Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
February 27, 1934
Place of Birth:
Winsted, Connecticut, USA
Social Media
Ralph Nader
Biography
Ralph Nader (born February 27, 1934) is an American political activist, author, lecturer, and attorney noted for his involvement in consumer protection, environmentalism, and government reform causes. He became famous in the 1960s and 1970s for his book Unsafe at Any Speed, which criticized the automotive industry for its safety record and helped lead to the passage of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act in 1966.
The son of Lebanese immigrants to the United States, Nader attended Princeton University and Harvard Law School. He first came to prominence in 1965 with the publication of the book Unsafe at Any Speed, a highly influential critique of the safety record of American automobile manufacturers. Following the publication of Unsafe at Any Speed, Nader led a group of volunteer law students—dubbed "Nader's Raiders"—in an investigation of the Federal Trade Commission, leading directly to that agency's overhaul and reform. In the 1970s, Nader leveraged his growing popularity to establish a number of advocacy and watchdog groups including the Public Interest Research Group, the Center for Auto Safety, and Public Citizen. Two of Nader's most notable targets were the Chevy Corvair and the Ford Pinto.
Nader made four bids to become President of the United States, running with the Green Party in 1996 and 2000, the Reform Party in 2004, and as an independent in 2008. In each campaign, Nader said he sought to highlight under-reported issues and a perceived need for electoral reform. He received nearly three million votes during his 2000 candidacy, but also stirred controversy over allegations that his campaign helped Republican candidate George W. Bush win a close election against Democratic candidate Al Gore.
A two-time Nieman Fellow, Nader is the author or co-author of more than two dozen books and was the subject of a documentary film on his life and work, An Unreasonable Man, which debuted at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. He has been repeatedly named to lists of the "100 Most Influential Americans", including those published by Life, Time, and The Atlantic. The New York Times described him as a "dissident".
Known For
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Daytime Revolution | Self |
| 2022 | The Great Postal Heist | Self |
| 2020 | 537 Votes | Self (archive footage) |
| 2018 | The Corporate Coup D'État | Self - Lawyer and Consumer Advocate (archive footage) |
| 2017 | Citizen Clark... A Life of Principle | Self |
| 2017 | Workers Con | Self - Civil Rights Advocate (archive footage) |
| 2016 | The 24 Hour War | Self |
| 2016 | All Governments Lie: Truth, Deception, and the Spirit of I.F. Stone | Self - Author and Political Activist |
| 2011 | POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold | Self |
| 2008 | Hempsters: Plant the Seed | Himself |
| 2007 | Overdrawn! | Self |
| 2005 | Fun with Dick and Jane | Ralph Nader - Defensive Line Coach |
| 2004 | American Dictators: Staging of the 2004 Presidential Election | Self (archive footage) |
| 2003 | Off the Record: The 9/11 Election | Self |
| 2001 | Last Party 2000 | Self |
| 1999 | Yesterday's Tomorrows | Self |
| 1988 | Superman's 50th Anniversary: A Celebration of the Man of Steel | Self |
| 1988 | Sesame Street | Put Down the Duckie: An All-Star Musical Special | Self |
| The Arab Americans | Self |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The Colbert Report | Self |
| 2003 | Anderson Cooper 360° | Self |
| 2003 | Real Time with Bill Maher | Self |
| 1998 | LateLine | |
| 1996 | The Daily Show | Self |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Self - Host |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Self - Cameo (uncredited) |
| 1974 | The Great Debate | Self |
| 1968 | The Dick Cavett Show | Self - Guest |
| 1962 | The Merv Griffin Show | Self |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Show | Self |
| 1952 | Today | Self |