Fred Grandy

Though his political career received less attention than that of other entertainers-turned-legislators like Clint Eastwood, Fred Dalton Thompson or even Sonny Bono, Fred Grandy was indeed successful in making the transition from working actor to the House of Representatives in the 1980s. The reason for his low-ranking status in that exclusive group was possibly due to his best-known credit as randy pursuer Burl "Gopher" Smith on the lowbrow but popular romantic comedy series "The Love Boat" (ABC, 1977-1986). Grandy, however, had developed an interest in politics long before his acting career took off in the early 1970s, and he good-naturedly shouldered comments about his "Love Boat" past while campaigning for the Iowa House of Representatives, where he served for four terms. After completing his duties in Iowa, he campaigned unsuccessfully for governor of the state before presiding over Goodwill Industries, hosting his own conservative radio talk show, and appearing on a daily talk show for Retirement Living TV. Though largely out of political office and entertainment later in his career, Grandy nonetheless remained active with the causes he believed in and remained a beloved TV actor for a certain generation who grew up with "The Love Boat."