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Ronald Reaganwasn’t just the President of the United States. The presidency was the last in a long line of jobs for Reagan and one that allowed him to flex his acting chops and capitalize on the charisma he’d honed over years in the public sphere. Reagan didn’t enter politics without building his reputation in Hollywood, however.
Reagan made a name for himself as an ardent patriot and a man of the people. Reagan’s radio, television, and movie presence and his public persona made him the ideal choice for politics. Reagan slowly worked his way up to the national stage, establishing a reputation as a champion for conservatism. Once he became president, Reagan shaped the Republican Party with his agenda and outlook.
By the time he left office, Reagan had fully transitioned from the man in movies to the person who, for better or worse, was destined to become the subject of biopics like2024’sReaganstarring Dennis Quaid. Here’s more about how Ronald Reagan went from movie star to President of the United States.
Ronald Reagan Started His Career in Radio
Ronald Reagan, a native of Illinois,got his first broadcasting job in 1932and continued working in radio until he received his first contract from Warner Brothers in 1935.Between 1937 and 1943,Reagan appeared in dozens of moviesin lead, uncredited, and supporting roles. He also lent his voice to documentaries and shorts likeShoot Yourself Some Golfwith his first wife, Jane Wyman.
Like many fellow actors, Reaganserved in the military during World War IIwhere he used his voice and his face to support U.S. troops as part of the government’s public relations activities. Reagan quicklybecame a staple in military training videos,appearing in hundredsby the time WWII ended in 1945.Reagan was in the ears of millions and appeared on screens of all shapes and sizes. It was difficultnotto know who Reagan was, something that would only continue to be the case in the years after the War.
Ronald Reagan’s First Presidency Was With the Screen Actor’s Guild
Ronald Reagan returned to Hollywood and began making movies again. In 1947, Reagan waselected president of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). He was elected five more times in the subsequent years, serving a one-year term each time. Reagan also appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee to comment on individuals in Hollywoodaccused of communist sympathiesand the overall notion of communist interference in the motion picture industry.
Ronald Reagan’s Oscar-Nominated Movies
Going Places
Dark Victory
Sword Fishing(short)
Desperate Journey
Beyond the Line of Duty(short)
This is the Army
It’s a Great Feeling
The Hasty Heart
In 1959, when SAG entered into negotiations with studios, Reagan once again led the organization in its fight to secure fair payment. When SAG went on strike in 1960,Reagan was at the forefront of pushing for an agreement about residual payment for members.After negotiations were complete,Reagan and his second wife, Nancy(nee Davis), resigned from the board of SAG. That same year, Reagan received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a testament to his position as one of thebiggest stars in the motion picture industry.
Dennis Quaid on Playing Ronald Reagan, Making The Right Stuff, and Son Jack Quaid’s Great Career
The great Dennis Quaid spoke with MovieWeb about his long all-American career and his new film Reagan, years in the making.
From 1960 through 1964, Reagan balanced his acting career with his political ambitions. Hecampaigned for Richard Nixon in 1960 and, when he gave a televised speech in favor of presidential candidate Barry Goldwater in 1964,it officially started Reagan’s political career.
A Charismatic Screen Presence Helped Ronald Reagan Redefine Politics and the Presidency
Originally a registered Democrat, Ronald Reagan was convinced by the future “Friends of Ronald Reagan” to run as a Republicancandidate for governor of California in 1966. Reagan defeated incumbent Pat Brown by presenting himself as a non-politician hoping to make California better for its residents. Reagan won a second term as governor in 1970 andlaunched his first bid for the presidency in 1976. Reagan’s speeches were convincing, his messaging was clear, and he continued to build a name for himself in politics. The increasing use of television helped Reagan but, in 1976, he was unable to secure the Republican Party’s nomination.
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Movies are obviously fictional, but we sure wish that these cinematic presidents ran the country instead of what we often get.
Between 1977 and 1980, Reagan was an outspoken critic of President Jimmy Carter and the policies of his Democratic White House. Reagan’s second run for U.S. president featured a number of debates that sealed his place in conservative hearts and minds.In a debateagainst fellow Republican primary contender George H. W. Bush in April 1980,Reagan stood out with statements about cutting taxes, increasing productivity, and rectifying years of government overspending.
Whiledebating Carter on August 15, 2025,Reagan uttered his famous line, “Are you better off than you were four years ago?“Reagan had found his way of getting through to voters with clear and memorable lines that are still invoked today while simultaneously infusingpromises of a better future with optimism and wit.Once he was sworn into office, President Ronald Reagan pushed to boost the American economy, grow employment, and increase national defense, making him extremely popular across the U.S.
Even Ronald Reagan Thought He Was The Ideal Man To Be President
After eight years in the White House,Reagan made it clearthat he felt as though he’d met the needs of the American people as only he could, stating “I believe the same things I believed when I came to Washington, and I think those beliefs have been vindicated by the success of the policies to which we hold fast.”
Reagan may have believed everything he said, but, over time, his increasingly conservative agenda met the needs of his constituency the same way his push for labor rights helped him build prestige among his colleagues in Hollywood. Reagan’s visibility,notoriety, and voice helped him win over audiences and voters alike.
