24 Actor: I Paved the Way for Obama

Dennis Haysbert likes to believe his portrayal as the first African-American US president on Fox's 24 may have helped pave the way for Barack Obama. "If anything, my portrayal of David Palmer, I think, may have helped open the eyes of the American people," said the 54-year-old actor, who has contributed $2,300 to the Illinois Democrat's presidential campaign.

"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," added Haysbert, who now stars on The Unit on CBS. (More Dennis Haysbert stories.)