Best Portrayals of American Presidents in Movies and TV

Few characters are as recognizable (or scrutinized) as a U.S. president. More than any other historical figure, portraying a real American president presents a real challange for an actor. Everyone has an idea of how each president talks and acts (and looks). The actor must conform to the expectations of the audience, while also making the character their own and making the role functional in the drama. They must "look presidential" while at the same time incorporating the little quirks that make characters human. It is a difficult job, and a well-done job merits recognition.

It is also difficult to put together a list like this because not every president from the era before TV was well-known or significantly interesting enough to warrant subsequent portrayal. William Henry Harrison, for example, made little impact in his meager 30 days in office. Conversely, the most recent presidents are primarily seen only in late night parodies.

The following is my list of the best portrayal of each sitting president (though the role may be very fictionalized) in television or movies:

Honorable mention

Special mention

To index of lists