Now that Rick Santorum has quit his bid to be the GOP Presidential Nominee for 2012, it’s inveitable the Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney will try to fire Barack Obama as America’s Commander In Chief. Romney is a Mormon, and much like the religion itself, many Americans don’t know many Mormons well or personally. To some, Mitt Romey seems the only high profile or successful one around. However, there are more than a few Mormons who excel in the media, Hollywood and arts & entertainment. Here are some of the most successful Mormon celebrities.
Glenn Beck – Radio & TV Show Host
Hate him or love him – or love to hate him – this Mormon motor mouth is one of the most famous and financially successful talking heads around.
Beck rose up and smack dab into controversy, as he soared onto the public stage mainly through radio – he was once a humble disc jockey – Beck became the host with the most controversial rhetoric on Fox News Channel. Considering other FNC stalwarts like Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity, Beck’s eclipsing of them all wasn’t easy. Flaming up and then out, he sort of wore out his welcome, even at conservative minded Fox. After he lobbed loads of incendiary barbs at anyone within earshot, including President Barack Obama, Beck quietly withdrew his FNC TV platform to focus on his Internet empire. Now, his web based GBT draws hundreds of thousands of subscribers and makes upwards of a cool $40 million a year in revenue.
The Osmonds – Donny & Marie Osmond – Musicians & Entertainers
To so many generations, the Osmonds have been there as pop culture icons. From the original line-up of The Osmonds to the smash pairing up of brother and sister duo Donny & Marie, Osmond music frolic has entertained us for decades.
The Osmonds scored many a pop song hit, and boasted their own TV show, but they just may have been ultimately eclipsed by Donny & Marie in popularity. The Osmond’s brother and sister’s variety program showcased all of the big acts of the 70’s, and Donny’s pop hits like “Puppy Love” and Marie with “Paper Roses”, launched the musical duo into another pop music galaxy. These Mormon musicians were once so powerful, there was even a short lived animated TV series in 1972, simply entitled The Osmonds.
Jon Hunstman – Former Utah Govenor & Ambassador To China
Mitt Romney wasn’t the only Mormon in the 2012 GOP primary race. Jon Hunstman, former Govenor of Utah and China Ambassador appointed by Barack Obama, is also of the Mormon faith. Huntsman speaks fluent Chinese and impressed many a GOP primary debate watcher by showcasing his detailed knowledge of Chinese culture and politics – something any American President would do well to have a grasp of in these modern, interconnected geopolitical times.
Glen A. Larson – TV Writer & Producer
This Mormon TV writer’s credits include some of the most beloved, classic sci-fi around. His early work includes development of the mega hit “The Six Million Dollar Man”, but he’s best known for “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” with Gil Gerard and the original “Battlestar Galactica” starring Lorne Greene (Bonanza), which set a record for a budget shattering one million bucks per episode in 1978. Larson’s epic science fiction fable was re-imagined in 2003, and will further get an overhaul when movie director Bryan Singer (X-Men) helms a big movie version of “Battlestar Galactica” coming up in 2013.
