'West Wing' Actor John Spencer Dies at 58.
John Spencer, Who Played Dedicated Politico on 'The West Wing,' Dies of Heart Attack at 58. By LYNN ELBER AP Television Writer LOS ANGELES Dec 17, 2005 — Actor John Spencer, who played the role of Leo McGarry in "The West Wing," mirrored his character in several ways: Both were recovering alcoholics and both were driven.
"Like Leo, I've always been a workaholic, too," he told The Associated Press in a 2000 interview. "Through good times and bad, acting has been my escape, my joy, my nourishment. The drug for me, even better than alcohol, was acting."
Spencer died of a heart attack Friday. In a sad parallel to life, his character on the show had earlier suffered a heart attack that forced him to give up his White House job.
Spencer died after being admitted to a Los Angeles hospital during the night, said his publicist, Ron Hofmann. He would have been 59 on Tuesday.
He was "one of those rare combinations of divinely gifted and incredibly generous," said Richard Schiff, who plays Toby Ziegler on the NBC series.
"There are very few personal treasures that you put in your knapsack to carry with you for the rest of your life, and he's one of those," Schiff said. He said Spencer had been struggling with health issues but seemed to have rebounded.
As McGarry, Spencer played the savvy and powerful chief of staff to President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet (Martin Sheen). In recent episodes, he was picked as a running mate for Democratic presidential contender Matt Santos, played by Jimmy Smits; the campaign against Republican Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) has been a central theme for the drama this season.
"John was an uncommonly good man, an exceptional role model and a brilliant actor," said Aaron Sorkin, who created the series, and Tommy Schlamme, one of the original executive producers, in a joint statement.
"We feel privileged to have known him and worked with him. He'll be missed and remembered every day by his many, many friends," they said.
Actress Allison Janney, C.J. Cregg on the series, described Spencer as a consummate professional actor. "Everyone adored him," she said.
"We have all lost a dear, dear brother," said Bradley Whitford, who plays Josh Lyman.
NBC and producer Warner Bros. Television praised Spencer's talent but did not address how his death would affect the Emmy Award-winning series, in production on its seventh season.
Spencer, who also starred on "L.A. Law" as attorney Tommy Mullaney, received an Emmy Award for his performance on "The West Wing" in 2002 and was nominated four other times for the series.
Spencer grew up in Paterson, N.J., the son of blue-collar parents. With his enrollment at the Professional Children's School in Manhattan at age 16, he was sharing classes with the likes of Liza Minnelli and budding violinist Pinchas Zukerman.
As a teenager, he landed a recurring role on "The Patty Duke Show" as the boyfriend of English twin Cathy. Stage and film work followed. Then his big break: playing Harrison Ford's detective sidekick in the 1990 courtroom thriller "Presumed Innocent." That role led to his hiring for the final four years of "L.A. Law."
Spencer played a streetwise lawyer on the David E. Kelley drama that was in sharp contrast to the show's otherwise glamorous cast and setting.
After attending the Manhattan performing arts school, Spencer studied at Fairleigh Dickenson University. He then began working on stage in New York and in regional theaters, in plays including David Mamet's "Lakeboat" and Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie."
Spencer won an Obie Award for the 1981 off-Broadway production of "Still Life," about a Vietnam veteran, and received a Drama Desk nomination for "The Day Room."
His made his feature film debut with a small role in "War Games," which was followed by roles in "Sea of Love" and "Black Rain." Spencer said his work in "Presumed Innocent" represented a "watershed role."
In recent years, he worked both in studio and independent films, including "The Rock," "The Negotiator," "Albino Alligator," "Lesser Prophets" and "Cold Heart."
Spencer, an only child, is survived by "cousins, aunts, uncles, and wonderful friends," Hofmann said.
Associated Press Writer Jeremiah Marquez contributed to this report.
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
John Spencer dies at 58. Dec 16, 2005 — LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Veteran character actor John Spencer, Emmy-winning star of NBC television drama "The West Wing," died on Friday at a Los Angeles hospital after suffering a heart attack, his spokesman said.
Spencer, 58, portrayed vice presidential candidate Leo McGarry on the widely watched series that portrays the inner workings of a fictional White House.
The McGarry character earned Spencer an Emmy, American television's highest honor, for best supporting actor in a drama in 2002. The show also earned Emmys for best TV drama and Screen Actors Guild awards for ensemble acting.
"We're a well-oiled machine," he said of his fellow "West Wing" performers backstage at the 2002 SAG awards. "I'm always better depending on who I'm dancing with, and these are the best partners I've ever had."
While some of his "West Wing" co-stars, such as Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe and Bradley Whitford, were not shy about using their profile to support left-wing causes, Spencer said he was an entertainer first and foremost.
"I scream at the right-wingers on the talking-head shows," Spencer told Playboy magazine in 2001. "At the same time, I make clear in all of my associations that I'm an actor who plays a politician. I let the problems of the free world go when I leave the studio."
Spencer also starred in popular 1990s television drama "L.A. Law" as tough-minded but funny attorney Tommy Mullaney.
Ron Hofmann, a spokesman for Spencer, said he had no knowledge of whether the actor suffered from a heart condition or other ailment that would have caused a heart attack. Like his character on "West Wing," Spencer was an acknowledged alcoholic, but quit drinking long ago.
Spencer was the only child of Mildred and John Speshock. He left his home in Patterson, New Jersey, at age 16 to attend Professional Children's School in New York City, and changed his name to Spencer.
His first big break came in 1963 playing Henry Anderson, the boyfriend of an English twin on "The Patty Duke Show."
"I looked sort of like a toothpick with a head," Spencer said in the Playboy interview. "I had this crew cut and big old ears sticking out. I was a child and I had a lot of freedom. The exuberance was real even if there wasn't a lot of technique."
For a time, he attended Fairleigh Dickenson University, but returned to New York to pursue a career in theater.
Throughout the 1970s, he performed in plays ranging from David Mamet's "Lakeboat" to "Still Life," for which he earned an OBIE award.
A road production of "Still Life," about a Vietnam veteran, brought Spencer to Los Angeles, and it was there that he earned his first role in a major feature film, "War Games." Other film roles came in "Sea of Love" and "Presumed Innocent."
But it was on TV where Spencer made his mark. As Mullaney on "L.A. Law," from 1990 to 1994 he helped breathe new life into the show's final years.
Spencer was not married and had no children.
Reuters/VNU
Copyright 2005 Reuters News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
'West Wing' star John Spencer dies at 58. Dec 16, 2005 — LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Veteran character actor John Spencer, Emmy-winning star of NBC television drama "The West Wing," died on Friday at a Los Angeles hospital after suffering a heart attack, his spokesman said.
Spencer, 58, portrayed vice presidential candidate Leo McGarry on the widely watched series that portrays the inner workings of a fictional White House.
The McGarry character earned Spencer an Emmy, American television's highest honor, for best supporting actor in a drama in 2002. The show also earned Emmys for best TV drama and Screen Actors Guild awards for ensemble acting.
"We're a well-oiled machine," he said of his fellow "West Wing" performers backstage at the 2002 SAG awards. "I'm always better depending on who I'm dancing with, and these are the best partners I've ever had."
Spencer also starred in popular 1990s television drama "L.A. Law" as tough-minded but funny attorney Tommy Mullaney.
Ron Hofmann, a spokesman for Spencer, said he had no knowledge of whether the actor suffered from a heart condition or other ailment that would have caused a heart attack. Like his character on "West Wing," Spencer was an acknowledged alcoholic, but quit drinking long ago.
Spencer was the only child of Mildred and John Speshock. He left his home in Paterson, New Jersey, at age 16 to attend Professional Children's School in New York City, and changed his name to Spencer.
His first big break came in 1963 playing Henry Anderson, the boyfriend of an English twin on "The Patty Duke Show." For a time, he attended Fairleigh Dickenson University, but returned to New York to pursue a career in theater.
Throughout the 1970s, he performed in plays ranging from David Mamet's "Lakeboat" to "Still Life," for which he earned an OBIE award.
A road production of "Still Life," about a Vietnam veteran, brought Spencer to Los Angeles, and it was there that he earned his first role in a major feature film, "War Games." Other film roles came in "Sea of Love" and "Presumed Innocent."
But it was on TV where Spencer made his mark. As Mullaney on "L.A. Law," from 1990 to 1994 he helped breathe new life into the show's final years.
Spencer is not married and has no kids. He is survived by cousins, aunts, uncles and friends, his family members said in a statement.
Copyright 2005 Reuters News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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