32 Actors Who Ran For Political Office

Reflecting on these fascinating individuals, it’s truly captivating to see how their lives have taken such diverse paths. From the silver screen to the political arena, each one has left an indelible mark in their respective fields.

As a passionate observer, I can’t help but notice the captivating similarities between the art of acting and the arena of politics. It’s no surprise that performers, with their natural ability to engage and inspire, find themselves drawn towards the intriguing world of public service. Over the years, we’ve seen numerous actors step out from behind the camera and into the political limelight, some even winning their races and assuming roles as diverse as the mayor of a small town, like Clint Eastwood, or the President of the United States, such as Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump. Intrigued by this trend, I’ve compiled a list of 32 actors who have ventured into the political sphere throughout history.

Sonny Bono

Initially, Sonny Bono gained prominence due to his professional and personal relationship with Cher. Together, they produced numerous hits and a highly successful television program during the 1970s before parting ways both as partners and spouses. Afterward, Sonny continued his career in entertainment, featuring in films such as “Airplane II,” and later shifted his focus to politics. In 1988, he was elected as the mayor of Palm Springs, followed by a successful run for Congress in 1995, where he served until his tragic death in a skiing accident in 1998.

Cynthia Nixon

Cynthia Nixon, star of “…And Just Like That” and “The Gilded Age,” is deeply committed to advocacy and politics. Known for her progressive views on a wide range of topics, she threw her hat into the ring for New York Governor in 2018. While she didn’t secure the victory, her candidacy brought attention to several key issues that have since been at the forefront of political debates within the state.

Shirley Temple

In her early Hollywood days, Shirley Temple was known as the brightest small talent, but following her acting career, she delved deeply into Republican politics for most of the latter part of the 20th Century. Her political ambitions included an unsuccessful bid for a congressional seat in 1967, and she went on to serve as a US diplomat, representing the U.S. in Ghana, Czechoslovakia, and other roles within Republican administrations.

Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood, both director and actor, is renowned in Hollywood like few others. While he wasn’t the initial celebrity to step into politics, his term as mayor of Camel-By-The-Sea, CA during the 1980s paved a unique path and inspired other celebrities, regardless of their political leanings, to follow suit in public service.

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan is predominantly known for his political career rather than his time spent acting in Hollywood, despite having starred in films like “Knute Rockne, All American” and “Bedtime For Bonzo”. He made the transition into politics during the 1960s, serving as the governor of California before becoming the 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989.

Al Franken

Al Franken, a Harvard alumnus who gained prominence as a top-notch comedy writer and performer during the ’70s and ’80s, was a key figure in Saturday Night Live (SNL) and movies like Trading Places. Later, in 2008, Franken pursued a political career as a Democrat, representing Minnesota at Senate. He successfully secured re-election in 2016, but resigned following the public disclosure of a contentious photograph during the peak of the #metoo movement.

Steven Michael Quezada

Born in Albuquerque and famously known for his role in ‘Breaking Bad’, Steven Michael Quezada shows a deep affection for his hometown. Since 2017, he has been a member of the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners, and prior to that, he served on the local school board.

Melissa Gilbert

Melissa Gilbert became well-known by portraying Laura Ingalls on the television series “Little House on the Prairie.” She was a member of the Screen Actors Guild throughout her career in the film industry, eventually holding the position of union president from 2001 to 2005. In 2016, Gilbert attempted to run for Congress in Michigan, but she withdrew from the race early on.

Hill Harper

Initially, Hill Harper gained recognition through his roles in “CSI: NY” and later on “The Good Doctor.” In 2024, leveraging this popularity, he embarked on a political journey by running for a Senate seat in Michigan as a progressive contender. However, despite his previous involvement in politics, Harper was unsuccessful in the Democratic primary, with Representative Elissa Slotkin ultimately winning the nomination.

Fred Grandy

Known primarily to TV viewers for portraying Gopher on The Love Boat, Fred Grandy’s life has had strong ties to politics. During his time at boarding school, he shared a room with David Eisenhower, son of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. In 1972, David married Julie Nixon at the White House, and Grady served as the Best Man for this historic event. Grandy’s political career began in 1987 when he was elected as a Republican Representative from Iowa, serving four terms in Congress. He sought the governorship of Iowa in 1994 but unfortunately did not win.

Jesse Ventura

Jesse Ventura stands out in Congress due to his unique background. Before making a name for himself as a professional wrestler and appearing in films like “Predator” and “The Running Man,” alongside another politician-turned-actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, he served as Governor of Minnesota as a third-party candidate. He is the only individual from the Reform Party to have ever held a significant position, serving one term in the state house following his initial foray into politics as the mayor of Brooklyn Park, MN.

George Takei

George Takei, best known for his role in “Star Trek”, has been engaged in politics for over five decades. Not only is he a dedicated supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, but he’s also been involved in local Los Angeles politics since the 1970s. He attempted to secure a position in local government in 1973, was subsequently appointed to the LA mass transit board, and made a bid for California State Assemblyman in 1978.

Gil Hill

Gil Hill primarily gained fame as the actor portraying Inspector Todd, who was the superior officer to Axel Foley’s character in the “Beverly Hills Cop” film series. The now-deceased Hill had a career as a police officer that led him to take on this role in films, which was his only appearance in Hollywood. Later in 1994, he was elected to Detroit City Council and held the position of board president from 1997. In 2001, he attempted to become mayor but was defeated by Kwame Kilpatrick, a well-known figure.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Apart from Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger is arguably the most prominent actor who transitioned into politics. Born in Austria, he became an American citizen in 1983 and joined the Republican party. His political journey began as the chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under George H.W. Bush during the early ’90s. In 2003, the action hero announced his candidacy for Governor of California and won in a special recall election that year. He was reelected in 2007 to serve a full term before leaving the Governor’s mansion in 2011.

Will Rogers

Will Rogers, known as an entertainer, never held an official government position; however, he was temporarily bestowed the title of honorary major in Beverly Hills for two days in 1926. Despite this, throughout his life, Rogers maintained a strong interest in politics and even orchestrated a mock presidential campaign in 1928 to shed light on the absurdities often associated with political campaigns.

Glenda Jackson

It’s not just American actors who have dabbled in politics; British actress Glenda Jackson, a two-time Academy Award winner, abandoned her acting career to join Parliament as a member of the Labour Party in the UK. She was initially elected to Parliament in 1992 and served for an impressive 23 years before stepping down and resuming her acting career in 2015, only to pass away in 2023.

Donald Trump

As a gamer, I don’t need to spell it out too much; it’s clear as day. Donald Trump, although not a professional actor, made a big splash in the entertainment world with appearances in films like “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” and “Zoolander”, and who could forget his starring role on the hit reality show “The Apprentice. He used that fame to launch a presidential campaign in 2016, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Fred Thompson

Fred Thompson was recognized for portraying stern characters, such as an Admiral in Top Gun and District Attorney Arthur Branch on Law & Order, perhaps most notably so. Additionally, he represented Tennessee as a Republican Senator from 1994 to 2003, serving for nine years. In 2008, Thompson attempted a presidential bid but was defeated by John McCain during the primaries.

Diane Neal

Although Fred Thompson is the most well-known actor from the Law & Order universe to venture into politics, he wasn’t the only one. Diane Neal, known for her role in Law & Order: SVU, also entered politics, running as a progressive independent for Congress in New York in 2020. However, she placed fourth in a four-candidate race that was won by Democrat Antonio Delgado.

Sonny Landham

Hey there fellow gaming enthusiasts! Did you know that apart from Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura, who became governors after starring in ‘Predator’, Sonny Landham, the actor who played Billy Sole, also dabbled in politics? He ran for Governor of Kentucky in the Republican primary, but unfortunately didn’t win. However, he continued to be active in Kentucky politics, running for various offices throughout the years without success. Sadly, Sonny Landham passed away in 2017.

Sheila Kuehl

Sheila Kuehl initially gained fame as an actress on television from the 1950s, most notably playing Zelda in The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis during the early ’60s. After a hiatus in the early ’70s, she switched careers and became a lawyer. Since 1994, Kuehl has held various appointed and elected positions within California, and has been a vocal champion for LGBTQ+ rights.

Ben Jones

Despite portraying a character who seemed dim-witted on “The Dukes of Hazzard” (specifically, as the mechanic Cooter), Ben Jones, in reality, served two terms as a Democratic representative from Georgia in Congress. His political career has deep roots, dating back to the ’60s when he was an active participant in the Civil Rights Movement in the Southern states.

Kimberlin Brown

Longtime soap opera actress Kimberlin Brown, best known for her role as Sheila Carter in over a thousand episodes of soaps such as The Bold And The Beautiful, has shown strong support for Donald Trump since 2016 and even spoke at the Republican National Convention that year. In 2018, she made an unsuccessful bid for a congressional seat in California’s 36th District, ultimately losing to incumbent Raul Ruiz.

Ralph Waite

Ralph Waite is primarily recognized for portraying the head of the Walton family on The Waltons during the 1970s. Subsequently, he acted as Jackson Gibbs, the father of Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), in NCIS. Three times Waite attempted to secure a seat in Congress as a Democrat in California, one instance being a special election following the death of Sonny Bono in 1998. In the same year, he also ran for the same position in the general election. However, both attempts were unsuccessful as they were defeated by Mary Bono, the widow of Sonny Bono.

George Murphy

Prior to Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger, there existed another actor who achieved success in a statewide election in California. George Murphy, a Republican, served as a Senator from California for one term from 1965 to 1972. Before his political career, he held significant roles within the Screen Actors Guild and was a leading star in many popular musical productions of the 1930s and ’40s.

Antonio Sabàto Jr.

Antonio Sabáto Jr. gained recognition in the ’90s as both a model and actor, appearing on series like “General Hospital” and “Melrose Place.” Since then, he’s been well-known on Reality TV. In 2018, he attempted to enter politics, running for Congress as a Republican in California’s 26th District. However, the heavily Democratic district was won by incumbent Julia Brownley.

Tex Ritter

Tex Ritter, famously known for his roles in Westerns and as a country singer on stage, was also the father of the late, illustrious John Ritter. In 1970, Ritter ran for the Senate in the Republican primary in Tennessee but was defeated by Bill Brock. Interestingly, Brock managed to pull off an upset in the general election, defeating Al Gore Sr.

Park Overall

Park Overall is most recognized by sitcom enthusiasts as the witty nurse on ‘Empty Nest’, a spin-off from ‘The Golden Girls’. In 2012, she ran as a forward-thinking contender for a Senate position in Tennessee, ultimately placing third in the Democratic Primary election.

Stephen Peace

The classic B-movie “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes,” hailing from the 70s, was a production masterminded by Stephen Peace, who donned both producer and actor roles. With a modest budget, this tomato-centric flick became such a sensation in video rentals that it led to a series. Following the creation of the initial film, Peace ventured into politics, securing a seat in the California State Assembly in 1982, where he served for 12 years before transitioning to the State Senate in 1994, serving another 8 years there.

Bob Dornan

Known primarily for his acting career, Bob Dornan is recognized for his long-running role as a pilot in the iconic ABC series “12 O’Clock High.” However, it is his strong conservative political stance that has made him more well-known, serving as a Congressman from California for nearly two decades between the 70s and 90s.

Tracy Brabin

Actress Tracy Brabin, famous from Coronation Street, stepped into politics in 2016 by running for a parliamentary seat in the United Kingdom as a Labour Party contender. After securing her victory, she spent five years serving in the House of Commons until 2021, when she decided to run for mayor of West Yorkshire. Since then, she’s been holding that position.

Alan Autry

After spending a short stint as a quarterback for the Green Bay Packers (playing three games in 1976), Alan Autry transitioned to Hollywood, where he shared the spotlight as Bubba Skinner on NBC’s “In The Heat Of The Night.” He stepped away from acting after embracing Christianity and relocated to Fresno, CA. Serving as the mayor of Fresno for two terms, he eventually had to leave due to term limits in 2008.

2024-10-28 17:38