John Spencer, Leo McGarry on West Wing, passed away from a heart attack today. Heard it reported on NPR's All Things Considered.

While very sad in real life, I wonder what it will do to his fictional counterpart. There will have to be a new vice presidential candidate or vice president, depending on how far in advance these things are made.

Wow that is sad. He was a great actor and I loved him in WW

RIP John

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That's so sad. How ironic that his chacter on the show suffered a heart attack, too.

I remember in the last episode he said, "You guys are trying to kill me," when they were trying to get him to take over running the campaign as well as running for VP.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

I was just sitting here watching the news and I heard about him. how sad. What a great actor.

Sad news. It is eerie given the past WW plot line as rgG mentioned...

=wr=

wow, I'd hate my last work to be on that show.

One of the guys on there, his SISTER is in the Mac business. She does that training DVD stuff. I s/w her on the phone once.

Malina

[www.imdb.com]

I remember him from his days on L.A. Law. Wonderful actor.

I saw him a few years back in Glimmer, Glimmer, and Shine, a stage production that debuted on the Taper stage in L.A. and went on to play Broadway. It was a real treat to see him on stage. He had a quality that is all too rare among today's younger actors. RIP, Mr. Spencer.


[www.curtainup.com]

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It is what it is.

Such a shame. I was reading his bio and his first TV role was on the Patty Duke Show in the 60s. I looked, but couldn't find any photos of him from then.

I too wonder how far along they're into the WW shooting schedule.I thought I read that the producers signed him and Janney and some of the others to long-term contracts, so I suspect they're planning on the Smits character winning the election. I'd rather they let the Alda character win so Republicans can get their shot at a fantasy President. Plus, just keeping some of the old cast and replacing others would kind of make it feel like that After MASH show they tried to pull off when MASH ended it's run. Better to start with a clean slate.

The longer I think about this, the sadder I get. He was my favorite actor and his was my favorite character on one of my all-time favorite television shows.

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It is what it is.