John Spencer, Actor on "The West Wing" Dies of Heart Attack - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 12-16-2005, 06:58 PM

Just breaking on Fox.....

Janice · 12-16-2005, 06:58 PM

Just breaking on Fox.....

Brian Damage · 12-16-2005, 07:01 PM

Wow

Brian Damage · 12-16-2005, 07:01 PM

Wow

Mr. Television · 12-16-2005, 07:03 PM

I'm shocked. I never watched The West Wing but I remember him on LA Law.

jayman75 · 12-16-2005, 07:04 PM

Sad news... I loved him on LA Law.

Here's the release

Kazza · 12-16-2005, 07:04 PM

'West Wing' Actor John Spencer Dies at 58 6 minutes ago

John Spencer, who played vice presidential candidate Leo McGarry on NBC's "The West Wing," died of a heart attack Friday, his publicist said.

Spencer, 58, died at a Los Angeles hospital, said his publicist, Ron Hofmann. The death was first reported by the syndicated program "The Insider."

Hofmann released no other immediate details.

dawsongirl · 12-16-2005, 07:21 PM

Wow...anyone have a picture? I think I know who it is, but not 100% sure.

Zoneboy · 12-16-2005, 07:25 PM

John Spencer, the Emmy-winning actor best known for starring roles in such popular television series as "The West Wing," and "L.A. Law" has passed away at 58 after suffering a heart attack in the morning of December 16. Service and funeral arrangements have not been determined at this time.
The versatile character actor is perhaps best known for his role as Chief of Staff Leo McGarry on "The West Wing." His work on the show was rewarded with an Emmy Award win for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2002 and nominations in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004. He also received a Golden Globe nomination for his role as LeoLeo. Earlier noted work includes his portrayal of the quirky and charismatic New York attorney Tommy Mullaney on "L.A. Law."

Brian Damage · 12-16-2005, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

Wow...anyone have a picture? I think I know who it is, but not 100% sure.

Janice · 12-16-2005, 07:30 PM

.

tvfan0101 · 12-16-2005, 07:31 PM

I cannot believe this. I randomly checked CNN.com and saw John Spencer's name on the breaking news banner. He was such a fantastic actor and will be missed.

Dean Winchester · 12-16-2005, 07:39 PM

wow, that's sad and unexpected. I never watched West Wing but he seemed like a really nice guy when he was on Ellen awhile back, a real down-to-earth guy, what a shock.

80sTrivia · 12-16-2005, 07:52 PM

Oh, no... this is such sad news.. He did such an excellent job on The West Wing...

Brent88 · 12-16-2005, 08:25 PM

'West Wing' Actor John Spencer Dies at 58
Friday December 16 6:29 PM ET

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.

http://tv.yahoo.com/news/ap/20051216/113478654000.html

12-16-2005, 06:58 PM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	John Spencer, Actor on "The West Wing" Dies of Heart Attack Just breaking on Fox.....

12-16-2005, 06:58 PM	#2
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	John Spencer, Actor on "The West Wing" Dies of Heart Attack Just breaking on Fox.....

12-16-2005, 07:01 PM	#3
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Wow
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12-16-2005, 07:03 PM	#5
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I'm shocked. I never watched The West Wing but I remember him on LA Law.
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12-16-2005, 07:04 PM	#6
jayman75 I Love the 80s! Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 27, 2000 Location: THE GREAT UNITED STATES Posts: 3,809	Sad news... I loved him on LA Law. Here's the release
	__________________ A fan of quality, classic television comedies and holiday specials... The Wonder Years,The Golden Girls,Burns and Allen, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Are You Being Served?, Family Guy, South Park, Designing Women, Dallas, The Facts of Life, Roseanne, Will and Grace, The Twilight Zone, Original Scooby-Doo, Murphy Brown, The Big Bang Theory... Talk to me about one of these shows, and I'm all yours...

12-16-2005, 07:04 PM	#7
Kazza Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 17, 2003 Posts: 3,244	'West Wing' Actor John Spencer Dies at 58 6 minutes ago John Spencer, who played vice presidential candidate Leo McGarry on NBC's "The West Wing," died of a heart attack Friday, his publicist said. Spencer, 58, died at a Los Angeles hospital, said his publicist, Ron Hofmann. The death was first reported by the syndicated program "The Insider." Hofmann released no other immediate details.

12-16-2005, 07:21 PM	#8
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	Wow...anyone have a picture? I think I know who it is, but not 100% sure.

12-16-2005, 07:25 PM	#9
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,487	John Spencer, the Emmy-winning actor best known for starring roles in such popular television series as "The West Wing," and "L.A. Law" has passed away at 58 after suffering a heart attack in the morning of December 16. Service and funeral arrangements have not been determined at this time. The versatile character actor is perhaps best known for his role as Chief of Staff Leo McGarry on "The West Wing." His work on the show was rewarded with an Emmy Award win for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2002 and nominations in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004. He also received a Golden Globe nomination for his role as LeoLeo. Earlier noted work includes his portrayal of the quirky and charismatic New York attorney Tommy Mullaney on "L.A. Law."
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12-16-2005, 07:30 PM	#11
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	.

12-16-2005, 07:31 PM	#12
tvfan0101 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 29, 2003 Posts: 961	I cannot believe this. I randomly checked CNN.com and saw John Spencer's name on the breaking news banner. He was such a fantastic actor and will be missed.

12-16-2005, 07:39 PM	#13
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	wow, that's sad and unexpected. I never watched West Wing but he seemed like a really nice guy when he was on Ellen awhile back, a real down-to-earth guy, what a shock.

12-16-2005, 07:52 PM	#14
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,714	Oh, no... this is such sad news.. He did such an excellent job on The West Wing...
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12-16-2005, 08:25 PM	#15
Brent88 Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 01, 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 16,174	'West Wing' Actor John Spencer Dies at 58 Friday December 16 6:29 PM ET 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. http://tv.yahoo.com/news/ap/20051216/113478654000.html
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