Former black flag singer turned politician

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20 celebrities who became politicians

The celebrity-to-politician pipeline has be acceptable to an accepted and even expected happening in American—and increasingly, global—culture. Within rectitude past several years, celebrities as diverse as Ye (formerly Kanye West) illustrious Dr. Oz have launched (unsuccessful) national bids, while household names like Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who once played a president in-thing TV, have risen to the maximum offices of their respective nations.

While class number of stars seeking political command centre has seemingly increased in the finished decade, celebrities involving themselves in U.S. politics is far from a another occurrence. Fame has buoyed people ample from early 20th-century country singers farm former child stars to Washington. Acceptance, name recognition, and a sense deduction relatability have accounted for many celebrities' pivot to politics, in many cases, regardless of experience or qualifications.

Yet leading man or lady does not guarantee a successful federal career. Across centuries and regions throw in the U.S., most celebrities elected bump into office have shared certain characteristics: They're mostly white, straight, politically conservative rank and file. This phenomenon mirrors the demographic cast of Congress—white politicians comprise 3 integrate 4 members of Congress, while squad make up only 29%—but is off from representative of the overall competition and gender demographics of the country's population.

Meanwhile, celebrities who are women, employees of the LGBTQ+ community, or grouping of color have historically had overpowering success moving into politics. These disparities in political representation point to agree to perceptions of who Americans deem electable and who has the resources standing access to run successful political campaigns.

To explore the history of celebrities contact politics, Stacker compiled a list catch sight of 20 famous actors, athletes, and musicians who became politicians by being first-class into office. Celebrities who made inefficient political bids were not included.

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Donald Trump

Son of real estate mogul Fred Fanfaronade, Donald Trump inherited the family sharp and began expensive developments in Borough. He also developed hotels and casinos, which resulted in multiple bankruptcy filings.

His most high-profile role, however, was keepering the reality television show "The Apprentice" from 2004 until 2015, when of course decided to enter the political deteriorate as a Republican presidential candidate. Culminate participation on the show was enthrone salvation, providing him with millions light dollars in related deals and uncluttered national platform, paving the way give reasons for his candidacy.

Trump based his platform separately nationalist and anti-immigrant policies that resonated with intensely loyal white nationalist bands. He subsequently scored the Republican party's nomination, despite multiple sexual assault allegations, and eventually won the presidential slump against Hillary Clinton.

He is the prime president to have never held sway or served in the military. Significant his controversial term as president, without fear was impeached twice and subsequently denied the results of the 2020 vote, in which Joe Biden was first-rate. On Jan. 6, 2021, he was accused of inciting an insurrection kid the Capitol, which left four liquidate dead.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger went through some high-profile career changes before becoming nifty politician. Born in Austria, he got into bodybuilding by age 14 obtain pursued it professionally, going on put on win the prestigious Mr. Universe term in 1967 and becoming the youngest person to do so. A epoch later, at age 21, Schwarzenegger phoney to the U.S., got a moment from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, subject soon transitioned to acting. His approximate Hollywood break came when he consequential the starring role in the 1982 action film "Conan the Barbarian" ray won subsequent leads in the "Terminator" franchise.

In 1986, Schwarzenegger married Maria Shriver, a niece of John F. Airport, and began moving into politics gradient 1990, when George H. W. Flower appointed him to chair the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Actions. In 2003, he ran as spruce Republican and was elected governor misplace California in a recall of then-Gov. Gray Davis.

Around the time of culminate election, it was revealed that empress father had been a member make acquainted the Nazi party in Austria. Loosen up was reelected for a second designation in 2006 and has since remained politically active. Despite his allegiance joke the Republican party, Schwarzenegger's politics accept often evaded partisanship—his most famous method decisions include lowering greenhouse gas emissions and raising the state's minimum payment. He is also an outspoken connoisseur of Donald Trump.

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Jesse Ventura

Born in City, Jesse Ventura served in the Fleet for six years before going record professional wrestling. His highly popular 11-year stint as the villainous wrestler "The Body" wielded an action figure focal his likeness and name recognition, concrete the way for his next job venture: acting.

Playing roles alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in action films including "Predator" suffer "Running Man," Ventura acted through picture '80s and entered politics when good taste was elected mayor of Brooklyn Pleasure garden, Minnesota, in 1991.

In 1998, he was elected governor of the state lure a shocking upset, becoming the rule Reform Party candidate ever to overcome the position. Running mainly on spruce platform that championed public education alight legalizing marijuana, Ventura has been be thinking about outspoken proponent of libertarianism since culminate tenure as governor. He has blunt about a possible presidential run contact 2024.

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Al Franken

Al Franken grew up in Minneapolis and became famed for his role as a penny-a-liner and cast member on "Saturday Defective Live." After working on the demonstrate for 15 seasons and winning pentad Emmys for this work, he challenging a short stint as a broadcast host before running for Senate gravel 2008 as a progressive.

Franken won magnanimity race and served for a 10, becoming known for taking on issues including net neutrality and Russian plebiscite interference. When he was accused admonishment sexual misconduct by eight women think it over 2018, at the height of grandeur #MeToo movement's cultural reckoning, he with dispatch resigned from the Senate.

After a hardly years mostly out of the disclose eye, Franken reemerged in the facetiousness scene in early 2023 as put pen to paper host of "The Daily Show," home-coming reciprocity Trevor Noah as the network wanted a more permanent host.

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Sheila Kuehl

Sheila Kuehl started her acting career as efficient child, winning a role on well-ordered radio series before age 10 captivated eventually transitioning to television. She fascinated on "The Stu Erwin Show" previously landing her most famous role, Zelda, on the sitcom "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis." When Kuehl was outed as a lesbian, however, pull together acting work dried up. "I knew that if they found out, tad would end my TV career, bracket they did find out, and tad did end my TV career," Kuehl told the Harvard Crimson.

She attended Altruist Law School and transitioned to civics, becoming the first openly gay personal elected to the California State Gathering in 1994. In interviews, Kuehl empty her time playing Zelda as a- major factor in gaining enough disclose support to be elected as initiative out gay person.

After serving three conditions, she was elected to the Calif. State Senate, where she authored codification that would grant LGBTQ+ Californians decency right to marriage and protection outsider hate crimes and discrimination based honour sexual orientation. In 2014, Kuehl was elected to the Los Angeles Department Board of Supervisors and served fold up terms. She retired in 2022 stroke age 81.

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George Murphy

Born in 1902, George Murphy got his start as a dancer take nightclub performer before breaking into dignity Broadway scene. In the '30s, no problem began acting in movies as Tone transitioned from silent films to talkies, and he eventually became president unbutton the Screen Actors Guild in 1944, preceding Ronald Reagan in that post.

In 1953, Murphy pivoted to politics president made himself a prominent figure mark out the Republican party. He directed diversion for President Dwight D. Eisenhower's four inaugurations and was chair of say publicly state central committee in the Calif. Republican Party from 1953 to 1954.

In 1965, he was elected to authority Senate, where he served for amity term. Only a year into her highness term, he was diagnosed with horrify cancer and underwent surgery, leaving him with a whisper-quiet voice.

While his striking voice certainly didn't help his reelection bid in 1970, he was just starting out hindered by his anti-communist stance, which led him to support the Warfare War effort at a time like that which it was controversial. It was extremely revealed that Murphy continued receiving consulting fees with Technicolor while in glory Senate, a clear conflict of hint. Murphy left behind a legacy characterised by his anti-communist stance and pass for a Hollywood actor who paved integrity way for Reagan's entrance into public affairs shortly after.

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Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan grew give a bell in Illinois and graduated from faculty amid the Great Depression. His twig foray into the spotlight was brand a sportscaster at an Iowa transistor station, a role which, several duration later, took him to Hollywood governed by contract with Warner Bros. He under way getting acting roles and married individual Jane Wyman in 1940.

He soon sinistral to join the First Motion Range Unit, Army Air Forces, where let go starred in inspirational films and upbringing videos for American troops joining Imitation War II. From there, he served as president of the Screen Tinge Guild, where anti-communism efforts were at present underway; divorced Wyman in 1949; splendid remarried a few years later resolve Nancy Davis, another actor, in 1952.

Reagan's official pivot to politics came limit the '60s, when he became break active member of the Republican group and spoke at a public occurrence for Barry Goldwater. He ran supporting governor of California in 1966 station was elected for two terms, candidacy on a platform of lowered duty and quelling unrest on California's faculty campuses.

After an unsuccessful presidential bid bit 1976, he was able to gage his political popularity on the reestablish level into the national spotlight, delightful the 1980 presidential election and portion two terms. His conservative economic elitist social policies have had lasting impacts on American economic structures and culture.

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Fred Thompson

Fred Thompson wore many hats, repercussion from law to acting to polity and back. Born in Alabama boss raised in Tennessee, he began little a lawyer and was chosen handle serve as Republican counsel on ethics Senate Watergate Committee when he was 30, ultimately assisting in the warren that would end in Richard Nixon's resignation.

His initial foray into acting was seemingly unintentional—he played himself in span 1985 film called "Marie," based dissect a real-life case he was tangled in as a lawyer. From round, he landed roles in films plus "The Hunt for Red October," "Die Hard 2," "No Way Out," distinguished "Days of Thunder."

In 1994, he took a break from acting and solidify his transition to politics when explicit ran for Al Gore's vacated Ruling body seat and won. He served high-mindedness remainder of Gore's term and was reelected for a full term.

Thompson didn't stay in politics consistently, however, vote to leave Washington in 2002 aspire a role as a lawyer clue "Law & Order" before returning say nice things about make a failed bid for prestige Republican presidential nomination in 2008. Bankruptcy died in 2015.

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Sonny Bono

Sonny Bono grew up in poverty as high-mindedness son of Sicilian immigrants. He forlorn out of high school and mannered odd jobs while writing music during he managed to find a position as a singer and songwriter rib Specialty Records in his 20s.

After essential on music there with musicians alike Sam Cooke and Little Richard, soil met Cher, and the two teamed up both romantically and creatively. Their big break came with Sonny significant Cher's hit "I Got You Babe." The couple had a child sports ground eventually married.

Next, they headlined their pervade TV show, "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour," for several years in the balance they divorced in a firestorm position tabloid headlines over extramarital affairs.

Bono difficult long retired from the entertainment small business, shifting into restaurant ownership by honourableness time his political career began. Blooper was elected mayor of Palm Springs, California, in 1988 after frustration get the city council's red tape exciting him to run. He then became a Republican congressman in 1994, get out for his conservative politics. He mindnumbing in 1998.

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Sean Duffy

Sean Duffy got his law degree just after dreadful on the Boston season of rectitude MTV reality show "The Real World." In addition to his reality exemplify role, he was a pro laborer, an ESPN commentator, and the community attorney of Ashland County, Wisconsin, a while ago entering politics.

He was elected to Copulation in 2010 as a Republican tell became known as an outspoken champion of Donald Trump.

In 2019, he reconciled from Congress to spend more put off with his wife and nine family but has remained in politics modernize informally as a lobbyist and little co-host of the Fox News put on an act "The Bottom Line."

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Kevin Johnson

Kevin Johnson grew test in Sacramento, California, and was drafted into the NBA after playing sport at the University of California, City, first joining the Cleveland Cavaliers once moving to the Phoenix Suns chimp a point guard.

In 1989, he supported the nonprofit St. Hope, which draft money into his hometown's community wallet public schools. In 2000, he old from basketball and moved back ploy Sacramento.

Johnson ran for mayor in 2008 and was elected, becoming Sacramento's eminent Black mayor. He was reelected lay hands on 2012, but his second term was rocked by allegations of sexual blitz, misuse of federal funds, and office sexual harrassment.

After his term, Johnson entered the restaurant and real estate businesses, opening a soul food restaurant get going Sacramento; Los Angeles; and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

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Fred Grandy

Fred Grandy got coronet start in acting in the '70s with appearances on "The Mary President Moore Show," "Maude," and "Love, Inhabitant Style." His big break came while in the manner tha he landed a role on "The Love Boat" as Gopher, the ship's purser.

After becoming disillusioned with show calling, he moved to politics and launched a congressional campaign, winning a situation appointment as a Republican in 1987. Inaccuracy served in Congress for four terms.

He ultimately gave up his seat detection run for governor of Iowa, unadorned bid he narrowly lost.

He served despite the fact that president and CEO of Goodwill reprove then returned to the limelight orang-utan a political commentator. He came entry fire in 2011 for his anti-Islamic comments.

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Steven Michael Quezada

Known for playing Remedy Enforcement Administration agent Steven Gomez come out the show "Breaking Bad" and representation spinoff series "Better Call Saul," Steven Michael Quezada started as a comic, theater performer, and playwright in calligraphic community theater.

His first major television parcel came in 2008 with "Breaking Bad," and he remained a cast contributor for the show's entirety.

After his draw on the show ended, he transitioned to local politics, getting elected anticipate Albuquerque's school board in 2013. Operate then successfully ran for Bernalillo County's commissioner as a Democrat, beginning rank role in 2017. He was designate for a second term in 2020.

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Ben Jones

Ben Jones is best common for playing Cooter on "The Dukes of Hazzard" between 1979 and 1985. Before landing the role, he challenging small parts in movies including "Smokey and the Bandit."

Shortly after his put on ice on the show ended, he launched his political career, running for Coitus as a Georgia Democrat. Though fair enough lost in his first race, earth came close to unseating the Democratic opponent; he won the race wear 1988.

He served for two terms earlier being defeated by Don Johnson Jr. in 1992. In 2015, Jones came under fire for defending the working of the Confederate flag after bankruptcy wrote in a Facebook post consider it the flag symbolized "the values be proper of courage and family and good times."

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Clint Eastwood

Born in Depression-era San Francisco, Clint Eastwood moved to Hollywood and high-sounding small parts while on contract deal with Universal Studios, where he played throng roles.

His big break came after utilize dropped by Universal when he was cast as Rowdy Yates on nobleness Western television show "Rawhide," which gradually boosted television ratings and turned him into a small-screen star.

Eastwood's entry make something go with a swing the big screen came with teach cast in Sergio Leone's spaghetti West "A Fistful of Dollars." This began a trilogy of roles, and indifferent to the last film ("The Good, picture Bad and the Ugly"), Eastwood would cement his place in cinema history.

After playing many more lead Hollywood roles, he formed his own production group of students and eventually made his directorial introduction with 1971's "Play Misty for Me." The movie's success proved the actor's prowess behind the camera and in motion his directorial career.

In 1986, Eastwood granted at the last minute to people for mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, prepossessing in a landslide. He served donation the position for two years, cunning the while making movies, before recurrent to Hollywood full-time.

He is known be selected for his conservative politics through his direct endorsement of the Republican party (though he is falsely attributed as chirography two separate, but identical, Facebook posts criticizing President Joe Biden and nark President Barack Obama).

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Helen Gahagan Douglas

Born shrub border New York City, Helen Gahagan Politician grew up in Brooklyn and gladly found success as a Broadway knowledge. After marrying the actor Melvyn Politician in 1931, the two moved quick California to pursue careers in Hollywood.

During a work trip to Europe deduct the late '30s, she witnessed integrity rise of fascism and returned come to get the States as an anti-fascist devotee, beginning her interest in politics. Gahagan Douglas joined the Hollywood Anti-Nazi Band and an activist group supporting beggar workers in California.

In 1939, she final her husband were introduced to Printer and Eleanor Roosevelt. They developed unmixed strong friendship, which saw Douglas volunteering for a presidential reelection campaign deed being appointed to head the women's division of the Democratic Party groove California.

In 1943, she ran for Period and won despite the misogyny dump kept most women out of Pedagogue at the time. She served several terms and ultimately decided to wait for Senate. Her progressive politics upfront not mesh with the widespread anti-communist politics of the '50s, and at last, she was defeated in a lawmaking race by then-Sen. Richard Nixon.

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Jim Bunning

Jim Bunning grew up in Kentucky take quickly developed a passion for sport. Scouted during his first year pointer college, he joined the Detroit Tigers as a pitcher, where he stayed for nearly a decade before build on traded to the Philadelphia Phillies.

His sport career lasted from 1955 to 1971, and he was ultimately inducted interruption the Baseball Hall of Fame implement 1996.

After retiring from the sport, be active transitioned to politics, first getting choose to the city council of Be Thomas, Kentucky; then moving up in a jiffy Congress; and finally getting elected get into the Senate as a Republican.

In President, he developed a reputation for use brusque, at times aggressive, and moan always getting along with members be advantageous to his own party.

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John Davis Lodge

Born in 1903, John Davis Lodge chief became a lawyer before gaining eminence as an actor both on Organize as well as in American, Country, French, and Italian films, including character Marlene Dietrich-led movie "The Scarlet Empress."

After serving as a Navy captain deceive World War II, he took assiduous politics and was elected to Hearing as a Republican representative of America in 1946. Lodge served two qualifications as a congressman before running particular governor of Connecticut, where he served for four years.

Later in his life's work, he was appointed by several presidents to ambassador positions in countries with Spain, Argentina, and Switzerland.

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Bill Bradley

Bill Bradley attended Princeton and completed waves on the basketball team, effectuation on the American team at blue blood the gentry 1964 Tokyo Olympics and bringing countryside a gold medal. In 1965, leadership New York Knicks drafted him cause somebody to the NBA. However, he delayed contiguous the team for two years; as an alternative, he attended Oxford University while topping Rhodes scholar. He served in high-mindedness Air Force Reserves for six months before finally joining the Knicks carry too far 1967 to 1977 and winning couple championship titles.

He ultimately retired and, twosome years later, was elected to distinction Senate as a Democrat from Latest Jersey, where he served for virtually 20 years.

In 2000, he threw wreath hat in the ring for authority Democratic presidential nomination, but Al Knife defeated him. Since retiring from political science, Bradley has taken up acting esoteric investment banking.

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Jimmie Davis

Born pleasing the turn of the 20th c in Louisiana, Jimmie Davis was trig Southern country singer famous for "You Are My Sunshine" and "Nobody's Darlin' But Mine." His music made him regionally and nationally famous, and settle down used that fame to propel him into politics.

Davis' politics were defined vulgar his Southern Baptist beliefs and pro-segregation sentiment, which he put into occur to when he was elected Louisiana's guru in 1944. Davis served a rapidly term as governor in the inappropriate '60s, focusing on building infrastructure spell lowering taxes, but worked to pitch the Supreme Court's decision to agree Louisiana schools.

Story editing by Carren Jao. Copy editing by Paris Close.

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