Dennis Haysbert has claimed that his role as a black US president in 24 may have benefited Barack Obama.
He said: "If anything, my portrayal of David Palmer, I think, may have helped open the eyes of the American people.
"And I mean the American people from across the board - from the poorest to the richest, every color and creed, every religious base - to prove the possibility there could be an African-American president, a female president, any type of president that puts the people first."
Speaking at the Associated Press, Haysbert recalled how he dined in a "very wealthy, very white and very Republican" California town and was mistaken for his Democratic TV president.
"I go into this little restaurant with that demographic and a lady comes up to me and says, 'You know, I want to vote for you,'" he said. "I don't know if it is a joke or that people just like to say those things. But to me, for them to say it out loud means they are thinking about it."
Movies Editor
Simon has worked as a journalist for more than a decade, writing on staff and freelance for Hearst, Dennis, Future and Autovia titles before joining Cision in 2022.
