Politics and acting often go hand in hand, so it only makes sense that so many national and international heads of state and representatives show up in some of our favorite TV shows and movies.
From POTUS to Kings of Middle Eastern countries, entertainment consumers have been entertained, or possibly even cringed, since at least 1968, when Richard Nixon first appeared on Laugh-In.
I spent the last couple of weeks pouring over some old and not-so-old archives to bring you some of the best cameo appearances made by politicians.
Joe Biden: Parks and Recreation
President Biden has appeared in Parks and Recreation twice. His wife, Jill Biden, appeared alongside the then-Vice President in the 2015 series finale. After his first appearance on the sitcom in 2012, Amy Poehler, who plays the kooky Leslie Knope, gushed about the veep on the David Letterman Show, “He was so great. I think he’s used to a lot of crazy people. He just kind of handled it. …You learn a lot about yourself and the other person when you go in for a kiss.”
That wasn’t the politician’s first cameo appearance, though. In 1993, when Biden was a US Senator, he appeared as himself in one episode of Where in the World is Carmen San Diego.
Barack and Michelle Obama: Pitch Perfect 2
One of the funniest acts ever directed in a sequel was in the opening scene of Pitch Perfect 2 when the character “Fat Amy,” played by Rebel Wilson, performed her part of Miley Cyrus’s hit Wrecking Ball for the acapella group The Bellas. Fat Amy is hanging from a cloth rope, attempts to do aerial splits, and rips her pants right in front of none other than Barack and Michelle Obama, who are watching the performance from their box seats.
Don’t be fooled, though. Director Elizabeth Banks actually used archival footage of the First Couple with their perfectly timed frowny faces for the scene.
In addition to his appearances on Saturday Night Live and various late-night shows, the former president also appeared in one episode of Dog with a Blog in 2014.
Rudy Guiliani: Seinfeld and Borat 2
Former New York City mayor Rudy Guiliani has appeared in thirteen TV shows and movies. His most recent appearance in the 2020 satirical comedy Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (or Borat 2) raised several questions about his compromising behavior with the actor playing Borat’s daughter, who is posing as a journalist.
Before this unfortunate appearance, the once-respected public figure made twelve other cameo showings, dating back to 1993, when he played himself in a Seinfeld episode and vowed to appoint a special task force to investigate the amount of fat in yogurt.
Richard Nixon: Laugh-In
Nowadays, it’s common to see elected civil servants on different talk shows, from Bill Clinton playing the sax on Arsenio Hall to Barack Obama singing slow jams on Jimmy Fallon. However, in the early days of television, no respectable politician would have been caught dead on a sketch comedy or late-night show. That changed in 1968 when Richard Nixon appeared on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In.
The NBC hit, premiering the previous year, was a variety show that combined outlandish sketches, fast-paced zingers, and musical performances. Nixon delivered his famous line “Sock it to me,” and television, or politics, was never the same again.
Jesse Jackson: A Different World
The Reverend Jesse Jackson has been in the spotlight for many years, first as a civil rights activist working with Martin Luther King, Jr and then as a politician, running for president of the United States twice and serving as a shadow delegate and senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997.
However, I bet you didn’t know he also appeared in the 1980s sitcom A Different World, portraying himself and speaking about the importance of voting and youth’s impact on elections. He also appeared in one episode of the children’s cartoon Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child as Cocky Locky in 1999.
Al Sharpton: Malcolm X
You can add “actor” to the long list of roles that the Reverend Al Sharpton has performed. The civil rights leader, Baptist minister, social justice activist, and radio talk show host has made four cameos in TV shows and movies during his lifetime. The first of which occurred in 1992, when he played “Speaker #2” in the riveting biography of Malcolm X.
His three other credits are of him playing himself in Adam Sandler’s Mr. Deeds, Get On Up, and Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail.
King Abdullah II of Jordan: Star Trek Voyager
Obviously not an American politician, but an interesting head of state figure nonetheless, King Abdullah II of Jordan made a cameo appearance in Star Trek Voyager in 1996, season 2, episode 20. His US advisor arranged the appearance as a surprise for the prince.
Only 34 years old at the time, the Jordanian royalty was not given any lines to speak because he was not a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild, but he enthused, “I would have been thrilled just to visit the set, but this is too much.”
Michael Dukakis: Cheers
As the longest-serving Governor of Massachusetts, Michael Dukakis experienced multiple accomplishments and some disappointments along the way, but he also got to star as himself in one of the funniest sitcoms to ever air: Cheers.
In 1991, Dukakis appeared alongside Kelsey Grammar and Bebe Neuwirth in season 9, episode 18, in “Sam Time Next Year.” The former governor left office in January of 1991, one month prior to when the episode aired.
Al Gore: 30 Rock
Former Vice President Al Gore has made multiple TV appearances throughout the years, but most notable is his performance as a janitor on NBC’s hit sitcom 30 Rock. His character likes to speak in made-up “African proverbs,” confusing the studio’s page, Kenneth, played by Jack McBrayer. He made another appearance in 2007 on the sitcom, playing himself.
Gore also voiced the Futurama character of “Al Gore’s Head” in five episodes, airing from 2000 to 2023, and we can’t forget the one episode of Bupkis, starring comedian Pete Davidson and Edie Falco, where he made an appearance.
Bill Clinton: The Simpsons
There might not be a US president who has made more appearances or made mention of in a cartoon than Bill Clinton. The former leader made his Simpson debut in the episode entitled “I Love Lisa,” but more famously played his saxophone in “Hey Clinton, Get Back to Work!” and he quips “Bite me” in true Bart Simpson fashion. However, the cartoon has been voiced by three other actors and not the former president.
According to IMDb, Clinton also has an uncredited cameo appearance in the 1996 kid’s movie First Kid, starring Sinbad.
Three Former Secretaries of State: Madame Secretary
Three former real-life Secretaries of State, Hillary Clinton, Colin Powell, and Madeleine Albright, appeared in the season premiere of Madame Secretary in 2018. They each gave fictional Secretary Elizabeth McCord, played by Tea Leoni, sage advice on the rise of white nationalism.
“I think what we’re all saying is talk about what unites us,” Clinton says to Leoni’s character in the episode. “Even in this moment of peril, remind Americans of our nation’s original motto, something that I think about a lot and which seems more important today than ever: E Pluribus Unum.”
Hillary Clinton: 3 Cameo Appearances
Former First Lady, Secretary of State, and US Senator has been impersonated multiple times on Saturday Night Live by various talented comedians throughout the years. She has also made two cameo appearances in the late-night sketch comedy show, appearing as herself. She came face to face with herself, played by Kate McKinnon, while portraying a bartender sharing political gossip and participating in some lively singing.
However, that’s not her only cameo appearance on television. The prolific politician appeared in the 2018 reboot of Murphy Brown as Hilary Clendon, declaring, “That’s Hilary with one L.” To top it off, in season 3, episode 5 of Broad City, she makes yet another appearance as herself when she walks into her New York campaign office and blows the collective minds of best friends Ilana and Abbi.
Elizabeth Warren: Saturday Night Live
In 2020, shortly after Senator Warren concluded her bid for President of the United States, she appeared on Saturday Night Live as herself. The hilarious Kate McKinnon, portraying Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham, interviewed the Democratic candidate.
Warren joked about who she would endorse, quipping, “Maybe I’ll pull a New York Times and endorse them both,” and bragged about giving billionaire Michael Bloomberg a swirly on live TV. Before ending, McKinnon quickly changed characters, transformed herself into her Warren impersonation, and ran onto the screen so the two Elizabeths could greet each other face to face.
Sarah Palin: Saturday Night Live
In 2008, Sarah Palin was the running mate of the late Senator John McCain for his presidential bid. To help promote their candidacy, Palin made a cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Report with Seth Meyers. Rather than performing the original outlined script, Palin opted for the very pregnant comedian Amy Poehler to perform a rap instead.
Upon his departure from the late-night show, Meyers shared with Today, “I would say the most, like, historic moment for me was when the actual Sarah Palin was on the show and Amy Poehler, who was like nine months pregnant, was like hard-core rapping in Sarah Palin’s face.”
Justin Trudeau: Peace by Chocolate
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has the looks made for the big screen but chose to follow in his father’s steps and pursue a life of politics instead after a brief stint as an educator first. However, the swoon-worthy leader to our north made a cameo appearance in an independent film by the name of Peace by Chocolate.
The movie, released in 2021, follows the story of a charming young Syrian man whose father’s chocolate factory is bombed, and the whole family becomes refugees. Trapped between preserving his family’s legacy and following his dreams, the young man has a decision to make.
Michael Bloomberg: 8 Cameo Appearances
Former New York City Mayor and billionaire Michael Bloomberg has made eight cameo appearances as himself on television and the big screen. His most recent appearance occurred in 2021 when he appeared in the television series The Good Fight, starring Christine Baranski.
Other notable cameos include 2011’s The Adjustment Bureau, SNL, The Good Wife, Curb Your Enthusiasm with Larry David, 30 Rock, and, of course, his two appearances in Law and Order. This begs the question–has there been a NYC mayor who hasn’t been in an episode of L&O?
Patrick Leahy: Batman Series
Vermont’s elected Senator Patrick Leahy has made multiple cameo appearances in the Batman movies and even provided the voice for the Old West governor cartoon character in the animated series in 1992. His first cameo appearance was in 1997’s Batman and Robin, starring George Clooney (Batman) and Uma Thurman (Poison Ivy). Viewers can spot him in the crowd of the Jungle Party scene.
The 83-year-old public servant is a lifelong fan of the comic book hero and delivered a great line to the Joker, played by the late Heath Ledger, in 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises, declaring, “We’re not intimidated by thugs,” and immediately having the Joker grab his head and threaten him with his preferred weapon.
Tip O’Neill: Dave and Cheers
In 1993, a quirky comedy featuring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver was released. Dave is a presidential lookalike recruited by the Secret Service to become a stand-in for the actual President of the United States.
The late Massachusetts Senator and the 47th Speaker of the House, Thomas “Tip” O’Neill, makes a cameo appearance during the “balancing the budget” scene when Dave and many other elected public servants discuss the nation’s budget with the eyes and cameras of multiple journalists on them.
However, his first cameo was in the beloved Boston-based sitcom Cheers in 1983, in an episode titled “No Contest.” In the scene, he ducks into the bar to avoid pesky questions fired at him by the idealistic waitress, Diane Chambers.
Stacy Abrams: 3 Cameo Appearances
Stacy Abrams is a former Georgia House of Representative who served as the Minority Leader from 2011-2017. Abrams was also the Democratic nominee in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election, narrowly losing to her Republican rival. Since her bid for governor, she has also made three cameo appearances, if you count only hearing her voice on the sitcom Black-ish an appearance.
Abrams first appeared in Star Trek: Discovery, season 4, episode 13, where she plays the President of the United Earth, delivering her first line of the show, “Nothing to discuss. United Earth is ready right now to rejoin the federation. And nothing could make me happier to say those words.”
Her second appearance was in Curb Your Enthusiasm earlier this year, in the episode “The Lawn Jockey,” in which Larry David finds himself in Atlanta, staying in a rental home with a questionable lawn ornament.
John McCain: 7 Cameo Appearances
The late Arizona Senator and presidential hopeful made four cameo appearances. The first one was in 2005’s Wedding Crashers, in which he shakes hands and congratulates the bride’s parents, played by Christopher Walken and Jane Seymour.
In 2006, he appeared ever so briefly in Fox’s Homeland Security hit drama 24, starring Keifer Sutherland. He told Slate before its airing, “Don’t blink.” The bit was that small. He also appeared three times on Saturday Night Live, once as the host and twice as himself, starring alongside Tina Fey’s impersonation of his running mate, Sarah Palin, notably lampooning his presidential campaigns.
Like many other public figures and politicians, he also appeared in two different Parks and Recreation episodes. The most notable of the two aired in 2012 when he met Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) in the coat closet, where he attempts to comfort the cranky Leslie. Fellow US elected officials Barbara Boxer and Olympia Snowe also appeared in the episode.
John Kerry: Cheers
In 1992, Senator John Kerry, like many other politicians from Massachusetts, did a guest spot on Cheers. In the episode, Norm and Cliff are excited to run into who they mistook for a local news anchorman, telling him they are huge fans of his. Kerry offers them an autograph, and they are excited until Kerry correctly identifies himself.
“No, I’m John Kerry. Senator Kerry? From Massachusetts?” The two awkwardly decline the autograph upon that revelation and walk away, leaving Kerry looking befuddled.
Arnold Schwarzenegger: Terminator Salvation
We all know who “The Arnold” is and his rise to fame as the terrifying futuristic fighting machine T-800 created by Skynet in the Terminator franchise. However, after the Austrian-born actor became governor of California, he briefly appeared in Terminator Salvation, roughing up the now-grown John Connor, played by Christian Bale.
Well, that’s what the movie makers wanted you to believe! Thanks to some excellent special effects, his likeness was superimposed onto bodybuilder Roland Kickinger’s body. Due to the governor’s busy schedule, he could not reprise his role in the five-film chronology. I have to wonder though, will he ever be back?
Chuck Schumer: 3 Cameo Appearances
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Charles “Chuck” Schumer has made three cameo appearances throughout his tenure as an American politician. In 2008, he appeared as himself in the Law and Order: Criminal Intent episode “Betrayal.”
He made his second cameo in Prime’s short-lived comedy Alpha House, which starred John Goodman and a host of talented comedians, including Wanda Sykes and Bill Murray. Last but certainly not least, in 2014, he appeared alongside Juliana Margulies in The Good Wife.
The co-showrunner, Robert King, told the Chicago Sun-Times, “We were doing an episode about how politicians are pushed to use faith in their campaigns, and we needed two politicians who were truly religious,” said King, who also tapped Jewish U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, for a cameo. “We needed to contrast them with our fictional Alicia Florrick, who was being pushed to use her ‘faith,’ or in her case, her lack of faith, cynically.
Sonny Bono: First Kid
Sonny Bono wasn’t always a conservative politician representing the state of California. His career began as an actor, composer, and singer/songwriter, rising to stardom with his second wife, Cher, on the Sonny and Cher show. However, after pursuing a career in politics, becoming mayor of Palm Springs, and then serving as a US Representative, he wasn’t in Hollywood circles as much.
Nonetheless, he did make a cameo appearance as Congressman Bono in the 1996 kid’s comedy First Kid, starring Sinbad. Bono tragically passed away two years later from injuries suffered in a skiing accident in South Lake Tahoe, California.