Who Wouldn't Vote Woody Harrelson for President?

Actors who sign up to play a U.S. president have to be up to the challenge. They need to embody the historical figure in a way that's honest, real, and compelling. Some, like John Travolta, came close, whereas others, including Bryan Cranston, hit a home run. Here are 10 actors who weren't up to playing a U.S. president and 10 who were. 

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1. Anthony Hopkins

Hopkins is a legendary actor, but he was somewhat miscast as Richard Nixon in Oliver Stone's Nixon. His natural British cadence and gravitas made the performance feel distant from the real-life Nixon, who was insecure and anxious. Hopkins earned some accolades for the role, but he wasn't able to channel Nixon's inner turmoil. 

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2. John Travolta

Travolta's depiction of a Bill Clinton-esque president in Primary Colors is a good performance, but his Southern drawl and charm were so dialed up that it bordered on parody. Granted, his character is a fictionalized version of Clinton, but it didn't quite land with audiences as Travolta leaned into surfaced traits. 

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3. Dennis Quaid

Quaid also took a turn playing Bill Clinton in The Special Relationship. Taking a page from Travolta, it was all charm and an accent, failing to capture any of Clinton's nuance.

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4.  Josh Brolin

In Oliver Stone's W., Brolin delivered more of an imitation than a performance. He had a strong grasp on George W. Bush's speech and mannerisms, but the rest was underdeveloped. Brolin and the script relied too heavily on humor and quirks and offered no introspection.

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5. Bruce Greenwood

Greenwood's performance as JFK in Thirteen Days is poised and committed. However, you have to remind yourself that he's playing JFK as he's rather charmless. The emotional range is far too muted and creates distance between the actor and the iconic president.

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6. Jon Voight

Voight's FDR in Pearl Harbor is packed with sentimentality and jingoism. It comes across as noble but flat, relying on big speeches and prosthetics. This is one performance of a U.S. president that has largely been forgotten.

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7. Greg Kinnear

A lot of people forget that Greg Kinnear played Joe Biden in 2016's Confirmation. It's an unnatural performance that was more stiff than anything else. Kinnear captured some of Biden's seriousness, but struggled to make it a layered and thoughtful depiction.

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8. Paul Giammati

Giammati is a wonderfully talented actor. As John Adams in the miniseries John Adams, his intensity was misplaced, and he wasn't able to convey Adams' visionary role in shaping America. 

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9.  Frank Langella

In Frost/Nixon, Langella delivered his trademark commanding presence, but his interpretation steered too far into villainy. His Nixon was a fascinating character, but a bit too polished. Langella played him as more of a symbol than a complex person. His best work in the film was his confession scenes, which broke through mimicry.

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10. Randy Quaid

Randy Quaid's LBJ in LBJ: The Early Years was fun and energetic but inconsistent. His performance was a pendulum swinging between slapstick and maudlin, and ultimately, it lacked gravitas. 

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1. Daniel Day-Lewis

In Lincoln, Day-Lewis delivered a masterclass in presidential acting. His physical and voice transformation brought Lincoln to life, and he even captured his quiet humor and empathy.

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2. Bryan Cranston

Cranston's performance as LBJ in All the Way is often overlooked despite the praise he received. His LBJ is doubtful, vulgar, and visionary. He tapped into the nuance that was necessary to ensure it never became a mere impression. 

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3. Anthony Hopkins

Hopkins' performance in Amistad was far more nuanced and humane than his work in Nixon. He portrayed John Quincy Adams as moral yet weary, and his climactic speech stole the show. 

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4. Gary Sinise

Sinise's turn as Harry S. Truman in Truman felt so authentic that it revealed more about the president than most anticipated. It balanced Truman's modesty with his burden of deciding whether to drop the atomic bomb. 

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5. Sam Rockwell

Rockwell delivered to audiences a George W. Bush who was funny, empathetic, and ripe for manipulation. Rockwell's take made Bush a charming and confused man who had a bit of calculation in him. 

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6. Robin Williams

The wildly talented Williams surprised critics and viewers with his restrained take on Dwight D. Eisenhower in The Butler. His performance was contemplative, conflicted, and grounded. 

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7. Barry Bostwick

Bostwick was considered to be a poor casting choice to portray the first president of the U.S. in the miniseries, George Washington. Critics were silenced by Bostwick's measured calm and physical stillness, which showed the burden Washington felt during the American Revolutionary War.

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8.  Kenneth Branagh

Branagh's performance as FDR in Warm Springs stands out for its humanity and lack of grandeur. It focused on FDR's struggle with polio, and Branagh stripped away the myth to reveal the man.

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9. Bill Murray

In Hyde Park on Hudson, Murray gave a memorable performance as FDR. He captured the man's charm and intellect while revealing his private longing for intimacy. His relaxed delivery and sly humor reflected the deep respect most Americans have for FDR. 

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10. Woody Harrelson

Harrelson underwent a full transformation for his performance in LBJ. His gravelly Texas voice and prosthetics made it immersive, and he conveyed LBJ as the shrewd politician that he truly was. Harrelson brought energy, warmth, and humor to the role.

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