Woody Harrelson undergoes transformation to play Lyndon Baines Johnson

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Jennifer Jason Leigh plays Lady Bird Johnson in the upcoming film
Lyndon Baines Johnson became the 36th US president in November of 1963 following the assassination of John F Kennedy in Dallas, Texas
Took oath on Air Force One, signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Acts of 1965 and increased troop count in South Vietnam
Won reelection in 1964 but didn't run again, paving way for President Nixon
Left office in 1969 and returned to Texas where he died four years later
Despite accomplishments he was one of least popular presidents in history

Published: 11:50 EST, 22 September 2015 | Updated: 23:04 EST, 22 September 2015

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Woody Harrelson is stepping into what could be his most complex role yet - former US President Lyndon Baines Johnson.

The 54-year-old actor was spotted on set of Rob Reiner's political biopic LBJ as the first day of production got underway in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Monday.

Woody, who is 5 ft 10, underwent a visible transformation complete with prosthetics, a toupée and platform shoes to play Johnson, who was 6 feet tall and 55 years old when he assumed the presidency in November of 1963 following the assassination of John F Kennedy in Dallas, Texas.

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Presidential appearance: Woody Harrelson slipped into the shoes of former US President Lyndon B. Johnson on set of Rob Reiner's new political biopic LBJ in New Orleans, LA on Monday

Johnson took the presidential oath on Air Force One to become the 36th US president and then pledged support for Kennedy's agenda, which included civil rights and education legislation.

He was elected Vice President of the US in 1960 and took office the next year after the Kennedy-Johnson ticket defeated the Nixon-Lodge ticket in one of the closest elections in American history.

As president, LBJ signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Acts of 1965, put in place a Medicare bill that established Social Security care for the elderly, increased the number of American troops in South Vietnam and established his 'War on Poverty.'

Johnson won reelection in 1964 but didn't run in 1968, paving the way for President Richard Nixon.

Despite his accomplishments, he left as one of the least popular presidents in American history.

After leaving office in 1969, Johnson returned to Texas and died four years later in 1973.

'As a man, Lyndon Johnson was obsessed with his place in history, consumed by a voracious appetite for life, and often cast between emotional extremes,' according to the Miller Center.

'He was a natural politician, and to many people who knew him, he seemed larger than life.

'As a President, Johnson revealed that he was even more complex and ambitious, unveiling a sweeping collection of legislative and social initiatives he called 'The Great Society.'

Playing Johnson will be a tough role for Harrelson to fill.

Nice fit: The Texas-born star wore prosthetic skin and grey toupé to assume to role of LBJ who assumed the presidency after John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963

Need a lift: Woody was spotted filming a scene in character as LBJ that had him walking down a sidewalk in grey suit and platform shoes to adjust his 5 ft 10 height to the politician's 6 ft frame

Get it, got it, good: Woody - who is known for playing complex characters - seemed to have this one down

Fits the profile: Woody had the range and the looks to assume the powerful role

Who's that: The Woody that we all know and love was hidden beneath layers of movie make-up and conservative clothes

Harrelson certainly looked like his usual self in shorts, flip flops and thinning hair as he padded to the make-up department.

Sparse hair aside, Woody was the picture of health thanks no doubt in part to his vegan, organic diet.

Later he emerged quite a different person - and a couple inches taller too - while wearing a sleek grey business suit, starched white shirt and tie, and polished black platform shoes, seriously strolling down a sidewalk.

The addition of greying hair with receding lines at the forehead, the application of a 'mask' to give his face and neck aging spots and wrinkles and even the shoes put this Oscar winner on the right path.

At another point during the shoot, cameras captured Woody in character as he walked to what appeared to be a chauffeured black vehicle.

The solemn mood is fitting as Johnson assumed office after the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963.

Upon closer inspection: Woody's resemblance to the late LBJ was remarkable

Mirror image: The former Cheers star still assumed the air of LBJ as he fiddled with his shirt

Thick skinned: Woody's transformation included the application of a mask-like prosthetic

LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON AND THE OVAL OFFICE

1960: Elected Vice President of the United States after the Kennedy-Johnson ticket defeated the Nixon-Lodge ticket in one of the closest elections in American history.

1961: Took oath as Vice President of the United States and visited Vietnam while on a trip to Southeast Asia as President Kennedy's representative.

Was asked by Kennedy to conduct an overall survey of the space program and to study the feasibility of going to the moon and back with a man before the Soviet Union could attain that goal.

He concluded that a manned moon trip was possible with a strong effort from the US.

1963: Johnson took the presidential oath on Air Force One after Kennedy was killed on November 22 in Dallas, Texas.

Johnson became the 36th President of the United States and pledged support for President Kennedy's legislative agenda, which included civil rights and education legislation.

1964: During a speech at the University of Michigan, Johnson spoke of a 'Great Society.'

He said, 'The Great Society rests on abundance and liberty for all. It demands an end to poverty and racial injustice, to which we are totally committed in our time. But that is just the beginning.'

He signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in a televised ceremony at the White House in July.

The far-reaching law included provisions to protect the right to vote, guarantee access to public accommodations, and withhold federal funds from programs administered in a discriminatory fashion.

Johnson signed the Southeast Asia Resolution (often called the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution) on August 10 which backed him in taking 'all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.'

He also signed the Economic Opportunity Act. which established a variety of educational, employment, and training programs which were the foundation of President Johnson's 'War on Poverty.'

Johnson was nominated and won reelection as President of the United States with the greatest percentage of the total popular vote (61 per cent) ever attained by a Presidential candidate.

Hubert Humphrey was elected Vice President.

1965: President Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

The act was the first federal general aid to education law and focused on disadvantaged children in city slums and rural areas.

He went on to announce he ordered that US military forces in Vietnam be increased from 75,000 men to 125,000.

He said he would order further military increases as they were needed, committing the United States to major combat in Vietnam.

In July he signed the Medicare bill that established a medical care program for the aged under the Social Security System.

He also signed the Voting Rights Act which provided for direct federal action to enable African Americans to register and vote.

1968: in order to devote his time to seeking peace in Vietnam and at home, President Johnson announced that he would not be a candidate for another term as President of the United States.

1969: Johnson returned to Texas and the LBJ Ranch following the inauguration of President Richard Nixon.

He cited passage of the Voting Rights Act as his greatest accomplishment as president.

Source: LBJ Presidential Library

Director Rob Reiner, who has directed more light-hearted film fare such as When Harry Met Sally..., This Is Spinal Tap and And So It Goes, is delving deep this time to describe a man who is often misunderstood by the mass public.

'During the 60s, I was a hippy and Lyndon Johnson was my president ... and the target of most of my generation's anti-Vietnam War anger,' Reiner said in a statement, as quoted by Nola.com.

The former All In The Family star added: 'But, as time has passed and my understanding of political realities has grown, I've come to see LBJ in a very different light.

Good work: The 54-year-old actor was spotted wearing shorts and flip flops at another point during the day on on Monday which was the first day of filming

Happy: Woody seemed to be in great spirits even though the role required a complete and total makeover

'He was a complex man - a combination of brilliant political instinct, raw strength, ambition, and deep insecurities.'

The cast also includes Jeffrey Donovan as President John F. Kennedy and Michael Stahl-David as Robert Kennedy; Richard Jenkins as Johnson mentor-turned-foe Georgia Senator Richard Russell and Bill Pullman as Texas Senator Ralph Yarborough.

The film's ladies include Jennifer Jason Leigh as Lady Bird Johnson and Kim Allen as Jacqueline Kennedy.

Woody playing the presidential role is perhaps genius - Harrelson has tackled a variety of complex roles from the beleaguered publisher of Hustler in The People vs. Larry Flynt to a country singer in The Prairie Home Companion, and he hails from Texas as did Johnson.

LBJ is slated for US release sometime in 2016.

Director's take: Rob Reiner called his subject 'a complex man - a combination of brilliant political instinct, raw strength, ambition, and deep insecurities'; the film is slated to be released sometime next year