Jeff Goldblum Credits Iconic Film Role with Life-Changing Decision to Stop Eating Meat: 'It Changed Me Profoundly'

Academy Award-nominated actor and cultural icon Jeff Goldblum has revealed that a transformative on-screen experience over three decades ago sparked his lifelong commitment to vegetarianism, declaring, “It changed me profoundly—inside and out.”

In a candid interview with The Hollywood Reporter published today, Goldblum, 73, opened up about his role as Dr. Ian Malcolm in Steven Spielberg’s 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park. The film, which explored the ethical perils of genetic manipulation and humanity’s fraught relationship with nature, left an indelible mark—not just on cinema, but on the actor himself.

“I was standing there in that amber-lit lab, surrounded by animatronic dinosaurs, delivering lines about life finding a way,” Goldblum recalled. “But something shifted. I looked at the T. rex, the brachiosaurus, these magnificent creatures brought back through hubris—and I thought: We don’t get to decide who lives or dies. We don’t get to eat them either. It was visceral. That night, I went home and never touched meat again.”

The revelation comes as Jurassic Park celebrates its 32nd anniversary and amid renewed global conversations about sustainability, animal welfare, and climate impact. Goldblum’s dietary shift—made quietly in 1993—predates the modern plant-based movement by decades, yet aligns with today’s urgent environmental imperatives.

“People think I’m quirky for loving insects or chaos theory,” Goldblum said with his signature wry smile. “But this wasn’t a phase. It was a moral recalibration. The film asked: Should we? I answered: No—not just with cloning, but with consumption.”

The actor, known for his roles in The Fly, Independence Day, and the Jurassic World trilogy, has since incorporated subtle environmental themes into his work. His jazz albums with The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra often feature improvisational pieces inspired by ecological harmony, and he has quietly supported reforestation and wildlife conservation efforts for years.

Animal rights organization Mercy For Animals praised Goldblum’s long-standing commitment, stating: “Jeff’s journey shows that one moment of empathy—whether on a movie set or in real life—can spark a lifetime of compassion.”

Goldblum, who follows a primarily plant-based diet rich in legumes, grains, and “a suspicious amount of jazz-fueled smoothies,” says the decision has enhanced both his health and creativity. “I feel lighter,” he mused. “Not just physically—though yes, the arteries thank me—but existentially. Less chaos in the food chain, more harmony in the soul.”