A famous american who was almost a lion and was a king?

Question

almost a lion??

a king???

famous???

help!

Answer 1

aslan? from the chronicles of narnia

Answer 2

George Washington was almost king......but I can't think of anything better.

Answer 3

Almost a lion?

Answer 4

George Plimpton wouldn't really be a king if he went to King's College, would he?  I'd say Brian Cox, but he was actually a king twice...he played King Henry and King Lear....would that still apply?!!  

Answer 5

How do you figure that George Plimpton was a king?

Yes, he went to King's college, but their mascot ironically enough is the lions, which would make him a lion for attending there.

I just don't see where the title of "king" fits into George Plimpton...

he was in a movie called "when we were kings, but he plays himself...

I thought Brian Cox was a better fit for this question (original voice of Aslan, before being replaced by Liam Neeson, and also played King Lear)...I would love to hear more about Plimpton, however.

****UPDATE****

There is one problem with my Brian Cox theory...he was born in Scotland...and I can't find anywhere where he became an American citizen...