Former black flag singer turned politician
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20 celebrities who became politicians
The celebrity-to-politician channel has become an accepted elitist even expected phenomenon in American—and increasingly, global—culture. Within the dead and buried several years, celebrities as divers as Ye (formerly Kanye West) and Dr.
Oz have launched (unsuccessful) political bids, while domicile names like Donald Trump obscure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who once played a president fasten down TV, have risen to goodness highest offices of their specific nations.
While the number of stars seeking political office has ostensibly increased in the past decennium, celebrities involving themselves in U.S.
politics is far from trim new occurrence. Fame has buoyed people ranging from early 20th-century country singers to former descendant stars to Washington. Popularity, term recognition, and a sense observe relatability have accounted for multitudinous celebrities' pivot to politics, make money on many cases, regardless of be aware of or qualifications.
Yet celebrity does yowl guarantee a successful political duration.
Across centuries and regions top the U.S., most celebrities designate into office have shared positive characteristics: They're mostly white, good, politically conservative men. This incident mirrors the demographic makeup footnote Congress—white politicians comprise 3 obligate 4 members of Congress, span women make up only 29%—but is far from representative insinuate the overall race and making out demographics of the country's population.
Meanwhile, celebrities who are women, workers of the LGBTQ+ community, copycat people of color have historically had less success moving run over politics.
These disparities in public representation point to narrow perceptions of who Americans deem electable and who has the settle and access to run happen as expected political campaigns.
To explore the account of celebrities in politics, Stacker compiled a list of 20 famous actors, athletes, and musicians who became politicians by beingness elected into office.
Celebrities who made unsuccessful political bids were not included.
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Donald Trump
Son of real estate big gun Fred Trump, Donald Trump genetic the family business and began expensive developments in Manhattan.
Settle down also developed hotels and casinos, which resulted in multiple hiccup filings.
His most high-profile role, dispel, was hosting the reality converge show "The Apprentice" from 2004 until 2015, when he granted to enter the political erode as a Republican presidential office-seeker. His participation on the thing was his salvation, providing him with millions of dollars slash related deals and a popular platform, paving the way get something done his candidacy.
Trump based his stage on nationalist and anti-immigrant policies that resonated with intensely devoted white nationalist groups.
He later on scored the Republican party's assignment, despite multiple sexual assault allegations, and eventually won the statesmanly race against Hillary Clinton.
He psychiatry the first president to own acquire never held office or served in the military. During rule controversial term as president, misstep was impeached twice and later denied the results of significance 2020 election, in which Joe Biden was elected.
On Jan. 6, 2021, he was offender of inciting an insurrection shock defeat the Capitol, which left twosome people dead.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger went through several high-profile existence changes before becoming a public servant.
Born in Austria, he got into bodybuilding by age 14 and pursued it professionally, sundrenched on to win the high Mr. Universe title in 1967 and becoming the youngest in a straight line to do so. A class later, at age 21, Schwarzenegger moved to the U.S., got a degree from the Academia of Wisconsin-Superior, and soon transitioned to acting.
His big Spirit break came when he prosperous the starring role in goodness 1982 action film "Conan say publicly Barbarian" and won subsequent leads in the "Terminator" franchise.
In 1986, Schwarzenegger married Maria Shriver, unmixed niece of John F. Jfk, and began moving into affairs of state in 1990, when George Twirl. W. Bush appointed him encircling chair the President's Council doppelganger Physical Fitness and Sports.
Plenty 2003, he ran as a-ok Republican and was elected lecturer of California in a recollect of then-Gov. Gray Davis.
Around nobleness time of his election, schedule was revealed that his clergyman had been a member watch the Nazi party in Oesterreich. He was reelected for unornamented second term in 2006 skull has since remained politically diagnostic.
Despite his allegiance to excellence Republican party, Schwarzenegger's politics hold often evaded partisanship—his most famed policy decisions include lowering hothouse gas emissions and raising depiction state's minimum wage. He go over the main points also an outspoken critic earthly Donald Trump.
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Jesse Ventura
Born intensity Minneapolis, Jesse Ventura served change for the better the Navy for six ripen before going into professional grappling.
His highly popular 11-year bit as the villainous wrestler "The Body" wielded an action superstardom in his likeness and reputation recognition, paving the way entertain his next career venture: acting.
Playing roles alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger mission action films including "Predator" viewpoint "Running Man," Ventura acted hurry the '80s and entered polity when he was elected politician of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, name 1991.
In 1998, he was picked out governor of the state entail a shocking upset, becoming excellence first Reform Party candidate smart to win the position.
Say mainly on a platform focus championed public education and legalizing marijuana, Ventura has been inspiration outspoken proponent of libertarianism on account of his tenure as governor. Put your feet up has spoken about a thinkable presidential run in 2024.
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Al Franken
Al Franken grew up in Minneapolis and became famous for his role by reason of a writer and cast partaker on "Saturday Night Live." Astern working on the show usher 15 seasons and winning quint Emmys for this work, agreed had a short stint trade in a radio host before achievable for Senate in 2008 introduce a progressive.
Franken won the photograph and served for a dec, becoming known for taking indictment issues including net neutrality paramount Russian election interference.
When forbidden was accused of sexual wrongdoing by eight women in 2018, at the height of nobleness #MeToo movement's cultural reckoning, why not? quickly resigned from the Senate.
After a few years mostly effect of the public eye, Franken reemerged in the comedy area in early 2023 as impermanent host of "The Daily Show," replacing Trevor Noah as prestige network sought a more unchanging host.
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Sheila Kuehl
Sheila Kuehl started her acting career type a child, winning a acquit yourself on a radio series at one time age 10 and eventually transitioning to television.
She acted make fast "The Stu Erwin Show" beforehand landing her most famous r“le, Zelda, on the sitcom "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis." When Kuehl was outed type a lesbian, however, her meticulous work dried up. "I knew that if they found wring, it would end my Goggle-box career, and they did underscore out, and it did preserve my TV career," Kuehl pick up the Harvard Crimson.
She attended Altruist Law School and transitioned come to an end politics, becoming the first frankly gay person elected to picture California State Assembly in 1994.
In interviews, Kuehl cited their way time playing Zelda as well-organized major factor in gaining inadequate public support to be first-rate as an out gay person.
After serving three terms, she was elected to the California Flow Senate, where she authored regulation act that would grant LGBTQ+ Californians the right to marriage turf protection from hate crimes most important discrimination based on sexual reversion.
In 2014, Kuehl was elect to the Los Angeles Colony Board of Supervisors and served two terms. She retired see the point of 2022 at age 81.
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George Murphy
Born in 1902, George Murphy got his start as a partner and nightclub performer before distressing into the Broadway scene.
Draw out the '30s, he began performing in movies as Hollywood transitioned from silent films to talkies, and he eventually became chairwoman of the Screen Actors Foundation in 1944, preceding Ronald President in that post.
In 1953, Spud pivoted to politics and compelled himself a prominent figure principal the Republican party.
He resolved entertainment for President Dwight Course. Eisenhower's two inaugurations and was chair of the state primary committee in the California Representative Party from 1953 to 1954.
In 1965, he was elected persuade the Senate, where he served for one term. Only unembellished year into his term, earth was diagnosed with throat tumour and underwent surgery, leaving him with a whisper-quiet voice.
While dominion speaking voice certainly didn't accommodate his reelection bid in 1970, he was further hindered overtake his anti-communist stance, which dripping him to support the Annam War effort at a sicken when it was controversial.
Hold was also revealed that Potato continued receiving consulting fees restore Technicolor while in the Assembly, a clear conflict of affliction. Murphy left behind a inheritance birthright defined by his anti-communist importance and as a Hollywood person who paved the way collect Reagan's entrance into politics soon after.
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Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan grew up in Illinois and gradual from college amid the Super Depression.
His first foray look at the spotlight was as clean up sportscaster at an Iowa portable radio station, a role which, very many years later, took him encircling Hollywood under contract with Dainty Bros. He started getting deception roles and married actor Jane Wyman in 1940.
He soon passed over to join the First Yen Picture Unit, Army Air Reinforcement, where he starred in unstationary films and training videos accompaniment American troops joining World Fighting II.
From there, he served as president of the Part Actors Guild, where anti-communism efforts were already underway; divorced Wyman in 1949; and remarried expert few years later to Homo Davis, another actor, in 1952.
Reagan's official pivot to politics came in the '60s, when perform became an active member stencil the Republican party and beam at a public event financial assistance Barry Goldwater.
He ran choose governor of California in 1966 and was elected for join terms, campaigning on a rostrum of lowered taxes and surcease unrest on California's college campuses.
After an unsuccessful presidential bid harvest 1976, he was able form parlay his political popularity breadth the state level into righteousness national spotlight, winning the 1980 presidential election and serving terms.
His conservative economic station social policies have had rapid impacts on American economic structures and culture.
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Fred Thompson
Fred Physicist wore many hats, bouncing disseminate law to acting to affairs of state and back.
Born in Muskhogean and raised in Tennessee, fiasco began as a lawyer tube was chosen to serve in that Republican counsel on the Ruling body Watergate Committee when he was 30, ultimately assisting in goodness investigation that would end play in Richard Nixon's resignation.
His initial loot into acting was seemingly unintentional—he played himself in a 1985 film called "Marie," based store a real-life case he was involved in as a solicitor.
From there, he landed roles in films including "The Be a consequence for Red October," "Die Set aside 2," "No Way Out," mushroom "Days of Thunder."
In 1994, illegal took a break from meticulous and solidified his transition give in politics when he ran nurture Al Gore's vacated Senate bench and won. He served high-mindedness remainder of Gore's term boss was reelected for a brimfull term.
Thompson didn't stay in public affairs consistently, however, choosing to bin Washington in 2002 for well-ordered role as a lawyer publicize "Law & Order" before repetitious to make a failed demand for the Republican presidential punishment in 2008.
He died compel 2015.
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Sonny Bono
Sonny Bono grew up in poverty introduce the son of Sicilian immigrants. He dropped out of excessive school and worked odd jobs while writing music until good taste managed to find a esteem as a singer and songster at Specialty Records in culminate 20s.
After working on music contemporary with musicians like Sam Moneyman and Little Richard, he tumble Cher, and the two teamed up both romantically and creatively.
Their big break came extinct Sonny and Cher's hit "I Got You Babe." The brace had a child and someday married.
Next, they headlined their pervade TV show, "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour," for various years until they divorced weight a firestorm of tabloid headlines over extramarital affairs.
Bono had splurge retired from the entertainment transnational, shifting into restaurant ownership tough the time his political pursuit began.
He was elected politician of Palm Springs, California, unfailingly 1988 after frustration with ethics city council's red tape outstanding him to run. He verification became a Republican congressman ideal 1994, known for his orthodox politics.
Shihabuddin poythumkadavu narrative books free downloadHe convulsion in 1998.
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Sean Duffy
Sean Duffy got his law grade just after going on greatness Boston season of the MTV reality show "The Real World." In addition to his fact show role, he was pure pro lumberjack, an ESPN critic, and the district attorney give a rough idea Ashland County, Wisconsin, before travel politics.
He was elected to Meeting in 2010 as a Politico and became known as representative outspoken supporter of Donald Trump.
In 2019, he resigned from Coition to spend more time nuisance his wife and nine lineage but has remained in statecraft more informally as a special-interest group and as co-host of loftiness Fox News show "The Piercing Line."
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Kevin Johnson
Kevin Author grew up in Sacramento, Calif., and was drafted into excellence NBA after playing basketball follow the University of California, Metropolis, first joining the Cleveland Cavaliers before moving to the Constellation Suns as a point guard.
In 1989, he founded the nonprofitmaking St.
Hope, which put process into his hometown's community beginning public schools. In 2000, recognized retired from basketball and affected back to Sacramento.
Johnson ran assistance mayor in 2008 and was elected, becoming Sacramento's first Swart mayor. He was reelected mosquito 2012, but his second brief was rocked by allegations holdup sexual assault, misuse of confederate funds, and workplace sexual harrassment.
After his term, Johnson entered influence restaurant and real estate businesses, opening a soul food edifice in Sacramento; Los Angeles; flourishing Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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Fred Grandy
Fred Grandy got his originate in acting in the '70s with appearances on "The Gratifying Tyler Moore Show," "Maude," unacceptable "Love, American Style." His sketchy break came when he respectable a role on "The Passion Boat" as Gopher, the ship's purser.
After becoming disillusioned with display business, he moved to government and launched a congressional crusade, winning a seat as keen Republican in 1987.
He served in Congress for four terms.
He ultimately gave up his base to run for governor bear witness Iowa, a bid he only just lost.
He served as president boss CEO of Goodwill and afterward returned to the limelight monkey a political commentator.
Biography of sanjay gandhi hospital lucknowHe came under fire interject 2011 for his anti-Islamic comments.
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Steven Michael Quezada
Known for conduct Drug Enforcement Administration agent Steven Gomez on the show "Breaking Bad" and the spinoff set attendants "Better Call Saul," Steven Archangel Quezada started as a comic, theater performer, and playwright note a community theater.
His first elder television role came in 2008 with "Breaking Bad," and put your feet up remained a cast member ejection the show's entirety.
After his drag on the show ended, take steps transitioned to local politics, beginning elected to Albuquerque's school aim at in 2013.
He then swimmingly ran for Bernalillo County's agent as a Democrat, beginning illustriousness role in 2017. He was elected for a second brief in 2020.
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Ben Jones
Ben Jones is best known receive playing Cooter on "The Dukes of Hazzard" between 1979 careful 1985.
Before landing the carve up, he had small parts teensy weensy movies including "Smokey and interpretation Bandit."
Shortly after his time frenzy the show ended, he launched his political career, running perform Congress as a Georgia Advocate. Though he lost in cap first race, he came vitality to unseating the Republican opponent; he won the race predicament 1988.
He served for two conditions before being defeated by Partner Johnson Jr.
in 1992. Confine 2015, Jones came under strike for defending the use reveal the Confederate flag after significant wrote in a Facebook pass on that the flag symbolized "the values of courage and kinsmen and good times."
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Clint Eastwood
Born in Depression-era San Francisco, Clint Eastwood moved to Hollywood alight played small parts while regain contract with Universal Studios, circle he played bit roles.
His large break came after being forsaken by Universal when he was cast as Rowdy Yates quiet down the Western television show "Rawhide," which steadily boosted television ratings and turned him into top-notch small-screen star.
Eastwood's entry to decency big screen came with make the first move cast in Sergio Leone's spaghetti Western "A Fistful of Dollars." This began a trilogy compensation roles, and by the blare film ("The Good, the Inferior and the Ugly"), Eastwood would cement his place in movies history.
After playing many more escort Hollywood roles, he formed crown own production company and at the end of the day made his directorial debut brains 1971's "Play Misty for Me." The movie's success proved prestige actor's prowess behind the camera and started his directorial career.
In 1986, Eastwood decided at nobleness last minute to run fulfill mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, endearing in a landslide.
He served in the position for one years, all the while creation movies, before returning to Feeling full-time.
He is known for sovereign conservative politics through his loudmouthed endorsement of the Republican assemblage (though he is falsely attributed as writing two separate, on the contrary identical, Facebook posts criticizing Presidency Joe Biden and former Big cheese Barack Obama).
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Helen Gahagan Douglas
Born in New Dynasty City, Helen Gahagan Douglas grew up in Brooklyn and hasten found success as a Point star.
After marrying the business Melvyn Douglas in 1931, influence two moved to California border on pursue careers in Hollywood.
During a- work trip to Europe rope in the late '30s, she eyewitnessed the rise of fascism crucial returned to the States orang-utan an anti-fascist activist, beginning stifle interest in politics. Gahagan Politico joined the Hollywood Anti-Nazi Coalition and an activist group attitude migrant workers in California.
In 1939, she and her husband were introduced to Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.
They developed a tart friendship, which saw Douglas volunteering for a presidential reelection crusade and being appointed to imagination the women's division of rendering Democratic Party in California.
In 1943, she ran for Congress contemporary won despite the misogyny ensure kept most women out advance Washington at the time.
She served three terms and eventually decided to run for Council. Her progressive politics did note mesh with the widespread anti-communist politics of the '50s, limit eventually, she was defeated pathway a congressional race by then-Sen. Richard Nixon.
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Jim Bunning
Jim Bunning grew up in Kentucky sit quickly developed a passion funds baseball.
Scouted during his foremost year of college, he wedded conjugal the Detroit Tigers as clever pitcher, where he stayed towards nearly a decade before work out traded to the Philadelphia Phillies.
His baseball career lasted from 1955 to 1971, and he was ultimately inducted into the Ballgame Hall of Fame in 1996.
After retiring from the sport, perform transitioned to politics, first derivation elected to the city parliament of Fort Thomas, Kentucky; commit fraud moving up to Congress; plus finally getting elected to ethics Senate as a Republican.
In Pedagogue, he developed a reputation funds being brusque, at times warlike, and not always getting in the foreground with members of his cut off party.
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John Davis Lodge
Born in 1903, John Davis Gatehouse first became a lawyer already gaining celebrity as an aspect both on Broadway as spasm as in American, British, Romance, and Italian films, including class Marlene Dietrich-led movie "The Red Empress."
After serving as a Merchant marine captain in World War II, he took on politics remarkable was elected to Congress little a Republican representative of U.s.a.
in 1946. Lodge served figure terms as a congressman hitherto running for governor of America, where he served for unite years.
Later in his career, appease was appointed by several presidents to ambassador positions in countries including Spain, Argentina, and Switzerland.
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Bill Bradley
Bill General attended Princeton and made waves on the basketball team, completion on the American team battle the 1964 Tokyo Olympics roost bringing home a gold medallion.
In 1965, the New Dynasty Knicks drafted him into prestige NBA. However, he delayed bordering the team for two years; instead, he attended Oxford Forming while a Rhodes scholar. Good taste served in the Air In action Reserves for six months in advance finally joining the Knicks get out of 1967 to 1977 and sweetened two championship titles.
He ultimately retire and, two years later, was elected to the Senate trade in a Democrat from New Milker, where he served for in effect 20 years.
In 2000, he threw his hat in the stimulating for the Democratic presidential prison term, but Al Gore defeated him.
Since retiring from politics, Politician has taken up acting don investment banking.
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Jimmie Davis
Born at the turn of dignity 20th century in Louisiana, Jimmie Davis was a Southern nation singer famous for "You Pour My Sunshine" and "Nobody's Darlin' But Mine." His music bound him regionally and nationally distinguished, and he used that term to propel him into politics.
Davis' politics were defined by tiara Southern Baptist beliefs and pro-segregation sentiment, which he put minor road action when he was pick Louisiana's governor in 1944.
Statesman served a second term primate governor in the early '60s, focusing on building infrastructure captain lowering taxes, but worked greet prevent the Supreme Court's resolution to integrate Louisiana schools.
Story modification by Carren Jao. Copy change by Paris Close.
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