15 Actors Who Played Multiple U.S. Presidents

Playing a commander in chief once is tough enough. Doing it for more than one real president is a whole other challenge. Across films, limited series, stage productions, and sketch or voice work, a surprising number of performers have stepped into the shoes of different leaders from different eras. The results often show up in history dramas, courtroom stories, and even family adventures, along with late night sketches and animated satire.

This list gathers actors who portrayed more than one actual U.S. president on screen or on stage. You will find serious biographical roles, quick cameos that anchor a pivotal moment, and long running impressions that helped define how audiences remember certain administrations. Titles are included so you can track down the performances that interest you most.

Anthony Hopkins

Anthony Hopkins played Richard Nixon in ‘Nixon’, a feature that follows the president from early ambition through the pressures and fallout of Watergate. The film spends time inside the White House and shows the inner circle that shaped major decisions during a tumultuous period. Hopkins’s scenes cover cabinet struggles, press crises, and the ways Nixon managed political allies and rivals.

He also portrayed John Quincy Adams in ‘Amistad’, appearing as the former president years after his term while serving in the House of Representatives. The story centers on the legal battle over the slave ship and Adams’s argument before the Supreme Court. His courtroom speech, meetings with the legal team, and interactions with abolitionists frame how a onetime president worked within the system to influence a landmark case.

Robin Williams

Robin Williams appeared as Dwight D. Eisenhower in ‘The Butler’, joining a lineup of presidents shown through the eyes of a longtime White House staffer. His scenes include discussions about civil rights, the Cold War climate, and routine briefings that structure life inside the executive mansion. The film uses each administration to mark changing policies over decades.

He also played Theodore Roosevelt in the ‘Night at the Museum’ films, where a wax figure of the president comes to life after hours. The character guides the night guard through the museum, gives practical advice, and jumps into comedic action set pieces. References to the Rough Riders, cavalry gear, and period details point back to Roosevelt’s image as a larger than life leader.

Hal Holbrook

Hal Holbrook headlined the television miniseries ‘Lincoln’, which traced Abraham Lincoln’s political path and the strain of the Civil War. The production focuses on cabinet meetings, military dispatches, and the personal toll of leadership. It follows the president’s work on the Emancipation Proclamation and the legislative maneuvering around it.

Holbrook also played John Adams in ‘The Adams Chronicles’, a historical series that covers the early years of the republic. The episodes follow Adams through diplomacy, debates over federal power, and the challenges of the presidency in a young nation. The show uses letters and congressional scenes to illustrate how policy took shape in the early government.

Bob Gunton

Bob Gunton portrayed Richard Nixon in ‘Elvis Meets Nixon’, a dramatization of the famous White House visit where the singer sought a federal badge. The role includes Oval Office staging, security procedures, and the meeting that produced the well known photograph. The film recreates staff back and forth that led to the unusual appointment.

He also appeared as Woodrow Wilson in ‘Iron Jawed Angels’, which tells the story of the women’s suffrage movement in the final push toward a constitutional amendment. Gunton’s Wilson is shown weighing political pressure, public protest, and party priorities. The film places the presidency in the middle of demonstrations, arrests, and negotiations that built momentum for change.

Brian Keith

Brian Keith played Theodore Roosevelt in ‘The Wind and the Lion’, which follows an international kidnapping crisis that draws in the White House. His Roosevelt is shown in strategy meetings, press encounters, and a mix of diplomacy and force projection. The production uses cabinet offices and outdoor settings to emphasize the president’s energetic style.

Keith also portrayed William McKinley in ‘Rough Riders’, a miniseries about the volunteer cavalry during the Spanish American War. Scenes move between front line developments and decisions in Washington. The portrayal links McKinley’s role as commander in chief with the rise of Roosevelt, who appears as a central figure in the series.

Benjamin Walker

Benjamin Walker starred as Andrew Jackson in the Broadway musical ‘Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson’, which presents the presidency through a modern rock staging. The show highlights populist campaigning, cabinet shakeups, and the controversies that defined the Jackson years. Songs and scenes spotlight debates over federal power and policy choices.

Walker also took on Abraham Lincoln in ‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’, a fantasy action film that reimagines the president’s life with a supernatural threat. The story blends real historical milestones with the film’s central conflict. Sets move from frontier towns to government halls while keeping recognizable figures and symbols from the era.

Dan Aykroyd

On ‘Saturday Night Live’, Dan Aykroyd portrayed Jimmy Carter in recurring sketches that featured call ins, press briefings, and televised addresses. The show used Carter’s public appearances to set up audience questions and policy explanations. Aykroyd’s segments often placed the president in everyday problem solving with callers and reporters.

He also played Richard Nixon in ‘Saturday Night Live’ sketches that revisited campaign moments and White House episodes. The bits used familiar backdrops like podiums, press rooms, and Oval Office recreations. The show’s format let Aykroyd switch between presidents across seasons depending on the topic of the week.

Phil Hartman

Phil Hartman became a go to Ronald Reagan on ‘Saturday Night Live’, appearing in sketches that riffed on news conferences and staff meetings. The show built jokes around economic updates, foreign policy briefings, and televised statements. Hartman’s version interacted with cabinet members, handlers, and journalists in fast moving scenes.

He also portrayed Bill Clinton on the same show, including the well known fast food walk and late night phone calls. The bits put the president in diners, offices, and town hall settings while referencing current headlines. The production routinely updated the scenarios to mirror campaign stops and White House routines.

Darrell Hammond

Darrell Hammond took over Bill Clinton on ‘Saturday Night Live’ for many years, showing up in campaign specials, cold opens, and guest segments. His appearances covered debates, interviews, and State of the Union reactions. The show used real world events to stage quick turn sketches week after week.

Hammond later played Donald Trump on the program before passing the role to other cast members and guests. He handled rally setups, talk show parodies, and behind the scenes planning in the lead up to major news moments. The flexibility of the format let him revisit different presidents as the political calendar shifted.

Jason Sudeikis

Jason Sudeikis portrayed George W. Bush on ‘Saturday Night Live’, appearing in addresses to the nation and press room bits. The sketches featured policy catch ups, war updates, and visits with international leaders. The show placed the president at a podium or in desk setups to mirror real broadcasts.

He also played Joe Biden on the same series during his time as a national figure on the ticket and in office. Sudeikis appeared in debate mockups, late night interviews, and joint events with other characters. The production rotated him into cold opens and update segments whenever headlines called for a response.

James Austin Johnson

James Austin Johnson joined ‘Saturday Night Live’ with a widely noted Donald Trump impression that quickly became a centerpiece of the show’s political sketches. He has performed in rally scenes, town halls, and talk show setups that track ongoing campaign cycles. The character appears in frequent cold opens tied to the week’s news.

Johnson also portrays Joe Biden on the program, switching between the podium and informal settings like rope lines and off the cuff chats. The show often pairs him with cabinet figures and reporters to mirror press interactions. His dual roles let the writers stage direct contrasts between administrations in a single episode.

James Cromwell

James Cromwell played George H. W. Bush in ‘W.’, a feature that follows the younger Bush’s rise and the family dynamic around Texas politics and the presidency. Cromwell’s scenes include private conversations, campaign moments, and White House meetings that shaped key choices. The film uses cabinet tables and residence spaces to frame those discussions.

He also portrayed Lyndon B. Johnson in a television film centered on Robert F. Kennedy, stepping into Oval Office scenes that reflect tensions inside the Democratic Party. The role shows policy disagreements, party strategy sessions, and the complexity of succession within the same political era. The production uses archival style staging to ground the timeline.

Andrew Duggan

Andrew Duggan appeared as Dwight D. Eisenhower in ‘Backstairs at the White House’, a miniseries that views administrations through the experiences of residence staff. His scenes cover daily routines, security, and ceremonial events inside the mansion. The show moves from kitchen corridors to formal rooms to show how the house operates during a presidency.

Duggan also portrayed Lyndon B. Johnson in another project, taking on the role during a period marked by party realignment and domestic upheaval. His performance places the president in meetings about legislation and public messaging. The depiction uses cabinet offices and press settings to anchor the story in real government spaces.

Dan Castellaneta

Dan Castellaneta has voiced multiple presidents on ‘The Simpsons’, including George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton in episodes that parody real news. The animated format brings presidents into Springfield for neighborhood run ins, school visits, and publicity tours. Episodes mix recognizable catchphrases with the show’s fictional settings.

He has also filled in for other presidential cameos on the series when scripts call for quick cutaways or historical flashbacks. These appearances put the office in everyday suburban situations to produce contrast for the jokes. The show’s long run allows returning characters to pop up whenever a story needs them.

Jeff Bergman

Jeff Bergman voices Donald Trump on ‘Our Cartoon President’, a satire that follows the White House through staff squabbles and media cycles. The series shows cabinet offices, press rooms, and motorcade staging within an animated version of Washington. Episodes keep pace with ongoing political news and campaign events.

Bergman also voices Joe Biden on the same show, appearing in debate spoofs and behind the scenes party meetings. The production uses split narratives to track both administrations and campaign operations. The voice work supports fast edits between rallies, late night tweets, and policy rollouts inside a stylized capital.

Share your favorite examples in the comments and tell us which performance surprised you the most.