posted on December 16, 2005 03:11:38 PM
Can't find an article out on it yet but West Wing actor Jon Spencer has passed away after suffering a heart attack. (Ironically one his last lines on the show last week was "you guys are trying to kill me" referring to the charachters heart attack last year).
Spencer was a great actor with one of those "map of the world" faces. He will be missed.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
posted on December 16, 2005 05:45:01 PM
LOS ANGELES (AP) - 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 at a Los Angeles hospital, said his publicist, Ron Hofmann. He would have been 59 next week.
Spencer played Leo McGarry, the savvy and powerful chief of staff to President Jeb Bartlet (Martin Sheen), on the NBC series. In a sad parallel to life, Spencer's 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 against Republican Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) has been a central theme for the drama this season.
``We're shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden death of our friend and colleague,'' Aaron Sorkin, who created the series, and Tommy Schlamme, one of the original executive producers, said in a joint statement.
``John was an uncommonly good man, an exceptional role model and a brilliant actor. 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.
Series executive producer John Wells remembered Spencer not only for his acting but as ``a generous and gracious friend.''
NBC and producer Warner Bros. Television issued a statement mourning Spencer's death and calling him a ``remarkable man with enormous talent.'' The companies did not address how his loss 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 on both studio and independent films, including ``The Rock,'' ``The Negotiator,'' ``Albino Alligator,'' ``Lesser Prophets'' and ``Cold Heart.''
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
posted on December 16, 2005 06:29:32 PM
This reminds me of Cheney's wife's book where she wrote about the VP dying of a heart attack while in bed with his mistress.....wonder what SHE knows
posted on December 16, 2005 06:29:34 PM
This reminds me of Cheney's wife's book where she wrote about the VP dying of a heart attack while in bed with his mistress.....wonder what SHE knows
posted on December 16, 2005 06:45:52 PM
Replay - Nope. Leo was not in that scene. I agree with you on him being a favorite charachter on the show. Not only was the charachter great but Spencer just brought so much dimension to Leo just with his expressions. I think my favorite Leo moment was the "guy falls in a hole" scene with Josh. The brilliant part was when it came full circle a season and a half later.
I don't know how far ahead they are in the shooting so it'll be interesting to see how they deal with his death in the show.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
posted on December 16, 2005 08:18:59 PM
Maggie - when you finally get around to getting the West Wing DVDs you will understand just what an amazing actor he was. The way he played Leo made him the the guy you would want as a favoorite uncle and the boss you would take a 25% pay cut to work for.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
[/IMG] I'm making a list and checking it twice!
