John Spencer - 1946-2005

John Spencer - 1946-2005

From AICN's Hercules, but it reflects my thoughts exactly,

Sad and tragic and shocking news. John Spencer’s “West Wing” character, Leo McGarry, had a major role in the new episode that ran against the “Survivor” finale Sunday night.

I’ve been a fan of Spencer since his Tommy Mullany days on “L.A. Law,” but his Emmy-winning work as Leo during Aaron Sorkin’s run on the series made for some of the best television I’ve ever seen. His jousting with Jed Bartlet and Josh Lyman and Sam Seaborn – oh, and British ambassador Sir John Malbury! – made me laugh so much harder than any of the sitcoms airing at the time.

One wonders how Spencer’s passing will affect the show’s scripting. McGarry is currently the running mate of presidential candidate Matt Santos (fellow “L.A. Law” alum Jimmy Smits), and we saw in the season-opening flash-forward – set three years hence – that Leo will be very much alive well after Bartlet exits office.