Politicians are not born, they become politicians. The most famous of the actors who have risen to the top of the political Olympus is probably twice the US President Ronald Reagan.
The following ten biographies show how extraordinary individuals often find themselves in important public positions.
10. The man who made his way from the "Boat of Love" to the US House of Representatives
Fred Grandi is well known as a theater and film actor. The epics "Charlie's Angels", "Boat of Love", "Law and Order" have long won the love of the public.
Much less is known that he wrote speeches for the deputies of Iowa for a long time. Having completed work on the set of Love Boats in 1986, Fred was successfully elected to the US House of Representatives. Moreover, he worked four terms in the House, which is a very good achievement even for “born politicians”.
9. The pornstar who "served" in the Italian parliament
An actress of Hungarian origin Anna Ilona Staller is better known to the public under the Italian pseudonym "Cicciolina" as a performer of a very dubious genre. This did not stop her in 1987 from being successfully elected to the Italian parliament.
Twenty thousand votes have shown that it is more pleasant for people to admire female charms than to watch the horrors of “local wars” live. Cicciolina herself in 2002 stated that she was "ready to surrender to Hussein if this helps to avoid war."
8. From a rock star to an important politician
Australian musician Peter Garrett was known not only to music lovers. The lyrics of his songs always sounded motifs inconvenient to politicians. An activist of many voluntary organizations, an environmentalist, he is also known as a TV presenter and public figure.
In November 2007, the newly elected Prime Minister of Australia immediately appointed Peter as Minister of the Environment and the Arts. And in 2010, Garrett took the post of Minister of School Education, Childhood and Youth.
7. Brazilian clown - and a popular congressman
In the October 2010 Brazilian congressional election, professional clown Francisco Everado Oliveria Silva (known to the public as the "Grumbler") offered voters a slogan: "There won’t be any worse!" And he doubled the votes of his closest competitor, gaining a million three hundred thousand votes and scoring a landslide victory.
They tried to prevent grumble before the elections on suspicion that Silva was allegedly illiterate. But voters decided that the comedian’s oral reports would be enough.
6. Professional wrestler elected by the governor
Rock group bodyguard, professional wrestling fighter, marine. That was James George Janos. He is better known to the public under the pseudonym “Jesse Ventura”, nicknamed “The Body”. Leaving the ring due to illness, Jesse worked as a commentator, film actor and television presenter.
In 1990, Jess ran for mayor - and successfully worked in this position for four years. From 1999 to 2003, he announced his candidacy for the Minnesota gubernatorial election - and also successfully completed the entire term.
5. A man who was both a politician and an inspector of the arena
From his youth, Phineas Barnum arranged lotteries among his peers, playing out stale goods from his father’s shop. Later, the "king of the rally" arranged an adventurous tour across America.
Joining the Republican Party, Phineas actively promoted the “Thirteenth Amendment”, which gave blacks suffrage.
He ran for Congress. Managed to visit the mayor of the city of Bridgeport. Having laid down official powers, Barnum returned to his beloved business and founded one of the largest circuses.
4. Civil Servant and Beauty Queen
The title of "Queen" Bess Meyerson won in 1945. The contest administration categorically insisted that the girl act on the show under a pseudonym. Meyerson's surname, in the opinion of the organizers, "sounded too Jewish."
The photo for the contest was sent not by Bess herself, but by her sister. Bess was surprised to learn that not only was the selection, but also claims the main prize.
From 1966 to 1981, Myerson was not only a successful television presenter, but also made a career in the administration of the city of New York.
3. The president, who was once a bartender
The fact that politicians are not born is clearly seen in the example of the founder of the US Republican Party, Abraham Lincoln. The son of a farmer, Abraham did not shy away from any work, even the most difficult.
At the age of twenty-two, Lincoln founded a bar on shares with a friend and received a license to sell hard liquor. Abraham personally stood at the counter and served drinks. According to reviews, “Lincoln devoted more time to conversations with visitors than filling their mugs,” so the job did not work out and the bar went broke.
2. From astronaut to senator, a real American hero
John Glenn was the first of the American pilots who made a full-fledged flight of the Earth in Space. Before joining the space squad, Glenn was a fighter pilot. He managed to fight at the Pacific Theater of World War II and in Korea.
As a pilot-instructor, in 1957 he set the record for America in terms of speed of flight from the west to the east coast of the continent.
A friend advised him to run for senators - and in 1974 Glenn got a position in Congress, where he successfully worked until 1999. As a senator, John became the most active astronaut, having once again been to Space (on the Shuttle Discovery).
1. The legislator who is the cat
Residents of the town of Talkitna (Alaska) were so disappointed with their democratic elects that in 1997 they unanimously voted for a candidate named Stubbs.
Everything would be fine if Stubbs were not a tailless and not purebred kitten. Shortly before this, a local saleswoman found a “candidate” in a cardboard box in a parking lot. The idea of putting red purr to mayoral elections was a joke.
The remaining residents of the town came to taste the humor. Unanimously elected mayor, Stubbs ruled the city for twenty years, until the honorable death of old age.