Black Presidents on Film

BET.com's favorite African-Americans as Commander in Chief.

The Man - When the president and speaker of the House are killed in a building collapse, and the vice president declines the office due to age and ill-health, Senate president (James Earl Jones) suddenly becomes the first brother in the Oval Office. This 1972 film marks one of the first times we saw a Black man portrayed as president.\r\r(Photo: ABC Circle Films)

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The Man - When the president and speaker of the House are killed in a building collapse, and the vice president declines the office due to age and ill-health, Senate president (James Earl Jones) suddenly becomes the first brother in the Oval Office. This 1972 film marks one of the first times we saw a Black man portrayed as president.\r\r(Photo: ABC Circle Films)

24 (Seasons 2 and 3) - Elected by the people, President David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) had his work cut out for him, working with Jack Bauer to save Los Angeles from the threat of terrorist thugs, dealing with traitors, knocking heads with his shady ex-wife, Sherry Palmer (played brilliantly by Penny Johnson Jerald), and dodging attempts on his life. He's assassinated two seasons later.\r(Photo: 20th Century Fox)

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24 (Seasons 2 and 3) - Elected by the people, President David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) had his work cut out for him, working with Jack Bauer to save Los Angeles from the threat of terrorist thugs, dealing with traitors, knocking heads with his shady ex-wife, Sherry Palmer (played brilliantly by Penny Johnson Jerald), and dodging attempts on his life. He's assassinated two seasons later.\r(Photo: 20th Century Fox)

24 (Season 6) - David Palmer's death paves the way for his younger brother, Wayne (D.B. Woodside), to move into the Oval office. But his presidential career is no easier. He helps free Jack Bauer from the Chinese government, fakes a nuclear bombing, is severly injured by an explosion at a press conference and ends up in a coma by the season's end. Would we vote for him? Undecided. (Photo: Imagine Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Television)

3 / 9

24 (Season 6) - David Palmer's death paves the way for his younger brother Wayne (D.B. Woodside) to move into the Oval Office. But his presidential career is no easier. He helps facilitate Jack Bauer's release from the Chinese government, fakes a nuclear bombing, is severly injured by an explosion at a press conference and ends up in a coma by the season's end. Would we vote for him?  Undecided.\r(Photo: 20th Century Fox)

The Fifth Element - Two hundred and fifty years in the future, ex-soldier/cab driver Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis) works to save the planet from extinction with the help of Ruby Rhod (a whacky role played by Chris Tucker). Dallas saves the world, but only because Deebo, er, President Lindberg (Tommy "Tiny" Lister) said so. Would we vote for him? Only out of fear.  (Photo: Gaumont Film Company)\r\r\r\r 

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The Fifth Element - Two hundred and fifty years in the future, ex-soldier/cab driver Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis) works to save the planet from extinction with the help of Ruby Rhod (a whacky role played by Chris Tucker). Dallas saves the world, but only because Deebo, er, President Lindberg (Tommy "Tiny" Lister) said so. Would we vote for him? Only out of fear.  (Photo: Gaumont Film Company)\r\r\r\r 

Deep Impact - A comet is set to collide with planet Earth, and President Beck (Morgan Freeman) has devised a plan to save a million lucky people to keep the human race going. Who makes the list? Well, Beck does, of course. Would we vote for him? Definitely.(Photo: Paramount Pictures)

5 / 9

Deep Impact - A comet is set to collide with planet Earth, and President Beck (Morgan Freeman) has devised a plan to save a million lucky people to keep the human race going. Who makes the list? Well, Beck does, of course. Would we vote for him? Definitely.(Photo: Paramount Pictures)

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Head of State (2008) - After getting fired, D.C. official Mays Gilliam (Chris Rock) gets his party’s nomination for presidency and he can hardly believe it. But after speaking his mind about society’s ills (as well as hiring a Klan member to endorse his white opponent) this underdog seems to be on the rise. Would we vote for him? Just for the laughs. (Photo: Dreamworks)

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Head of State - When fired D.C. official Mays Gilliam (Chris Rock) gets his party’s nomination for presidency he can hardly believe it. But after speaking his mind about society’s ills (as well as hiring a Klan member to endorse his white opponent), this underdog seems to be on the rise. Would we vote for him? Just for the laughs.\r(Photo: Philip Caruso / 2003 Dreamworks LLC)

2012 - Danny Glover played Preisdent Thomas Wilson in a film about an academic researcher that leads a group of people in a fight to counteract the apocalyptic events that were predicted by the ancient Mayan calendar. The film was a critical bomb, despite a cast that included Thandie Newton and Woody Harrelson.  (Photo:  Columbia Pictures)

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2012 - Danny Glover played Preisdent Thomas Wilson in a film about an academic researcher that leads a group of people in a fight to counteract the apocalyptic events that were predicted by the ancient Mayan calendar. The film was a critical bomb, despite a cast that included Thandie Newton and Woody Harrelson.  (Photo:  Columbia Pictures)

Idiocracy - In Mike Judge’s Idiocracy, actor Terry Crews plays President Camacho in a world where advertising, commercialism and cultural anti-intellectualism take over the society. Could you imagine if President Obama had hair like President Camacho?\r(Photo: 20th Century Fox)

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Idiocracy - In Mike Judge’s Idiocracy, actor Terry Crews plays President Camacho in a world where advertising, commercialism and cultural anti-intellectualism take over the society. Could you imagine if President Obama had hair like President Camacho?\r(Photo: 20th Century Fox)

The Event - Blair Underwood starred in NBC's The Event as President Elias Martinez.  In just one season, this Black Prez endured an assassination attempt and an alien invasion.  Unfortunately, we didn't get to see Underwood flex more of his presidential muscles, The Event was canceled in May 2011.  (Photo: NBC)

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The Event - Blair Underwood starred in NBC's The Event as President Elias Martinez.  In just one season, this Black Prez endured an assassination attempt and an alien invasion.  Unfortunately, we didn't get to see Underwood flex more of his presidential muscles, The Event was canceled in May 2011.  (Photo: NBC)