Hail to the Chief, it’s President’s Day!
Presidents in film and TV have always fascinated us, from the heroic to the hilarious to the scandalous.
So check out our list of our favorite fictional commanders in chief!
James Marsden as Cal Bradford in Paradise
PARADISE – “The Day” – Sinatra and Xavier confront the past, returning to the harrowing day that brought them to Paradise. (Disney/Brian Roedel)JAMES MARSDEN
It’s hard to get to know President Bradford, or Cal if you’re buds with him like Sterling K. Brown’s character, because his death kicks of the plot of “Paradise.” But as we learn about him throughout the series, we see him go from a seemingly do nothing leader who barely wanted the job to a decisive leader in the face of an international crisis. Marsden did so well in the role he earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
Bill Pullman as Thomas J. Whitmore in Independence Day
Bill Pullman in “Independence Day.” (Courtesy: 20th Century Fox)
Bill Pullman as President Whitmore in “Independence Day” is easily one of the most if not the most inspiring on this list. After Earth is devastated by an alien attack, Whitmore rallies a small band of pilots with one of the best speeches ever committed to film. Try not to cheer when he insists, “We will not go quietly into the night! Will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive! Today, we celebrate Independence Day!”
Dennis Haysbert as David Palmer in 24
Dennis Haysbert in “24.” (Courtesy: Fox)
It’s nice to have the soothing voice of Dennis Haysbert’s President Palmer, while his right hand man Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) races around stopping various threats, including an assassination attempt in the first season before Palmer officially won the vote. Fun fact: Haysbert was considered so trustworthy by audiences he later became a spokesperson for Allstate Insurance for several years.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer in Veep
Julia Louis-Dreyfus in “Veep.” (Courtesy: HBO)
Is she good at her job? No. Is she kind? No. Is she absolutely hilarious? Yes. Julia Louis-Dreyfus delivered amazingly foul-mouthed quips with ease, beginning the show as the vice president before finally being elected to lead office in later seasons. But the change from Veep to President did nothing to damper her acerbic wit and scheming ways.
Harrison Ford as James Marshall in Air Force One
Gary Oldman aiming gun at Harrison Ford in a scene from the film ‘Air Force One’, 1997. (Photo by Columbia Pictures/Getty Images)
Only Harrison Ford could deliver the growling “Get off my plane!” as he kicked butt against Russian hijackers in this action thriller. Ford’s President Marshall is a hero many times over, from being a veteran to risking his own life to keep civilians and his family safe from the hijackers.
Michael Douglas as Andrew Shepherd in The American President
Michael Douglas listening to Director Rob Reiner in between scenes from the film ‘The American President’, 1995. (Photo by Universal/Getty Images)
Michael Douglas is maybe the most charming president on this list, winning elections and the heart of a lobbyist, played by Annette Bening. But romance and politics rarely mix, and their relationship is nearly pulled apart by the political process. Thankfully, President Shepherd makes the right decisions with his mind and heart in the end.
Martin Sheen as Josiah “Jed” Bartlet in The West Wing
Martin Sheen on “The West Wing.” (Courtesy: NBC)
Much like Douglas’ President Shepherd, Martin Sheen’s President Bartlet reminds us that at the end of the day, even the president is just a person. (Both characters were written by Aaron Sorkin so that explains the connection). President Bartlet had a way with words and was as warm and engaging as a political figure could be on screen.
Kiefer Sutherland as Tom Kirkland in Designated Survivor
DESIGNATED SURVIVOR – “Brace for Impact” – In the nail-biting season finale, Hannah Wells must stop the conspiracy from carrying out a final attack while President Kirkman authorizes a nationwide manhunt for the mastermind behind it all, on Walt Disney Television’s “Designated Survivor,” SUNDAY, MAY 17 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on the Walt Disney Television Network. (Ben Mark Holzberg/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)KIEFER SUTHERLAND
Kiefer Sutherland went from playing a secret agent on “24” to taking on the highest office in the land in “Designated Survivor.” Kirkland takes office after an explosion during the State of the Union wipes out the president and everyone in the line of presidential succession except him (designated survivors are a real thing btw!). It’s powerful to see someone who didn’t seek the office take on the presidency, especially following a tragedy.
Tony Goldwyn as Fitzgerald “Fitz” Thomas Grant III in Scandal
SCANDAL – “Yes” — The Pope and Associates team dives into a new case that takes Olivia out of D.C. and away from the President. Meanwhile, back at the White House, Fitz is determined to find who’s responsible for causing the latest turn of events, and Abby receives unexpected guidance from a master of damage control as she struggles to catch a break, on “Scandal,” THURSDAY OCTOBER 1 (9:00–10:00 p.m., ET) on the Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Television Network. (Photo by Eric McCandless/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
Again, is he the best person? No. Is he faithful to his wife? Not even remotely. But is it darn entertaining to watch him canoodle with Kerry Washington’s fixer Olivia Pope in secret? Absolutely. Tony Goldwyn is undeniably charismatic, but who knows how well the country really fared while he was chasing Olivia.
Morgan Freeman as Tom Beck in Deep Impact
Morgan Freeman giving a speech at The White House in a scene from the film ‘Deep Impact’, 1998. (Photo by Paramount Pictures/Getty Images)
Another president with a soothing voice is probably the only way anyone survived the impending asteroid in “Deep Impact.” Some may argue he made mistakes along the way trying to split the asteroid with nuclear bombs, but he was faced with pretty much impossible choices, attempting to save as much of humanity as he could.
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