Patrick Reynolds

Patrick Reynolds is an anti-smoking activist, author, and former actor, and the grandson of tobacco magnate R.J. Reynolds. Witnessing the tragic toll of smoking—his father, R.J. Reynolds Jr., and half-brother died from emphysema and lung cancer—Reynolds sold his tobacco stocks in 1979 and resolved to take a public stand against the industry. In July 1986, he surprised the nation by testifying before Congress, calling for a ban on tobacco advertising—a pivotal moment that launched his advocacy career. He went on to found Tobacco­free Earth, dedicated to educating youth, influencing policy, and empowering smokers to quit. His compelling public speaking—reaching audiences in schools, universities, legislative bodies, and international conferences (including in Greece, France, Dubai, and Monaco)—has been credited with helping enact smoke-free laws on airplanes, in restaurants, and public spaces, as well as boosting tobacco taxes and FDA regulation. Former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop lauded him as “one of the nation’s most influential advocates of a smokefree America,” and the World Health Organization and Mt. Sinai Hospital have honored him for his leadership. In recognition of his lifetime of advocacy, he received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama in 2015. Reynolds also co-authored "The Gilded Leaf," a candid exploration of three generations of his family’s tobacco legacy, with Tom Shachtman.

Every November and December, he also runs www.BeAnElf.org, a Christmas charity for kids in need that sends gifts and recruits volunteers for the USPS Operation Santa program.