By Timothy D. Naegele[1]

After all, they only read lines that are written for them by others.  Yet, many are deified, and remembered in contemporary history.  When they deviate from their chosen profession, they are remembered for that too, in the case of John Wilkes Booth who killed Abraham Lincoln, and plotted to kill others.[2]

Ronald Reagan may be the only American who bridged both professions—acting and politics—and was successful in doing so.  He brought down the "Evil Empire" of the Soviet Union without a shot being fired, but his original Democratic Party went after him with Iran Contra, despite the fact that he had survived an assassin's bullet.[3]

In a sense, all politicians are actors.  They read speeches written for them by others—Ted Sorensen, in the case of John F. Kennedy.[4]  They differ from singers who learn songs, only to the extent that music is involved.  Yet, all seem to have very fragile egos, not knowing where their next job or gig may come from.  Many are used and abused in the process, by the Harvey Weinsteins of this world.[5]

Professional athletes are actors too, who use and abuse their bodies, like gladiators in ancient Rome.  Some incur enough concussions and other injuries to rob them of future years.  But they act while they can, and bask in the light of adoring fans.

Clearly, a risk of being an "actor" is having wackos target you, who may seek to harm you.  The media is full of stories about celebrities being stalked, and having to get court-issued restraining orders, which may or may not protect them.  Private security guards are hired too, and extreme measures are taken[6], out of necessity.

William Shakespeare was correct:

All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and entrances. . . .[7]

We all do.  Life is fleeting and finite, which is abundantly clear as horrific events swirl about us in this world.[8]

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© 2023, Timothy D. Naegele

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[1]  Timothy D. Naegele was counsel to the United States Senate's Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and chief of staff to Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal recipient and former U.S. Senator Edward W. Brooke (R-Mass).  See, e.g., Timothy D. Naegele Resume-21-8-6  and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/accomplishments/   He has an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as well as two law degrees from the School of Law (Boalt Hall), University of California, Berkeley, and from Georgetown University.  He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon, where he received the Joint Service Commendation Medal (see, e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commendation_Medal#Joint_Service).  Mr. Naegele is an Independent politically; and he is listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Law, and Who's Who in Finance and Business. He has written extensively over the years (see, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/articles/ and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/articles/), and studied photography with Ansel Adams.  He can be contacted directly at tdnaegele.associates@gmail.com

[2]  See, e.g., https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wilkes_Booth  ("John Wilkes Booth")

[3]  See, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/03/20/ronald-reagan-and-john-f-kennedy-a-question-of-character/ ("Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy: A Question of Character") and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_Empire_speech#:~:text=The%20%22Evil%20Empire%22%20speech%20was,evil%20in%20the%20modern%20world%22. ("Evil Empire speech")

[4]  See supra n.3

[5]  See, e.g., https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Weinstein ("Harvey Weinstein")

[6]  See, e.g., https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12616733/Prince-Harry-Meghan-seven-car-convoy-SINGLE-BLOCK-New-York-City.html ("Eco warriors Prince Harry and Meghan take gas-guzzling, seven-car convoy around a SINGLE BLOCK to World Mental Health Day talk in NYC")

[7]  See, e g., https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/56966/speech-all-the-worlds-a-stage ("Speech: 'All the world’s a stage' by William Shakespeare")

[8]  See https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2023/06/01/life-is-short/ ("Life Is Short") and https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/05/12/what-and-where-is-god/ ("What And Where Is God?") and https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2023/10/09/does-anyone-really-care/ ("Does Anyone Really Care?"); see also https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2017/05/31/jerry-perenchio-kind-and-caring/ ("Jerry Perenchio: Kind And Caring") and https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2015/01/03/edward-w-brooke-is-dead/ ("Edward W. Brooke Is Dead")