneself and connect with a larger community.

What about you? Do you see this surge in popularity as a positive step for the climbing community, or do you worry it might dilute its roots?

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