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Wow, that's sad. I don't watch West Wing, but I liked him on LA Law and other shows.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051216/...v/obit_spencer
LOS ANGELES - John Spencer, who played a dedicated politico on "The West Wing" who survived a serious illness to run for vice president, died of a heart attack Friday, his publicist said. Spencer, 58, died at a Los Angeles hospital, said publicist Ron Hofmann. He would have been 59 next week.
Spencer played Leo McGarry, the chief of staff to President Jeb Bartlet ( Martin Sheen) through the first few seasons of the NBC series. In a sad parallel to life, his character suffered a heart attack that forced him to give up his White House job.
The character recovered and was picked as a running mate for Democratic presidential contender Matt Santos, played by Jimmy Smits; the campaign has been a central theme this season for the drama.
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 drama.
The actor mirrored his character in several ways: both were recovering alcoholics and both, Spencer once said, 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 grew up in Paterson, N.J., the son of blue-collar parents. With his enrollment at the Professional Children's School in Manhattan, he was sharing classes with the likes of Liza Minnelli and budding violinist Pinchas Zukerman.
As a teenager, Spencer 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."
Service and funeral arrangements were pending, Hofmann said.
Wow, that's sad. I don't watch West Wing, but I liked him on LA Law and other shows.
This is very sad news. I'm a huge West Wing fan and I loved his character. God Bless!
Sucks. I'm also a huge fan of The West Wing.
"Leo" will be missed.
He was one of my favorite characters on the show. And he was going to be VP with President Jimmy. This just sucks! I am very sad.
RIP
I remember him 1st in move WARGAMES... he was the guy who would not turn the key to launch his nuke...
West Wing is real.. Bush is fake...
But i'll admit it is a really good show. As far as the chemistry and quality of production.
sux, he was in "Copland", very underatted film
RIP
Hey, wow. That was Leo...
He was in "The Rock"..gr8 movie.
He was only 58? He looked like he was in his 70s.
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