RIP Leo

[Harbinger]

I know there's a few West Wing fans here... sad news:

West Wing's Leo dies at age of 58

John Spencer, the actor who plays politician Leo McGarry in NBC television's The West Wing, has died of a heart attack at 58.

The actor died in hospital in Los Angeles on Friday, his publicist said in a brief statement.

The seventh series of the political drama is currently being shown in the United States.

Spencer, who also starred in LA Law as attorney Tommy Mullaney, received an Emmy Award for his performance in The West Wing in 2002 and was nominated four other times for the drama.

Like his West Wing character, he was a recovering alcoholic and he once told AP:

"Like Leo, I've always been a workaholic, too. Through good times and bad, acting has been my escape, my joy, my nourishment. The drug for me, even better than alcohol, was acting."

John Spencer grew up in Paterson, New Jersey, the son of working-class parents, and he studied at the Professional Children's School in Manhattan.

His big break came in 1990 when he played Harrison Ford's detective sidekick in the 1990 courtroom thriller Presumed Innocent.

 

[PDJ]

A real shame. I wonder where the West Wing will go from here???

 

[Colin Phillips]

...........he was good but hardly irreplaceable, Paul.

 

[PDJ]

Colin, have you seen the 6th series?

 

[Dave G]

I'm up to date with the US broadcasts of series 7. Strange how real life has mirrored the show. Leo was always a favourite character.

 

[PDJ]

Will they just replace him? He has become pretty important as the presumptive Vice President.

 

[Harbinger]

I can't see any way for them to deal with it other than having Leo die too.

 

[PDJ]

Same here. Bring back Jed as VP!!

 

[Colin Phillips]

No Paul, just bought the DVD as a prezzie for my elder daughter.

But, as happened with John Smith a year or three back, politicians do die in office.

 

[Shadow Leader]

Whether he is irreplaceable or not in the West Wing is irrelevant, surely?

RIP - that is no age to go, a terrible shame.

 

[rumoursabound]

SL,
i thought that everyone over 28 was ancient and needed to be done away with! :lol:

 

[Ardross]

In very poor taste Derek

 

[PDJ]

Can someone change the title of this thread to tell people there are spoilers on it? Though it may be too late for some....

 

[Ted]

Being a boring git I've never heard of West Wing, but I remember him well from LA Law.

 

[Desert Orchid]

I find it hard to believe he was only 58 He must've been something like 53 when they started making the series and he looked old then. I'm 50, so it's got me worried as hell

He was one of my favourite characters, too.

 

[krizon]

Unless you've become especially careworn in the last couple of years, Dessie, I can assure you that you look nowhere near as old as he did at 53! Mind you, I thought he looked about 65 then...