TV Stars Turned Politicians

From Prime-Time to Politics

Did you know that before he hosted his eponymous chair-throwing, fist-flying <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/jerry-springer/62931/main' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>talk show</font></a>, <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/jerry-springer/265399' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Jerry Springer</font></a> was the mayor of Cincinnati? Going from politician to TV star may be an unusual path, but the opposite route is actually quite common. Here are 13 stars who made -- or tried to make -- the leap from primetime to politics.

From Prime-Time to Politics

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/kevin-powell/293234' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Kevin Powell</font></a>

<b>Running for:</b> New York congressman, present

Original <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/the-real-world/243272/main' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>'Real World'</font></a> cast member Powell decided to stop being polite and start getting real in early '08, when he declared his intent to run for congress. It's only a matter of time before other MTV reality stars try their luck at elected office -- Ombudsman <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/tila-tequila/533301' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Tila Tequila</font></a>, anyone?

From Prime-Time to Politics

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/al-franken/90380' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Al Franken</font></a>

<b>Running for:</b> Minnesota Senate, 2007-present

Franken's a true Jack-of-all-trades: He's written for and appeared on <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/saturday-night-live/62573/main' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>&#39;Saturday Night Live,&#39;</font></a> hosted a radio show on Air America, and penned five bestselling books. Now he hopes to add "senator" to that list. Naturally, he affirms himself by repeating that he's good enough, he's smart enough, and doggone it, people like him!

From Prime-Time to Politics

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/fred-dalton-thompson/70694' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Fred Thompson</font></a>

<b>Ran for:</b> U.S. President, 2007-2008

The former <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/law-and-order/167770/main' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>&#39;Law & Order&#39;</font></a> star's recent, ultimately futile bid for the Republican presidential nomination was far from his first foray into politics. Thompson advised the Senate committee that investigated the Watergate scandal in 1973 and was a senator himself from 1994 to 2003.

From Prime-Time to Politics

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/stephen-colbert/304938' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Stephen Colbert</font></a>

<b>Ran for: </b>U.S. President, 2007

The fake pundit's White House dreams were cut short when South Carolina's Democratic Party refused to add him to their primary ballot, declaring that he wasn't a serious candidate. He still has the distinction of being the only presidential hopeful sponsored by Doritos.

From Prime-Time to Politics

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/gavin-macleod/44272' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Gavin MacLeod</font></a>

<b>Serving as:</b> Honorary Mayor of Pacific Palisades, 2006-present

<a href='http://television.aol.com/show/the-love-boat/62733/main' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>&#39;The Love Boat&#39;</font></a> Captain Merrill Stubing set a course for a new adventure when he became the Los Angeles district's honorary mayor. The illustrious office has also been held by actors like <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/rita-moreno/50535' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Rita Moreno</font></a>, <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/steve-guttenberg/29352' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Steve Guttenburg</font></a> and MacLeod's <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/the-mary-tyler-moore-show/62539/main' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>&#39;Mary Tyler Moore Show&#39;</font></a> costar <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/ted-knight/38822' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Ted Knight</font></a>.

From Prime-Time to Politics

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/jesse-ventura/73281' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Jesse Ventura</font></a>

<b>Served as:</b> Governor of Minnesota, 1998-2002

"The Body" became "The Governing Body" when the former pro wrestler pile-drove his opponents into submission and won the governorship of Minnesota. Reportedly, he's now in talks to host his own <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/judge-judy/51292/main' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>'Judge Judy'</font></a>-esque court show. We can only hope the series will mark Ventura's transition from suits back to spandex.

From Prime-Time to Politics

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/al-lewis/42170' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Al Lewis</font></a>

<b>Ran for:</b> Governor of New York, 1998

The lovable patriarch from <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/the-munsters/62915/main' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>&#39;The Munsters&#39;</font></a> made no attempt to separate himself from his televised past during his failed bid for Governor of the Empire State. In fact, Lewis specifically requested to be listed as "Grandpa Al Lewis" on ballots, since, he asserted, that's how most voters knew him best.

From Prime-Time to Politics

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/sonny-bono/82419' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Sonny Bono</font></a>

<b>Served as:</b> California congressman, 1995-1998

When <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/the-sonny-and-cher-comedy-hour/761741/main' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>'Sonny and Cher'</font></a> was in its '70s heyday, nobody would have guessed that one half of the duo would eventually win an Oscar, while the other would rise all the way to the House of Representatives. But Bono did just that, after serving as the mayor of Palm Springs from 1988 to 1992. His Washington beat went on until his death in 1998.

From Prime-Time to Politics

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/howard-stern/68057' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Howard Stern</font></a>

<b>Ran for:</b> Governor of New York, 1994

It would have been truly stunning if shock jock Stern had fully committed to his campaign for Governor of New York. Instead, the "King of All Media" dropped out of the race early after refusing to disclose his finances. At least we'll always have <a href='http://www.moviefone.com/movie/private-parts/3586/main' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>&#39;Private Parts.&#39;</font></a>

From Prime-Time to Politics

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/ben-jones/36051' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Ben Jones</font></a>

<b>Served as:</b> Georgia congressman, 1988-1992

The logical next step for anyone who's played a character nicknamed "Crazy Cooter" is, clearly, running for congress. <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/the-dukes-of-hazzard/228313/main' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>&#39;Dukes of Hazzard&#39;</font></a> actor Jones served two terms and ran for reelection again in 1994, only to be defeated by Newt Gingrich. If only Bo, Luke and Daisy had been around to lend a hand.

From Prime-Time to Politics

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/fred-grandy/122753' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Fred Grandy</font></a>

<b>Served as:</b> Iowa congressman, 1986-1995

There must have been something in the water -- Grandy, <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/gavin-macleod/44272' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Gavin MacLeod&#39;s</font></a> <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/the-love-boat/62733/main' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>&#39;Love Boat&#39;</font></a> co-star, also dabbled in politics when he ran for House Representative from Iowa in 1986. Even before his successful bid, Grandy had an impressive political pedigree; his boarding school roommate was David Eisenhower, grandson of the former president.

From Prime-Time to Politics

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/nancy-kulp/39571' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Nancy Kulp</font></a>

<b>Ran for:</b> Pennsylvania congress, 1984

As Miss Jane Hathaway on <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/the-beverly-hillbillies/62464/main' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>&#39;The Beverly Hillbillies,&#39;</font></a> Nancy Kulp had her hands full with those crazy Clampetts. Her attempted political career wasn't nearly as long lasting as the show that made her famous -- Kulp's Republican opponent won a decisive 67% of the vote.

From Prime-Time to Politics

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/george-takei/69644' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>George Takei</font></a>

<b>Ran for:</b> City Council of Los Angeles, 1973

On TV, Takei's deep, authoritative voice and stern face make his iconic characters, Mr. Sulu on <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/star-trek/233437/main' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>&#39;Star Trek&#39;</font></a> and Kaito Nakamura on <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/heroes/942757/main' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>&#39;Heroes,&#39;</font></a> forces to be reckoned with. In the political arena, the star hasn't been quite as successful -- he lost his bid for Los Angeles City Council in the '70s by just 1,647 votes. Maybe Hiro will travel back in time and change history again.