Actor John Spencer passes

[Free For All]

I've always enjoyed his performances, going back to L.A. Law and beyond. He was great on West Wing- they will sorely miss him.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — 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 today, 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 enrolment 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.

[catesta]

That's sad.

I didn't know him by name but when I saw his picture I remembered who he was.

58 is way too young.

[Christiern]

He was, IMO, one of the best in West Wing's stellar cast.--CA

'West Wing' actor John Spencer dies at 58

Actor John Spencer, from the television series

"The West Wing," gives a thumbs up as he arrives

for the 59th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly

Hills, Calif., in this Jan. 20, 2002, file photo. Spencer,

58, died of a heart attack Friday, Dec. 15, 2005, at a

Los Angeles hospital, his publicist Ron Hofmann said.

(AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

By LYNN ELBER

AP Television Writer | December 16, 2005

L

OS ANGELES --John Spencer, who played a tough and dedicated politico on "The West Wing" who survived a serious illness to run for vice president, died of a heart attack Friday. He was 58.

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 actor Richard Schiff, who played 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.

Spencer played Leo McGarry, the savvy and powerful chief of staff to President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet (Martin Sheen). In a sad parallel to life, Spencer's character suffered a heart attack that forced him to give up his White House job.

McGarry recovered and 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.

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.

The actor, whose world-weary countenance was perfect for the role of McGarry, 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 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.

[WD45]

I gotta say, I thought he was well past 58.

[ep1str0phy]

I'm a huge fan of his work. He will be missed.

[BERIGAN]

Very sorry to hear this! My Mom watched a fair bit of West Wing, and I watched L.A. Law some as well.

I'll take a wild guess and say he was a smoker. That was the voice of a smoker.

[J.A.W.]

I'm a huge fan of his work.

So am I.

He will be missed.

[Dan Gould]

I never watched The West Wing but I stuck with LA Law through the end and he certainly made that show a lot more watchable when he was on it, easily the best actor they had. RIP.

[MartyJazz]

Very sorry to hear this! My Mom watched a fair bit of West Wing, and I watched L.A. Law some as well.

I'll take a wild guess and say he was a smoker. That was the voice of a smoker.

Yeah, I have to agree because he looked way past 58 and we know that smoking does age you faster. I, a non smoker, was shocked to discover that I'm older (by 2 years) than he was. In any event, he was the consummate professional, quite credible in every role he took on. RIP.

[Stereojack]

Very sorry to hear this! My Mom watched a fair bit of West Wing, and I watched L.A. Law some as well.

I'll take a wild guess and say he was a smoker. That was the voice of a smoker.

Yeah, I have to agree because he looked way past 58 and we know that smoking does age you faster. I, a non smoker, was shocked to discover that I'm older (by 2 years) than he was. In any event, he was the consummate professional, quite credible in every role he took on. RIP.

This is from his IMDB biography:

"John had been an acknowledged alcoholic, who remained sober ever since getting therapy. He had quit smoking in 1999, which he described as 'hell on earth'."

I guess the years of damage had taken their toll. I agree that he was a pro, probably even a workaholic, which may have also contributed to his demise.

[kinuta]

Another fine actor leaves us. Right from the first time I saw him in ' Presumed Innocent' I've always thought him a real class act and one of my main reasons for following 'The West Wing '.

A shame indeed.

[Christiern]

Interesting that neither Conrad nor Dan G. watch "West Wing." It is well-written, superbly produced series with a first-class cast--I would think that, alone would warrant tuning in. I sometimes watch murder mysteries and yet I don't support murder.

Closed minds keep so much good stuff out.

[gdogus]

Very sorry to hear this! My Mom watched a fair bit of West Wing, and I watched L.A. Law some as well.

I'll take a wild guess and say he was a smoker. That was the voice of a smoker.

Yeah, I have to agree because he looked way past 58 and we know that smoking does age you faster. I, a non smoker, was shocked to discover that I'm older (by 2 years) than he was. In any event, he was the consummate professional, quite credible in every role he took on. RIP.

This is from his IMDB biography:

"John had been an acknowledged alcoholic, who remained sober ever since getting therapy. He had quit smoking in 1999, which he described as 'hell on earth'."

I guess the years of damage had taken their toll. I agree that he was a pro, probably even a workaholic, which may have also contributed to his demise.

I'm glad to see we're all able to derive our little moral lessons from John Spencer's death. Because that's the point, after all.

[Dan Gould]

Interesting that neither Conrad nor Dan G. watch "West Wing." It is well-written, superbly produced series with a first-class cast--I would think that, alone would warrant tuning in. I sometimes watch murder mysteries and yet I don't support murder.

Closed minds keep so much good stuff out.

In the interests of keeping this thread on topic, I'll ignore this blather.

[Christiern]

In the interests of keeping this thread on topic, I'll ignore this blather.

Whew!

[ValerieB]

it's amazing that spencer's role on west wing ended up as first art imitating life and lastly life imitating art! and i am another that was shocked to hear that he was only 58. i thought he was at least 10 years older. i'm assuming alcohol and cigarettes contributed to that. everyone who knew him says he was the sweetest, kindest, most wonderful man. i know he will be missed by many. david kelley and his writers sure have their work cut out for them now!

[7/4]

Interesting that neither Conrad nor Dan G. watch "West Wing." It is well-written, superbly produced series with a first-class cast--I would think that, alone would warrant tuning in. I sometimes watch murder mysteries and yet I don't support murder.

Closed minds keep so much good stuff out.

In the interests of keeping this thread on topic, I'll ignore this blather.

I rarely watch this show, but it's pretty good. You should check it out Dan.

[BERIGAN]

Interesting that neither Conrad nor Dan G. watch "West Wing." It is well-written, superbly produced series with a first-class cast--I would think that, alone would warrant tuning in. I sometimes watch murder mysteries and yet I don't support murder.

Closed minds keep so much good stuff out.

Uhmm Chris...Since my Mom was bedridden and dying , I ended up watching a fair bit of what she watched. So, I saw many episodes of West Wing. She watched it from the beginning, and was a lifelong Republican(My Dad was the crazy who voted for Kennedy and Johnson! ) Though Sheen's character is an overly idealized, liberal's dream of a President he is a bit of a hawk....and has done some things pretty much like Bush has done them, which is interesting. IMO.

Hey Chris, just for the halibut, why don't you watch week of Fox news, you know just to get right to the source of the lies???

Closed minds keep so much good stuff out.

Edited December 17, 2005 by BERIGAN

[Christiern]

Conrad, it may come as a surprise to you, but I regularly tune in to Hannity and O'Reilly, jst to keep up with that side. My mind is quite capable of filtering, so checking out the opposition is not something I have to fear. Glad to see that you keep it ajar.

[Big Al]

She watched it from the beginning, and was a lifelong Republican

Uh oh: better check your thread dedicated to your mom's passing, make sure Chris hasn't edited/deleted his tribute to your mom.

(Ahh... this post has nothing to do with the thread at hand. Probably oughta delete it, but what the hell?)

****************

Spencer had one of those faces that made you think you've seen him in so many more shows/movies. Hasn't he?

I better hurry and post this so Chris can get his retort in to my full post!

Edited December 18, 2005 by Big Al

[Big Al]

"War Games." Maybe that's it. Must've watched the movie a zillion times when it first came out on VHS in the 80's.