The Top 10 Best Secret Service Agents from Movies
After the recent terrorist siege of Capitol Hill, it’s become clear that there are genuine threats to the leaders of the United States. That’s why this week’s top 10 list is dedicated to the Secret Service Agents that put their lives on the line to protect democratically elected leaders. Well, it’s dedicated to the cinematic ones since this is a movie site after all. Now, most people think that Secret Service Agents are only responsible for protecting the President, Vice-President, and their families, but they are actually responsible for protecting visiting Heads of State and safeguarding payment and financial systems (most notably when it comes to counterfeiting). Each of the characters to earn a spot on this list would gladly jump in front of a bullet to save their country, which is why they’re the best of the best. Personally, I hope that the real Secret Service Agents out there don’t have to face any threats as insane or dangerous as their cinematic counterparts, but even if they do, I’m sure they’ll more than up to the job. In the meantime, let’s take a look at the best Secret Service Agents to jump in front of a bullet in slow-mo.
10. Sam Simms- First Kid
When it comes to cinematic Secret Service Agents, Sinbad (aka David Adkins) probably is the last person any of us would think of in the role. That’s probably why he’s coming in at the bottom of this list, but that’s nothing to scoff at. After all, plenty of movie Secret Service Agents didn’t even make the cut for the top 10. Sam Simms wasn’t handed the most prestigious job when he was placed in charge of protecting the First Spoiled Brat (aka the First Kid), but he still put his heart and soul into the job no matter how hard his ward made it for him. Kids can be absolute nightmares when puberty hits, but that rebellious attitude can be deadly when you’re the son of the Leader of the Free World. That means Simms’ probably had one of the most difficult protection details on this list, but he definitely met it head on and learned a few heartwarming lessons along the way.
9. Peter “Pete” Garrison- The Sentinel
They say the number one thing they tell all Secret Service Agents is to never fall in love. I mean, that’s what I would tell Secret Service Agents after seeing how much trouble sleeping with the First Lady got Pete Garrison (Michael Douglas) in. Despite the obvious conflict of interest, Garrison still manages to do his duty. That gets a bit more difficult when it’s discovered that there is a mole in the Service, and Garrison’s polygraph reveals that he’s hiding something. Suspected of being a traitor, Garrison is pursued by fellow agents (Eva Longoria and Kiefer Sutherland) even as he tries to get to the bottom of a plot to assassinate the President. Luckily, when the truth is revealed, the President doesn’t strangle Garrison for boffing his wife. Despite saving the day, I have to deduct a few points from Garrison for breaking the Agency’s number one rule.
8. Thomas Barnes- Vantage Point
While Peter Garrison might have had Secret Service Agents after him, Thomas Barnes (Dennis Quaid) had fellow Agents actively working against him. At least that’s how it seems when an assassination attempt on the President manages to take into account every single countermeasure he had set in place. This results in a series of horrific bombings that kill several onlookers and leave even more injured. Barnes survives the attacks and learns that the President had been switched with body double at the last minute. However, the attacker remained one step ahead and was able to intercept and abduct the President. Not letting a second go to waste, Barnes immediately begins investigating the attack by consulting a variety of video recordings of the crowd and surrounding area. His quick thinking and investigative skills allowed him to not only discover who the culprits were, but get ahead of them before they can get away.
7. Richie Chance- To Live and Die in LA
As I mentioned earlier, Secret Service Agents don’t just babysit the Commander-in-Chief. One of their primary tasks outside of protection is investigating instances of counterfeiting and putting a stop to them. That’s where Secret Service “bad boy” Richie Chance (William Petersen) excels as he finds himself up against the toughest case of his career in To Live and Die in La. Chance is the kind of man who believes that the ends justify the means, which results in him doing more harm than good in the pursuit of justice. He’s like a pit-bull that refuses to let go once he sinks his teeth into a case, and this tenacity leads to him breaking almost every law in the book as he goes after master counterfeiter Eric Masters (Willem DaFoe). Chance isn’t exactly the kind of guy I’d trust protecting the President, but when they need to let slip the dogs of war, he’s the rabid attack dog they’re refering to.
6. Nina Chance- Murder at 1600
You didn’t think this list of cinematic Secret Service Agents was going to be a total sausage fest, did you? Agent Nina Chance (Diane Lane) was assigned to assist a Metropolitan Police homicide detective (Wesley Snipes) when a body is found inside the White House in Murder at 1600 (which happens to be a twin film for another flick that appears on this list). Chance is ordered to “keep an eye” on the detective and eventually exposes a long history of the Secret Service covering up malicious deeds at the hands of their charges. It’s something that disgusts her, and her sense of ethics has cost her a number of opportunities in the Service. Chance decided that covering up crimes falls outside her protective duties and vows to help find justice for the victim. Not only is Chance a veteran agent, but also a former Olympic sharpshooter meaning that when she finally pulls the trigger, she doesn’t miss.