Actors Who Entered Politics Trivia Quiz

Answer: Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

While serving as the elected Mayor of Carmel-by the Sea, Clint also filmed "Heartbreak Ridge" (1986) and "Bird" (1988). Carmel-by-the Sea is an artist enclave of approximately 4,000 residents located south of Monterrey on the California coast. Eastwood has been a registered Republican since the early fifties. He was appointed to the California State Park and Recreation Commission by Governor Davis in 2001 and in 2004 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed him to the California Film Commission.

Clint spent his teen years in living in Piedmont, California. He played piano at a bar in Oakland, California, before he was drafted into the Army. Bakersfield, California, was the setting for his "Every Which Way But Loose" (1978) and "Any Which Way You Can" (1980)films. Former singer and actor Sonny Bono was elected Mayor of Palm Springs in 1988.

Answer: Nancy Kulp

Although Nancy Kulp appeared on many television series as a regular and guest-starred on many early television shows, she will be likely be remembered as Jane Hathaway on "The Beverly Hillbillies" through the entire run of the program. She also starred in many movies including "Shane" (1953) and "The Parent Trap" (1961). Nancy ran on the Democratic ticket in Pennsylvania but lost to Republican Bud Schuster the same year Reagan was swept into his second term. After her defeat Kulp worked at a Pennsylvania college as an Artist-in- Residence and taught acting until her death in 1991.

Lynn Hamilton played Fred Sanford's girlfriend on "Sanford and Son". Ann B. Davis played "Schultzy" on "The Bob Cummings Show" and later had the role of Alice Nelson on "The Brady Bunch" (1969). Donna Douglas played Elly May for the entire run of "The Beverly Hillbillies".

Answer: Al Lewis

Al Lewis began his acting career in Burlesque, Broadway and Vaudeville. He began getting guest roles on pioneer television shows such as "The Phil Silvers Show" (1955) and was a regular along with Fred Gwynne on "Car 54, Where Are You?" between 1961 and 1963. He rejoined Fred when he was cast on "The Munsters". After "The Munsters" went off the air, Lewis appeared as a guest on several shows and had roles in some movies. In the nineties he hosted a radio show on WBAI in New York. The political tenor of the show segued into his official bid to be New York's governor.

Fred Gwynne will be remembered as Herman Munster, but there is nothing political in his resume. Butch Patrick played Eddy Munster and owns the Grateful Dead tour bus. John Astin portrayed Gomez Addams on "The Addams Family" (1964).

Answer: Fred Grandy

Fredrick Lawrence "Fred" Grandy won his 1986 House of Representatives bid by 3,000 votes. He had a previous brush with politics when he was the best man at his friend David Eisenhower's marriage to Julie Nixon. Grandy was cast as the ship's purser, "Gopher" Smith, and was with the series for for nine years. After winning his seat at the House of Representatives he remained there for four terms and narrowly lost his bid to become Governor of Iowa by four percentage points in 1994. After his gubernatorial aspirations were not realized, Fred became the CEO of Goodwill Industries in 1995.

After his stint as Siegfried in "Get Smart" (1965) Bernie Kopell played Dr. Bricker on "The Love Boat". Theodore "Ted" William Lange was cast as the bartender on "The Love Boat" and Gavin MacLeod played Captain Merrill Stubing.

Answer: Fred Thompson

Fred Thompson defended Maria Ragghianti in a Tennessee corruption case. When the story of the scandal was made into a 1985 movie called "Marie", Fred was asked to play himself. The director of "Marie" cast Thompson as a CIA Director in "No Way Out" two years later. He went on to play a president in "Last Best Chance" and has played Ulysses S. Grant on film as well as doing the voice of Andrew Jackson for a documentary film. While he was wrapping up his senatorial term in 2002 he was cast as a district attorney on "Law and order" (1990) and stayed with the series for five years. He opted out of the series to make a run for the White House. As of 2008 Fred has appeared in over 20 films and has had guest or regular roles on over 15 television shows.

Jim Cooper was Thompson's opponent in the 1994 Senate campaign to fill Al Gore's term. During the same election year Bill Frist defeated incumbent Democrat Jim Sasser for Tennessee's other senate position.

Answer: Shirley Temple Black

Shirley Temple Black's screen credits are lengthy and legendary. She was briefly considered for Judy Garland's role in the 1939 film, "Wizard of Oz". She lost her 1967 bid for Congress to Pete McCloskey. Richard Nixon appointed her as a delegate to the United Nations two years later. While she was The United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia she witnessed the "Velvet Revolution". She also became the first Honorary Foreign Service Officer in 1987. In addition to her political career she has also served on the board of directors of several major companies.

Peggy Ann Garner appeared in her first film, "Little Miss Thoroughbred", in 1938. She appeared in films until 1978 but never entered the political arena. Jane Withers made her first film in 1932 and starred with Shirley Temple in the 1934 film, "Bright Eyes". The closest Patty Duke came to politics was being elected president of the Screen Actors Guild in 1985.

Answer: Dukes of Hazzard

Ben L. Jones played the mechanic on "Dukes of Hazzard". He frequently broke the law and was considered an honorary Duke due to his antics. He owned Cooter's Garage which was just across from the Sheriff's office and he actually went on to open a store called Cooter's Place in Virginia. He unsuccessfully challenged Pat Swindall for a seat in the United States House of Representatives representing Georgia in 1986. Two years later he beat Swindall and was re-elected in 1990, but in 1992 he was defeated in the primary. In 1994 he made a bid against Newt Gingrich garnering 35% of the votes, but losing to Gingrich. He then returned to acting and writing books. In 2002 he unsuccessfully tried for a seat in the United States House of Representatives representing Virginia, making him one of only a handful of politicians who have run for office in different states.

"BJ and the Bear" (1979) starred Greg Evigan, "Bustin' Loose" (1987) featured Jimmie Walker in a role played by Richard Pryor in the 1981 movie of the same name and "The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo" was a 1979 spin-off of "BJ and the Bear" starring Claude Akins.

Answer: George Murphy

George Murphy started working in show business on Broadway and relocated to Hollywood where he worked in films for two decades. Most of the films were Broadway-style productions. He was also President of the Screen Actors Guild in the mid-forties. In the fifties he began his political career as chairman of the California Republican State Central Committee. In 1964 he made a successful run at the US Senate. He failed in his reelection bid in 1970 and retired to Palm Springs.

Bob Dornan was Capt. Fowler on "Twelve O'Clock High" (1964) among other roles before elected to the House of Representatives. Gil Hill appeared in "Beverly Hills Cop" as Inspector Todd before being elected to the Detroit City Council in 1989. James Mason's son Morgan starred in "The Sandpiper" (1965) and other films before working at various Reagan administration jobs including Deputy Chief of Protocol at the State Department.

Answer: Jesse Ventura

Jesse Ventura has enjoyed careers in wrestling, politics, radio and acting. A former Navy Seal, Ventura was born James George Janos in Minnesota. When blood clots forced him to retire from wrestling he did color commentary for the WWF. In 1995 he began a radio talk show and worked on two stations in Minnesota before entering the race for Governor on The Reform Party. He narrowly beat two politicians in a surprise victory but he did not seek re-election. In 2002 he was hospitalized for blood clot problems and the following year he began a cable television show on MSNBC called "Jesse Ventura's America".

Sonny Landham appeared with Ventura in "Predator" and went on to run an unsuccessful campaign for Governor of Kentucky. Schwarzenegger was another "Predator" star and became Governor of California. Bob Backlund worked with Ventura in the WWF and unsuccessfully ran for Congress as a Republican representing Connecticut in 2000.

Answer: Billy Jack

Tom Laughlin's wife, Delores, co-produced and acted in all of the "Billy Jack" films. His first major role was in "The Delinquents" (1957). In 1960 he had his first stint as a director with "The Proper Time". In the 1967 film, "The Born Losers", the Billy Jack character made his first appearance. "Billy Jack" followed in 1971. "The Trial of Billy Jack" was released in 1974 and in 1977 "Billy Jack Goes to Washington" was completed. Laughlin also appeared in "The Big Sleep" in 1975 and "The Legend of the Lone Ranger" in 1981.

In 1992 He was on the ballots in Louisiana and New Hampshire as a Democratic candidate for US President. In 2004 he ran as a Republican. In addition to his political aspirations he wrote books and planned to shop another "Billy Jack" movie.

He passed away in 2013.