12 Hollywood Stars Who Turned to Politics
Hollywood and politics have always had a weird relationship, but some stars took it way beyond just endorsing candidates or giving speeches. These actors actually traded their scripts for campaign speeches and their red carpets for town halls. Some made it all the way to the top, while others crashed and burned spectacularly.
The transition from entertainment to politics isn't easy, but these celebrities had something most politicians don't – name recognition and the ability to work a crowd. Some used their fame to tackle serious issues, others seemed to be in it for the ego boost. Here is a list of 12 Hollywood stars who turned to politics, proving that sometimes the biggest plot twist in an actor's career happens off-screen.
Ronald Reagan
The ultimate success story of Hollywood-to-politics, Reagan went from B-movie actor to President of the United States. He started out making films like "Bedtime for Bonzo" and "Knute Rockne, All American" before becoming president of the Screen Actors Guild. Reagan served as California's governor from 1967 to 1975, then became the 40th President from 1981 to 1989. His acting background actually helped him in politics – he knew how to deliver a line and work a camera better than most career politicians.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
The Terminator himself became California's governor in 2003 during a crazy recall election that had over 130 candidates on the ballot. Schwarzenegger served two terms until 2011, focusing on environmental issues and trying to fix California's budget mess. His political career was pretty successful considering he had zero experience before running. The Austrian-born bodybuilder-turned-action-star proved that sometimes an outsider perspective can actually work in politics.
Al Franken
The Saturday Night Live comedian and writer made the jump to serious politics when he got elected as a U.S. Senator from Minnesota in 2009. Franken served until 2018 when misconduct allegations forced him to resign. During his time in office, he was known for being really well-prepared and asking tough questions during committee hearings. His comedy background actually made him a pretty effective senator, though his career ended on a sour note.
Jesse Ventura
Before becoming Minnesota's governor from 1999 to 2003, Ventura was a professional wrestler and actor who appeared in movies like "Predator." He also served as mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota from 1991 to 1995. Ventura ran as an independent and shocked everyone by winning the governor's race. His no-nonsense style and outsider status appealed to voters who were tired of typical politicians.
Clint Eastwood
The legendary actor and director served as mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California from 1986 to 1988. Eastwood got into the race because he was frustrated with local government red tape that was affecting his business interests. He won in a landslide with over 70% of the vote and served two years before going back to making movies full-time. His time as mayor was pretty successful and he's remained involved in Republican politics ever since.
Fred Thompson
Thompson had a unique career where he went back and forth between acting and politics. He served as a U.S. Senator from Tennessee from 1994 to 2003, then became famous for playing District Attorney Arthur Branch on "Law & Order." Before politics, he appeared in movies like "The Hunt for Red October" and "Die Hard 2." Thompson even ran for President in 2008 but dropped out early in the race.
Shirley Temple Black
The famous child star of the 1930s and 1940s became a diplomat and Republican activist later in life. She ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1967 but went on to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Ghana from 1974 to 1976 and later as Ambassador to Czechoslovakia. Temple Black was also the U.S. Chief of Protocol and worked with the United Nations. Her transition from child star to serious diplomat was pretty remarkable.
George Murphy
This song-and-dance man from Hollywood's golden age became a U.S. Senator from California, serving from 1965 to 1971. Murphy was president of the Screen Actors Guild in the 1940s before Reagan took over that role. He appeared in numerous musical films during the transition from silent movies to talkies. Murphy is still the only senator to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which he got for his entertainment career.
J. Springer
Before hosting the trashy talk show that made him famous, Springer was actually a serious politician. He served on Cincinnati City Council from 1971 to 1974, resigned after a scandal, then got re-elected in 1975. Springer became mayor of Cincinnati from 1977 to 1978 and was pretty popular. He ran for governor of Ohio in 1982 but lost, then eventually ended up on television where he became much more famous.
Sonny Bono
The singer and variety show host served as mayor of Palm Springs, California from 1988 to 1992, then got elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994. Bono was known for his conservative views and business-friendly policies. His political career was cut short when he died in a skiing accident in 1998. His widow Mary Bono took over his congressional seat and served until 2013.
Sean Duffy
This former cast member of MTV's "The Real World" became a prosecutor and then a U.S. Representative from Wisconsin, serving from 2011 to 2019. Duffy also appeared on "Road Rules: All Stars" before getting into law and politics. He resigned from Congress to spend more time with his family when his ninth child was born with health problems. His transition from reality TV to serious politics was pretty unusual but successful.
Hill Harper
The "CSI: NY" and "The Good Doctor" actor ran for U.S. Senate in Michigan in 2024 as a progressive Democrat. Harper has been politically active for years and has written several books about social issues. He lost in the Democratic primary to Representative Elissa Slotkin but his campaign showed that established TV actors can still make serious runs for major offices. His political involvement goes way beyond just celebrity endorsements.
From Screen to Capitol
These Hollywood stars prove that the transition from entertainment to politics can actually work, though success isn't guaranteed. Some like Reagan and Schwarzenegger made it to the very top, while others found their niche in local politics or appointed positions. The key seems to be taking the job seriously and using celebrity status as a starting point rather than the whole qualification. Whether you love them or hate them, these actor-politicians definitely brought some drama to the usually boring world of government – and isn't that what good entertainment is all about?
More from Go2Tutors!
- 16 Historical Figures Who Were Nothing Like You Think
- 12 Things Sold in the 80s That Are Now Illegal
- 15 VHS Tapes That Could Be Worth Thousands
Like Go2Tutors’ content? Follow us on MSN.
