Stars who launched political careers
Olympic track-and-field great Carl Lewis wants to run for the New Jersey Senate and former 2 Live Crew rapper Luther Campbell says he's "dead serious" about his bid for mayor of a county in Florida. See which other stars have traded one limelight for another, cashing in on name recognition and likability.
Ronald Reagan
The former president is the most famous of the actors-turned-politicians, and his political legacy is being honored this year through various centennial celebrations. He made more than 50 movies in his film career, but is better known for his work as president, surviving an assassination attempt to become the leader of the modern conservative movement. 
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Shirley Temple
Jesse Ventura
Clint Eastwood
Bill Bradley
Sonny Bono
Al Franken
Jack Kemp
Kal Penn
From bodybuilder extraordinaire to action flick hero to governor of California for two terms,the "Governator" leaves a legacy that includes enacting the state's landmark global warming law. Now that he is retired from governorship, will he bring back the big guns and act in the next "Terminator" movie.
Arguably the most famous child actor of all time, this curly-headed cutie went on to hold several diplomatic posts, including American ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia. She was also honored with the Screen Actors Guild's most prestigious prize.
Jesse "The Body" Ventura made the leap from feather boas, leopard-skin leotards and pro wrestling to politics as a Reform Party candidate, and served as mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minn., and governor of this Northern state. His other colorful accolades: Navy veteran, visiting professor at Harvard author and host of the "Conspiracy Theory" TV show.
This popular Hollywood star, known early on for his westerns and his no-nonsense character Dirty Harry, went on to become an Academy Award-winning director. He dabbled in politics, receiving a whopping 72 percent of the vote for mayor of the quaint Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif., before returning to his film career.
Picking up 18 years as a Democratic U.S. senator in this East Coast state was a slam-dunk for this basketball Hall of Famer. After 10 years with the New York Knicks he moved into politics, sponsoring highly controversial legislation and authoring several books.
He first garnered attention as one-half of a famous singing duo. He broke into politics as mayor of a ritzy town, and then went on to serve as a two-term Republican congressman before facing an untimely death.
Who knew the former "Saturday Night Live" star political satirist and best-selling author would end up in the U.S. Senate? This liberal Democrat is still serving this state, after a tight race that ended in a recount.
This pro quarterback turned influential Republican from New York won a Buffalo-area congressional seat and served for 18 years in the House of Representatives. He was also the secretary of housing and urban development and this presidential hopeful'svice presidential running mate on the 1996 Republican presidential ticket.
He portrayed Dr. Lawrence Kutner on a hit TV program until he joined the Obama administration as an associate director in the White House Office of Public Engagement. Penn resigned briefly, to film the third installment of a funny film series, and then returned to his post at the White House.
