"West Wing" star John Spencer has died of a heart attack

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/entertainment/13425534.htm

Not much at the link ... :(

:cry:

:(

:cry: :cry:

RIP, Leo McGarry... :cry:

DAMMIT


:cry: :(

a great old style character actor.

excellent actor

:(

oh my god I loved him

I liked his character on WW.

:rofl: I watched that all the time. Would not have guessed. He might have been about 19 or 20 at the time. I am only two years younger than he was and was in high school at the time.

He had a terrific face. Like something carved into a rock.

This makes me so sad! I loved him on West Wing, and also in LA Law.

:cry: :cry: :cry:

Leo... :cry:

Life imitating art.

gonna miss him

R.I.P.

I loved Leo, he was my favorite on the show. Damn, that sucks something fierce. He was a great actor for sure. :(

I remembered John from when he was on LA LAW too.

Oh crap that makes me sad/angry. He was quite a guy. :cry:

The man had a gift.

but I damn sure knew him from 'Presumed Innocent', and that scene in 'War Games'

That was such a great film!

Good call.

Even if they planned on having the republicans win, they have to write in something about Leo dying, in a tasteful way, if that's possible. Likely before the election on the show

I just had to break the news to her. He was her fave character. :(

he was my favorite on the show...

a great actor.

Damn it :cry:

RL

thanks for posting that. Great pic! The man was a class act and a great actor. Hey all three in that pic are some classy guys, huh? :)

Two great Presidents and a great actor! :)

Man, I woke up this morning to hear this news.. Richard Pryor last week and John Spencer this week? I wonder how they'll handle his role on the show as VP?

:cry:

It was filmed on the West Wing set. Gore, playing himself, was visiting the cast -- and started to make some unusual requests! Here is the transcript, though it doesn't give the full impact of the piece. John Spencer's facial expressions were just classic! (That episode is available as an Emmy screening DVD -- I managed to get a copy on eBay a while ago.)

Al Gore: Of course! John! I'm a huge fan.

John Spencer: Thank you, sir.

Al Gore: Say, John.. could you do me a small favor?

John Spencer: Of course.

Al Gore: I'm gonna stand over here by the window, with my back to you. And I'd like you to.. step up to the desk and say, "Mr. President? The Joint Chiefs want an answer."

< Spencer looks at Sheen with disturbed horror >

John Spencer: Sure.

< Gore takes his place by the window >

John Spencer: "Mr. President? The Joint Chiefs want an answer."

Al Gore: < turns dramatically to face Spencer > "Tell them.. we're going in!"

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/02/02hwestwing.phtml

May he find a peaceful rest. :(

Leo was my favorite character on the West Wing...he will be missed :cry:

I loved Leo!

My thoughts to his family and friends. :cry:

He wore like an old shoe -- I really loved his voice and his ease, his presence. What a sad, sad night. God rest his soul.

How sad for his companion, Patricia Mariano. Sad, sad, sad. I'll miss him.

:(

:-(

John Spencer was an excellent, superb, first class and talented actor whose portrayal of Leo McGary truly has to have been one of the best portrayals of a character I have ever seen on TV. Leo was one of my favorite characters on the "West Wing" -next to Martin Sheen -and I will miss John Spencer and his presence and contribution immensely. Thank you, thank you so much John for giving us such a wonderful insight into your acting talents

RIP and may God be with your family and friends in their hour of need John Spencer. Thank you for the contribution you made to this earth while you were on it:cry:

What will always be my memory of him is his appearance with Al Gore on SNL. "Mr President -- the Joint Chiefs are waiting for an answer...."

He brought such a solemnity to that moment that he made it unforgettable.

RIP

I work just down the road from Warner Bros. Studios, where The West Wing shoots. I wonder if he ever drove by. It would have been cool to meet him.

It's incredibly sad and ironic. John Spencer was one of the best parts about The West Wing, and now he dies from what plagued his character last season.

I almost threw up when I read this.

He played my favorite character on the West Wing . I will never forget his acting in the scene when he was on his way to tell President Bartlett that the secretary who he had known his childhood had died on her way to picking up her brand new car - the scene contained no speaking but he delivered it with so emotion . I don't even want to watch anymore episodes of the " West Wing " now . Damn - I can not believe this . I loved the way he delivered . I am so speechless right now . RIP ...

:cry:

Bravo. Leo was my favorite character too. Very sad.

Aw, man, that SUCKS.

:cry::cry:

I loved Leo. What will West Wing do now? I was also a big fan when Spencer was on L.A. Law. :(

As far as I'm concerned, John Spencer's Leo was the best realized, most valuable character on "West Wing." There's no replacing him. I hope the show's producers and writers do him the honor of dealing with this tragedy in some meaningful way.....

I remember reading his TV Guide interview a year or so after WW first aired. He talked proudly about being even further to the left in real life than his character of Leo. I loved the fact that Leo was a tough, hard-nosed politico and a decorated Vietnam War jet pilot AND a liberal. He stood in for so many people like in this country who don't get the attention they deserve because of the manufactured disparity between their political beliefs and their patriotic accomplishments.

God bless, Mr. Spencer. Rest In Peace.

He was the one who really knew about politics. If it hadn't been for him, Bartlet wouldn't have become President.

During the episode at Camp David where Bartlet disregards Leo's advice (and basically sends him away) -- I could hardly bear to watch. Leo looked so dejected and hurt. Brilliant job by Spencer.