actors turned politicians and vice versa

[Johnny Z]

I can only think of two actors that turned politicians. That would be Arnold Schwarzenegger (or however the hell you spell it) and Jesse Ventura. Does anyone else recall any or for that matter any politicians that turned actor.

[trekgeezer]

Ronald Reagan  - Governor of California and President of the United States.

Fred Grandy (Gopher from the Love Boat) - U. S. Congressman from Idaho I think.

Sonny Bono - Mayor of  Palm Springs  and  U.S. Congressman from California

Clint Eastwood -  Mayor of Carmel, CA

Fred Dalton Thompson  -  U.S. Senator from Tennessee - now an actor again (he plays the DA on the original Law and Order). I believe he votuntarily quit after two terms because he believed in term limitations.

I'm sure there are a whole lot more.

[Ash]

Fred Grandy is actually from Iowa....where I live!

[Tilebreaker]

you could make an argument for Charlton Heston as a politician since he was president of the NRA for a few years.

[Deej]

George Murphy- character actor in musicals and light comedies (second rate George Burns) during the 30's and 40's. Senator or Congressman from California in the 60's

Ben Jones-Cooter from The Dukes Of Hazzard, Congressman from Georgia.

Shirley Temple- Not an elected office holder, but served as US Ambassador to Czechoslovakia.

Nancy Kulp - Miss Hathaway from The Beverly Hillbillies, ran for Senator in PA, sadly....she lost.

Marion Barry - Former Mayor of Washington D.C. . Not really an actor, strictly speaking. But, starred in a very gritty drug abuse drama in the early 90's!!

[Johnny Z]

How could I have missed Reagan, not thinking. LOL

[Mr. Hockstatter]

And then I believe Tom Sellick took the job after Heston.

[Bgrade]

Deej wrote:

> Ben Jones-Cooter from The Dukes Of Hazzard, Congressman from
> Georgia.

By the way....I think this is one of the "best" things ever. It makes the mind boggle.

Note: I'm from Minnesota and voted for Jesse Ventura.  He did a pretty good job despite what The press said.  So I'm not knocking Bens Jones. Just the image it creates.

[jmc]

Cooter for Congress!

I remember Miss Hathaway running for Senate...they got Buddy Ebsen to do ads against her!

[raj]

Then there's Cicilione (or however you spell it).  She's an Italian porn star who got elected to the Italian parliment.  IIRC, she ran on the "free love" ticket.

[Flangepart]

Nope. Its another man. A 23year Police vet.
Trust me on this....The Heston was my President.
Heres to you Chuck...may you continue to age gracefully.
"Keep your paws off him, you damm, dirty Age!"



Post Edited (04-12-04 18:24)

[AndyC]

I think everybody's named all of the actors turned politicians I can think of. However, I can think of one politician turned entertainer. Jerry Springer is the former mayor of Cincinnati.

[Mr. Hockstatter]

Gary Coleman was running for Governor of California in the last election.

[onionhead]

Wasn't Ben Stein one of Nixon's speechwriters?

[Brother Ragnarok]

He's not an actor, but Krist Novoselic (bassplayer from Nirvana) was running for some office in Washington state last I heard.

Brother R