Who played President James Dale in Tim Burton’s 1996 film Mars Attacks!?

Jack Nicholson played President James Dale in Tim Burton’s 1996 film Mars Attacks!.

Nicholson also plays Art Land, a flamboyant Las Vegas property developer, making him appear in two distinct roles. President Dale is an optimistic leader who tries diplomacy when hostile Martians arrive on Earth, while Land is a self-interested businessman caught up in the invasion.

Mars Attacks! is a science-fiction comedy inspired by a 1960s trading-card series from Topps. The film uses exaggerated aliens, flying saucers, ray guns, and deliberately campy destruction to parody classic invasion movies.

The large ensemble cast includes Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Michael J. Fox. The film was released in December 1996 and features a distinctive electronic score by Danny Elfman.