15 Stars Who Left Hollywood for Politics or Public Office

Some performers step away from sets and red carpets to take on ballots, budgets, and diplomatic work. These are the well known faces who moved from film and television into government service or elected roles, bringing name recognition and a different kind of spotlight to public life.

Each entry below lays out the essential facts about the offices they held and when they served. You will also see a quick refresher on the screen roles that first made them familiar to audiences, with titles in single quotes for easy scanning.

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan served as Governor of California from 1967 to 1975 and later as President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Before holding elected office he led the Screen Actors Guild during two separate periods and gave frequent policy speeches that helped launch his political career.

He had been a contract star in films such as ‘Knute Rockne, All American’ and ‘Bedtime for Bonzo’ and hosted the anthology series ‘General Electric Theater’. His move into statewide office began in the mid 1960s after years of union leadership and public advocacy.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger became Governor of California after the 2003 recall election and served until 2011. He won a full term in 2006 and worked on state budget negotiations and environmental measures during his two terms.

He had headlined action hits including ‘The Terminator’, ‘Predator’, and ‘Total Recall’. His campaign used broad name recognition from decades of film work to connect with voters across the state.

Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood served as Mayor of Carmel by the Sea in California from 1986 to 1988. His term focused on local issues that included permits, public amenities, and planning decisions inside the small coastal city.

Before and after his time in city hall he starred in and directed films like ‘Dirty Harry’, ‘The Outlaw Josey Wales’, and ‘Unforgiven’. His brief period in office offered hands on municipal experience in a tightly regulated community.

Shirley Temple Black

Shirley Temple Black held several diplomatic posts including United States Ambassador to Ghana from 1974 to 1976 and Chief of Protocol from 1976 to 1977. She later served as United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1989 to 1992 during a period of major political change.

She had risen to fame in films such as ‘Bright Eyes’ and ‘Heidi’. Her transition to public service included study of international issues and work with the State Department on assignments that required negotiation and protocol expertise.

Sonny Bono

Sonny Bono served as Mayor of Palm Springs from 1988 to 1992 and then as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 until 1998. In Congress he represented a Southern California district and worked on legislation that reflected entertainment industry concerns and local priorities.

He first became famous as part of the musical duo Sonny and Cher and appeared in television variety programs tied to their recordings. He also took guest roles in projects like ‘The Golden Girls’ which kept him visible before his full move into elected office.

Fred Grandy

Fred Grandy represented Iowa in the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 1995. During his four terms he served on committees that addressed economic and policy matters important to his Midwestern district.

He was widely known to television audiences as Gopher on ‘The Love Boat’. After leaving Congress he led the national nonprofit Goodwill Industries and later returned to media work.

Fred Thompson

Fred Thompson was appointed to fill a United States Senate vacancy in 1994 and then won election to serve Tennessee through 2003. He sat on several committees and became known for oversight and judiciary work during his time in the Senate.

Earlier he appeared in films such as ‘No Way Out’ and ‘Die Hard 2’ and later joined ‘Law & Order’ as district attorney Arthur Branch. His career also included work as counsel during the Watergate era which preceded his acting and legislative service.

Helen Gahagan Douglas

Helen Gahagan Douglas served in the United States House of Representatives from California from 1945 to 1951. She ran for the United States Senate in 1950 and lost a closely watched race that became a national political touchpoint.

Before entering politics she acted on Broadway and in the film ‘She’. In Congress she worked on labor and civil rights measures and developed a reputation for speaking on foreign policy and economic issues.

George Murphy

George Murphy represented California in the United States Senate from 1965 to 1971. He was one of the first prominent Hollywood figures elected to high federal office and served a full term that covered a period of major national change.

His earlier career featured musicals such as ‘Broadway Melody of 1938’ and ‘For Me and My Gal’. He also led the Screen Actors Guild which gave him union leadership experience before his Senate run.

John Gavin

John Gavin served as United States Ambassador to Mexico from 1981 to 1986. His tenure covered trade, security, and cultural issues along a long shared border during an eventful period in bilateral relations.

He had starred in films like ‘Psycho’ and ‘Imitation of Life’. His appointment followed political involvement within his party and participation in industry organizations that bridged entertainment and public affairs.

Glenda Jackson

Glenda Jackson represented London constituencies in the United Kingdom Parliament from 1992 to 2015. She also served as a junior minister in the Department for Transport from 1997 to 1999 with responsibility for specific policy areas.

Before her election she won Academy Awards for ‘Women in Love’ and ‘A Touch of Class’. Her legislative work spanned housing, transportation, and social services across multiple parliaments.

Ben Jones

Ben Jones served in the United States House of Representatives from Georgia from 1989 to 1993. He sat on committees that addressed transportation and public works and focused on projects relevant to his district.

He was widely recognized as Cooter Davenport on ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’. He later remained active in civic life through museum and heritage efforts linked to his television career.

Kal Penn

Kal Penn joined the White House Office of Public Engagement in 2009 as an associate director and served until 2011. He later accepted an appointment to the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and participated in outreach tied to cultural programs.

He had appeared in the ‘Harold and Kumar’ films and on the series ‘House’. His shift to government service required a temporary break from acting contracts while he worked on youth and community engagement.

Alan Autry

Alan Autry served as Mayor of Fresno from 2001 to 2009 after winning election in California’s fifth largest city. His administration managed public safety budgets, downtown redevelopment, and regional economic planning during two terms.

He had starred as Bubba Skinner on the television series ‘In the Heat of the Night’. His name recognition in the Central Valley helped introduce him to voters ahead of his first mayoral run.

Sheila Kuehl

Sheila Kuehl served in the California State Assembly from 1994 to 2000 and in the California State Senate from 2000 to 2008. She later sat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from 2014 to 2022 where she worked on countywide health, transportation, and budget matters.

Earlier she acted on ‘The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis’ as Zelda Gilroy and worked in stage and television projects. Her legislative record includes significant work on education, family law, and environmental policy in the state.

Share which names surprised you most in the comments and tell us who else you would add to the list.