Played By - Dennis Haysbert, Episode - Day 5: 7.00am-8.00am Seven years before Barack Obama, there was David Palmer, 24's first on-screen President, who is elected between seasons one and two and serves as the leader of his country in seasons two and three before opting not to seek re-election after his ex-wife Sherry's passing. Despite this, he is brought in to assist Vice President Charles Logan in season four, following an attack on Air Force One that incapacitates President John Keeler. He helps longtime ally Jack Bauer fake his death after Logan plans to have him killed rather than passed into Chinese custody, parting with the man as a friend following a phonecall. At the beginning of season five, Palmer is in the process of writing his Presidential memoirs with brother Wayne, until he is suddenly (and shockingly) hit in the throat by a sniper's bullet, which kills him instantly. A Fox mandate prevented the show's creators from ever killing a sitting President on screen, but seeing an ex-President perish out of the blue was just as shocking as the death of an active leader would've been.
17. Wayne Palmer
Played By - DB Woodside, Episode - Day 6: 11.00pm-12.00am After serving as his brother David's Chief of Staff, Wayne Palmer runs for the Presidency following the passing of his sibling, and is elected to the post prior to 24's sixth season. Sometime after his election, America becomes the subject of a number of attacks supposedly orchestrated by renowned Islamic terrorist Hamri Al-Assad. An underling named Abu Fayed offers to give up Al-Assad in exchange for Jack Bauer, prompting Wayne's government to negotiate Jack's release from Chinese custody (following the events of season five). Jack is handed over to Fayed immediately following his return to US soil, only to discover that he is in fact the one responsible for the attacks, prompting him to escape and rescue Al-Assad from an airstrike. Later, Al-Assad meets with the President and the terrorist (who has reformed) offers to make a joint speech with him to condone Fayed's actions. Whilst rehearsing, however, he notices that a bomb has been placed, which kills him and puts Wayne in a critical condition. He manages to temporarily pull through, only to collapse from a brain haemorrhage later on, succumbing to his injuries prior to the events of season seven and becoming yet another ill-fated President of the 24 universe.
