John Spencer (Leo)from The West Wing has died.

[palmtreegirl]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/eo/20051217/en_celeb_eo/17990

Tragically, for John Spencer, life didn't imitate art.


A year after his West Wing alter ego survived a heart attack, Spencer was felled Friday morning by a deadly one. He was four days shy of his 59th birthday.

A 2002 Emmy winner for the long-running NBC presidential series, Spencer was an original and still key cast member as Leo McGarry, the battle-tested chief of staff turned vice presidential candidate.

"I can't believe that he is gone," costar Bradley Whitford said in a statement. "We have all lost a dear, dear brother."

Allison Janney remembered her West Wing colleague as the "consummate professional actor." Series creator Aaron Sorkin and executive producer Tommy Schlamme hailed Spencer as "an uncommonly good man."

An NBC spokesman said Spencer died at a hospital. It was not known when the actor last worked on the set. After airing a new episode last weekend, the show is on hiatus until January.

As McGarry, Spencer acted out a heart attack in an October 2004 West Wing episode, "The Birnam Woods."

Spencer's sudden death would seem to throw into disarray the series' season-long presidential campaign storyline. With Martin Sheen's President Bartlet terming out, McGarry is party to one of two tickets seeking to claim the White House for their own. Earlier this fall, McGarry accepted the V.P. slot on the Democratic slate headed by Jimmy Smits' Congressman Santos.

In an episode that was slated to air Jan. 8, McGarry is front and center in a TV debate with his Republican counterpart, played by Brett Cullen. As recounted on a spoilers blog on the fan site, The West Wing Continuity Guide (http://westwing.bewarne.com/), Spencer's dialogue during an exchange on health insurance is, given Friday's events, eerie.

"By an overwhelming percentage, the first warning symptom of a heart attack is death," Spencer's McGarry says, per the blog. "I'm fortunate to be here."

Spencer's life mirrored McGarry's even down to their backstories--both men were recovering alcoholics.

In a 2000 interview with the Associated Press, Spencer argued that, of the two, McGarry was the "better man."

"He has qualities that I wish I had more of," Spencer told the wire service. "I often say to Aaron [Sorkin], 'You're writing the man I'd like to be.' "

Previously, Spencer made his prime-time mark in L.A. Law joining the show in 1990 as breath-of-fresh-air litigator Tommy Mullaney in 1990.

He will be missed.

 

[MickeysMommy]

So sad. I thought he was great.

 

[TDC Nala]

Forget the West Wing, that was the guy from LA Law. He was great.

 

[palmtreegirl]

I know, he really was a great actor. It's so tragic, he was still young, it's so sad.

 

[doxdogy]

That is so sad. Leo was one of my favorite characters on the show. I was really looking forward to his possible run as Vice President. He is going to be extremely hard to replace.

 

[travelbug]

That is so sad! I've always liked him, ever since I first saw him on "LA Law."

 

[BethanyF]

so sad, he was an excellent actor. I loved him as Tommy on LA Law too.

 

[LoraJ]

This is very very sad news

 

[Beth76]

I am just shocked. That's awful. I thought he was a really great actor. He was great on TWW and LA Law. I wonder how this will affect the show. So sad.

 

[janette]

Very sad, he's one of those character actors that you see often. A familiar face on screen.

 

[barkley]

tragic-i loved him as tommy on la law, and i clearly remember reading the book "presumed innocent" before the movie was cast and thinking "this is who the role is meant to be portrayed by"-i was thrilled to see him in the movie.

 

[palmtreegirl]

I am just shocked.

That was my reaction. I saw the Yahoo headline and it just said West Wing star dies and then I clicked on it and couldn't believe it. So tragic.

 

[luvthatduke]

Count me as another fan who is shocked & saddened.
While I'm not a particular fan of the WW,
I am a big fan of Spencer's acting.
Loved him in LA Law.

 

[Minniespal]

Very sad ~ I really liked him in LA Law and The West Wing.

He will be missed.