Famous People Who Have Chosen Green Disposition (colloquially referred to as human composting)

A small number of well-known individuals have publicly stated preferences for green burial or natural disposition, with actor Ed Begley Jr. among the most documented. No major celebrity has yet made a widely verified public commitment specifically to NOR (terramation), though consumer interest among public figures is growing. Below is what the verified record shows — and why it matters.

Public figures have always influenced how ordinary people think about death and dying. When someone well-known makes an unusual or principled choice about their own funeral or burial, it tends to reach audiences that policy papers and academic research never could. The growing green burial and natural disposition movement has benefited from exactly this kind of visibility — with a handful of notable individuals publicly choosing or advocating for environmentally conscious end-of-life options. This article looks at what we know (and only what we know) about famous people who have made documented choices in favor of green disposition, and at why those choices matter for public awareness.

Which famous people have chosen green burial or terramation?

Actor and environmentalist Ed Begley Jr. is among the most publicly documented advocates for green disposition, having stated preferences for natural burial in multiple interviews. Actor Dennis Weaver was an earlier environmental advocate who expressed aligned preferences before his 2006 death. No major celebrity has made a widely verified public commitment specifically to NOR as of early 2026. Mortician Caitlin Doughty and NOR pioneer Katrina Spade are the most influential public advocates advancing green disposition awareness.

Ed Begley Jr. is among the most publicly documented advocates for green disposition, consistently stating natural burial preferences in line with his broader environmental activism.
Actor Dennis Weaver was an earlier environmental advocate who expressed green disposition preferences before his 2006 death — before 'NOR' entered public vocabulary.
No major celebrity has made a widely verified, documented public commitment specifically to NOR (terramation) as of early 2026.
Caitlin Doughty (Order of the Good Death, 'Ask a Mortician') and Katrina Spade have likely done more to shift public attitudes toward alternative disposition than any celebrity choice.
NFDA consumer research shows that awareness and social normalization are significant drivers of alternative disposition adoption — celebrity visibility accelerates this effect.
This article only includes individuals whose green disposition preferences are verified through credible public sources — not rumor or media speculation.

A note on sourcing: this article only includes individuals whose stated preferences for green or natural disposition have been verified through credible public sources — interviews, news coverage, or the individuals’ own public statements. Where information is uncertain, that uncertainty is noted.

Why Public Figures Shape Attitudes Toward Green Burial

Before looking at specific individuals, it’s worth understanding why celebrity and public-figure choices matter in this space. Green burial and natural organic reduction (NOR) are not yet the default options most Americans encounter when planning a funeral. For many families, the first time they seriously consider alternatives to traditional burial or conventional cremation is when they hear that someone they admire or recognize made that choice.

Research from the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) has consistently shown growing consumer interest in environmentally friendly disposition options. In its 2023 consumer awareness and preferences survey, NFDA found that a significant share of respondents were open to or interested in green burial and composting options — interest that has grown year over year. Cultural visibility — including celebrity choices — contributes to that shift.

What Has Ed Begley Jr. Said About Green Disposition?

Actor and environmentalist Ed Begley Jr. is among the most publicly documented advocates for green disposition. Begley, known for decades of visible environmental activism — including living off solar power and driving electric vehicles long before either was common — has spoken in interviews about preferring a green burial for himself. His advocacy for low-impact living has always extended to how he thinks about death.

Begley’s statements are consistent with his broader public identity: he has discussed wanting to minimize his environmental footprint throughout his life and at its end. While the precise format of his future disposition remains his personal choice, his public statements in support of natural burial are well documented in entertainment and environmental media.

Was Dennis Weaver an Early Green Burial Advocate?

Actor Dennis Weaver, best known for his role in Gunsmoke and later McCloud, was among the earlier public figures to publicly advocate for environmental causes and natural disposition. Weaver was a longtime environmental activist and, according to multiple published reports and coverage by green burial advocates, expressed preferences aligned with natural burial. He passed away in 2006, before the term “natural organic reduction” had entered public vocabulary, but his advocacy contributed to early awareness of greener alternatives to conventional funerals.

Note: readers seeking the most precise documentary record of Weaver’s specific final disposition wishes should consult coverage from the time of his death, as sourcing for events from that period may be inconsistent.

Who Are the Death-Positive Public Voices Shaping Green Disposition?

Beyond individuals who have made personal disposition choices, several public figures have done significant work to shift cultural attitudes toward death, dying, and alternative funeral options — and that advocacy directly benefits the broader green disposition movement.

Caitlin Doughty — mortician, author, and founder of the Order of the Good Death — is perhaps the most influential public voice in the contemporary death-positive movement. Through her YouTube channel “Ask a Mortician,” her books (Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, From Here to Eternity, Will My Cat Eat My Face?), and extensive media appearances, Doughty has brought honest conversation about death and funeral practices to millions of people. She is a vocal advocate for natural, meaningful, and environmentally conscious end-of-life options, including green burial and NOR. Her public platform has probably done more to normalize consumer curiosity about alternative disposition than any single policy change.

Katrina Spade — NOR pioneer and founder of the first commercial NOR facility, the person most directly responsible for legalizing NOR in Washington state — is not a celebrity in the traditional sense, but she has become a public intellectual figure on death and sustainability. Her TED Talk on terramation has been viewed millions of times and introduced NOR to a global audience that had never heard of the concept.

These figures, while not “famous” in the Hollywood sense, represent a new kind of public voice on end-of-life choices — and their influence on consumer attitudes is measurable.

What Has Media Reported About Celebrity Interest in NOR?

Since Washington state’s NOR law took effect in 2020 and the first commercial NOR providers opened to the public in 2021, media coverage of NOR has mentioned public figures in the context of growing consumer interest. Various profiles and interviews have included entertainers, writers, and public intellectuals expressing interest in or openness to NOR for themselves.

However — and this is important — the bar for including someone in this article is documented, verified, public statements. The landscape of “celebrities who are interested in green burial or NOR” is broader and more fluid than can be precisely sourced. Rather than list names that circulate in media without a documented public commitment, this article focuses on the cultural phenomenon itself: that celebrity interest in green disposition is real, growing, and accelerating public awareness.

If you have encountered a specific public figure’s documented green disposition choice and want to verify it, the Order of the Good Death (orderofthegooddeath.com) and the Green Burial Council (greenburialcouncil.org) are reliable resources for tracking the intersection of public advocacy and death care.

How Public Figures Change the Conversation

The mechanism through which public figures shape consumer behavior around end-of-life choices is similar to how they influence other lifestyle decisions — through normalization. When someone who has cultural capital makes an unusual or principled choice publicly, it signals to their audience that the choice is legitimate, accessible, and perhaps worth considering.

Green burial, for much of the 20th century, was perceived as fringe — associated with rural DIY practices rather than mainstream end-of-life planning. Public voices in the environmental movement helped shift that perception. Now, with NOR legal in 14 states and growing media coverage of terramation as a serious option, more public figures are beginning to speak openly about their own preferences.

The NFDA’s consumer trend data reflects this: interest in green disposition options is highest among consumers aged 40–65, many of whom have been influenced by environmentally oriented public figures over the past two decades. That demographic cohort is also the one now most actively engaged in pre-planning their own funerals.

What Families Can Take From These Examples

The documented cases of public figures choosing green disposition share a common thread: each reflects a commitment to environmental values that extends through the end of life. For families exploring similar choices, these examples offer both inspiration and a reminder that green burial and NOR are choices anyone can make — with the right provider and access to information.

The complete guide to natural organic reduction is the best starting point for families new to this topic. And our state guides show where NOR is currently available.

FAQ

Which famous people have chosen green burial?

Among the most publicly documented are actor and environmentalist Ed Begley Jr., who has stated preferences for green burial in multiple interviews, and the late actor Dennis Weaver, a longtime environmental advocate. Caitlin Doughty and Katrina Spade are public figures who have done significant work to advance green disposition as advocates, not just as personal choices. Spade’s TED Talk and advocacy work helped bring NOR to a global audience.

Has any celebrity chosen NOR (terramation) specifically?

As of early 2026, no major celebrity has made a widely covered, documented public announcement specifically choosing NOR for themselves. Consumer interest among well-known figures is growing, and media coverage has referenced various individuals’ interest, but verified, specific public commitments are limited. This article only includes confirmed cases.

Does it matter whether famous people choose green burial?

Yes, in a practical sense: NFDA consumer research shows that awareness and social normalization are significant drivers of alternative disposition adoption. When public figures make principled end-of-life choices publicly, it accelerates consumer awareness and signals that these options are legitimate and available.

Where can I learn more about green burial and NOR?

The Green Burial Council (greenburialcouncil.org), the Order of the Good Death (orderofthegooddeath.com), and our own complete guide to natural organic reduction are good starting points. For state-specific availability, see our state guides.

Learn more about terramation providers near you — contact TerraCare Partners to explore your options.

Ready to explore terramation options? Contact TerraCare Partners — reach out here.

Sources

National Funeral Directors Association — 2023 NFDA Consumer Awareness and Preferences Report. https://nfda.org/news/statistics
Order of the Good Death — “About Caitlin Doughty.” https://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/about
Katrina Spade — TEDxOrcasIsland Talk (2016). https://www.ted.com/talks/katrina_spade_when_i_die_recompose_me
Green Burial Council — Provider directory and advocacy overview. https://www.greenburialcouncil.org/
Caitlin Doughty — From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death (W.W. Norton, 2017). https://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/books
NFDA — Cremation & Burial Report 2025. https://nfda.org/news/statistics
The Guardian — Coverage of green burial and celebrity advocacy. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/20/human-composting-washington-law-us
Washington State Legislature — SB 5001 legislative history. https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5001&Year=2019