30 actors who played the president of the United States, and how they compare to the real thing

The best image we have of Washington was painted in 1796, where Washington looks pretty different from Bostwick.

The facial features don’t all match up, but Giamatti channels Adams’ demeanor.

In his later years, Adams basically had sideburns that went to his chin.

Heston’s version of the president captures his long face, swept-back hair, and intensity.

However, Martin van Buren’s facial hair was a little more untamed in real life.

This photo, taken in 1863, was taken around the same time the movie takes place.

Lincoln had a more clean-shaven look earlier in his career, so the Ford depiction got that right.

Johnson was the first US president to be impeached.

From Union general to US president, Grant kept his famous beard throughout his career.

The actor has the same face shape and groomed facial hair as the former president.

Come to think of it, he kind of looks like a police chief who’d clamp down on robberies.

The 26th president is a towering figure in American history, and Williams captured his larger-than-life persona.

The movie captures Wilson’s professorial air, and it gets details like his glasses and hair right.

While “Boardwalk Empire” gets points for period costumes and set design, Cleary doesn’t precisely capture the corruption-plagued president.

FDR did love putting around his Hyde Park estate in his car.

Sinise was cast perfectly and won a Golden Globe for the role.

He portrayed Kennedy well as a political strategist.

Devane nailed the way Kennedy crinkled his forehead when he was listening. The wardrobe department also got his tortoiseshell frames right. 

Cranston was nominated for numerous awards for the role. The biggest difference, physically, is that the real-life Johnson had slightly less hair and was more jowly than Cranston himself.

Langella earned an Oscar nomination for his performance.

Rickman’s slightly more rosy-cheeked than the real Reagan. But for a British actor, he made it work.

In the debate, Reagan famously responded to attacks from Carter by saying, “There you go again.”

If you squint, the shapes of their mouths look kind of alike.

He doesn’t otherwise resemble the 42nd president.

Owen told Vanity Fair in 2021 that he wore a prosthetic forehead and nose for the role.

“I didn’t want to be buried in prosthetics because I find that super distracting,” he said. “So we were able to find something that was sort of in the middle that was a gesture of him, and not be totally drowned and hidden behind a sort of false face.”

Brolin nails Bush’s facial expressions and does well with the accent, but he doesn’t quite have the same features.

Sawyers captured his self-assuredness and charisma.

Terrell got everything right from his hair to his facial expressions.

Gleeson’s got Trump’s iconic head of hair right and mimics the former president’s facial expressions well.

Kinnear without a doubt nailed the intensity with which Biden questioned Hill. But the real Biden’s face looks fuller and his hair is thinning more than his on-screen adaptation.