Ronald Reagan: From Hollywood Star to American President Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) was the 40th President of the United States, serving from 1981 to 1989, and remains one of the most transformative figures of the late 20th century. Before politics, he built a successful career as a Hollywood actor and later became governor of California. As president, Reagan championed conservative ideals, tax cuts, limited government, and a strong anti-communist foreign policy that helped shape the final years