26 actors who played the president of the United States — and how they compare to the real thing

Jacob Shamsian,Max KalnitzNov 4, 2020, 03:04 IST

Barack Obama in 2016 and actor Parker Sawyers playing Obama in the 2016 movie "Southside With You."Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Miramax

Throughout the years, there have been numerous movies exploring the life and legacy of US presidents, but some actors look the part more than others.
Paul Giamatti's portrayal of John Quincy Adams in the 2008 HBO miniseries "John Adams" shared the intensity of the second US president, but he didn't look much like him.
Daniel Day-Lewis shared a striking resemblance to President Abraham Lincoln in the 2012 film "Lincoln."
Parker Sawyers was a convincing President Barack Obama in the 2016 film "Southside With You."

The best movies and TV shows about presidents often aim to find the more human side of them. It also helps if the actors look the part.

Insider put together a list of actors who played former presidents and compared how similar they looked to the leaders. We didn't include fictional presidents — apologies to the corny bloviator in "Independence Day" and the sexual predator in "Love Actually" — and chose to exclude any parodies. So while "Saturday Night Live" has some excellent impressions, they're not on this list.

Here are 26 actors who played the president of the United States and how they compared to the real thing.

The fullest adaptation of George Washington's life is the 1984 CBS miniseries "George Washington." The role was played by Barry Bostwick.

Barry Bostwick as George Washington. CBS

He's a bit more rosy-cheeked, with rounder features, in Gilbert Stuart's famous 1796 portrait.

The Lansdowne Portrait of Washington hanging in the US National Portrait Gallery. US National Portrait Gallery

For our second president, John Adams, we have Paul Giamatti's portrayal.

Paul Giamatti in "John Adams." HBO

Portraits of the real-life Adams had an intensity that Giamatti's performance shares.

A portrait of President John Adams from circa 1790. Stock Montage/Getty Images

Anthony Hopkins played John Quincy Adams, John Adams' son and America's sixth president, in Steven Spielberg's "Amistad."

Anthony Hopkins as John Quincy Adams in "Amistad." Dreamworks

The movie nails the facial hair.

A copy of a daguerreotype taken of John Quincy Adams in around 1845. National Archives and Records Administration

Charlton Heston played Andrew Jackson twice: In the 1953 biopic "The President's Lady" and 1958 pirate movie "The Buccaneer."

Charlton Heston as then-General Andrew Jackson in "The Buccaneer." Paramount Pictures

The facial features and hair are pretty close.

A portrait of Andrew Jackson. Stock Montage/Stock Montage/Getty Images

Martin Van Buren was also in "Amistad," played by Nigel Hawthorne.

Nigel Hawthorne as Martin van Buren in "Amistad." Dreamworks

Once again, the Spielberg movie knows what it's doing when it comes to sideburns.

A print of Martin van Buren. Wikimedia Commons

Abraham Lincoln has been depicted onscreen more than any other president, most famously by Daniel Day-Lewis.

Daniel Day-Lewis in "Lincoln." Disney

The real-life Lincoln had strikingly similar facial features.

Abraham Lincoln. Mathew B. Brady:The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

Henry Fonda also portrayed the 16th president in "Young Mr. Lincoln."

Henry Fonda as Abraham Lincoln in "Young Mr. Lincoln." 20th Century Fox

In earlier photos, it's true he didn't have his famous beard.

Abraham Lincoln. Historical/Getty Images

Van Heflin played Lincoln's vice president, Andrew Johnson, who took on the presidency when his predecessor was assassinated, in 1942's "Tennessee Johnson."

Van Helfin in "Tennessee Johnson." MGM

It's pretty close. The real-life Johnson had similarly deep-set eyes.

A photo of Andrew Johnson from before 1875. Library of Congress

Joseph Crehan played Ulysses S. Grant nine times. Here he is in 1939's "Union Pacific."

Joseph Cehan as Ulysses H. Grant in "Union Pacific." Paramount Pictures

The real-life Grant had a very similar beard.

Commanding General Grant at the Battle of Cold Harbor in 1864. Library of Congress

The little-known actor Roy Gordon played Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president, in "Stars and Stripes Forever."

Roy Gordon as Benjamin Harrison in "Stars and Stripes Forever." 20th Century Fox

He's a dead ringer for the president.

An 1896 photo of Benjamin Harrison. Library of Congress

William McKinley, played by Frank Conroy, tries to stop some bank robbers in the 1937 movie "This Is My Affair."

Frank Conroy as President William McKinley in "This Is My Affair." 20th Century Fox

It's a pretty good depiction. The real McKinley also had a serious, buttoned-up look.

William McKinley in his presidential portrait Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Robin Williams played a statue of Theodore Roosevelt come to life in the "Night at the Museum" movies.

Robin Williams in "Night at the Museum." 20th Century Fox

The movies got the real-life Rough Rider's moustache just right.

President Theodore Roosevelt pictured in the White House in 1908. AP Photo

Alexander Knox played Woodrow Wilson in 1944's "Wilson," one of the first Oscar-baiting presidential biopics.

Alexander Knox as Woodrow Wilson in "Wilson." 20th Century Fox

There are some similarities, although Wilson looks older and has a narrower face in this photo.

Woodrow Wilson. Tony Essex/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Malachy Cleary played the 29th president, Warren G. Harding, in an episode of "Boardwalk Empire."

Malachy Cleary as Warren G. Harding in "Boardwalk Empire." HBO

The real Harding had sharper features.

A photo of Warren G. Harding taken around 1920. Library of Congress

Bill Murray played Franklin Delano Roosevelt in "Hyde Park on Hudson" in 2012.

Bill Murray in "Hyde Park on Hudson." Focus Features

While the movie got anemic reviews, Bill Murray's portrayal is spot-on.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt driving his own car around Hyde Park in 1938. AP Photo/George R. Skadding

Gary Sinise wore a prosthetic nose to play Harry S. Truman in the 1995 HBO film "Truman."

Gary Sinise as Harry S. Truman in "Truman." HBO

It's pretty accurate.

Harry S. Truman. Bettmann/Getty Images

Bruce Greenwood played President John F. Kennedy in "Thirteen Days," which dramatized the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Bruce Greenwood as John F. Kennedy in "Thirteen Days." New Line Cinema

Greenwood is a great actor, but he doesn't quite have the same natural charisma as the real Kennedy.

President John F. Kennedy in 1963. William J. Smith/AP

Bryan Cranston took a turn at playing Lyndon Baines Johnson in the 2016 HBO biopic "All the Way."

Bryan Cranston as Lyndon Baines Johnson in "All the Way." HBO

It's a good match.

President Lyndon Baines Johnson in 1966. AP Photo

Frank Langella played the disgraced 37th president, Richard Nixon, in "Frost/Nixon."

Frank Langella as Richard Nixon in "Frost/Nixon." Universal Pictures

The real-life Nixon had a broader head, a pudgier nose, and famously droopy jowls.

Richard Nixon in the 1977 Frost interviews. AP

"The Butler" had a parade of actors playing presidents, and Alan Rickman as Ronald Reagan was the highlight.

Alan Rickman as Ronald Reagan in "The Butler." The Weinstein Company

Rickman looks a little younger in the role, but it's pretty close.

Ronald Reagan in 1982. UniversalImagesGroup/Getty Images

James Cromwell played the elder President Bush in the Oliver Stone biopic "W."

James Cromwell as President George H.W. Bush. Lionsgate

The two men do not look alike.

Former President George H.W. Bush in 2008. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Dennis Quaid played President Bill Clinton in the HBO drama "The Special Relationship."

Dennis Quaid as Bill Clinton in "The Special Relationship." HBO

Quaid may have the right hairline and face shape, but that's where the similarities end.

Former president Bill Clinton. WP/RCS via Reuters

Also in "W.," Josh Brolin played No. 43, George W. Bush.

Josh Brolin as George W. Bush in "W." Lionsgate

There are similarities between the two men.

George W. Bush. Stewart F. House/Getty Images

Parker Sawyers played a young Barack Obama in "Southside With You."

Parker Sawyers as Barack Obama in "Southside With You." Miramax Films

He shares a resemblance with the 44th president.

Then-Senator Barack Obama. AP Photo/Seth Perlman

Devon Terrell played a young Obama in his junior year at Columbia University for the film "Barry."

Devon Terrell as Obama. Netflix

Nailed it again.

A young Obama. Laura S. L. Kong/Getty Images

Brendan Gleeson played President Donald Trump in Showtime's 2020 four-episode political drama "The Comey Rule."

Brendan Gleeson as Trump. Showtime

It's somewhat close.

President Trump in 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

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