Actor John Spencer Dies at 58

brimick79 · 12-16-2005, 05:12 PM

John Spencer best known for playing Leo Mcgary on "The West Wing" died of a heart attack today at 58.

RIP.

Sad part is he wasn't an old man his best years and best work were yet to come. Very sad.

Easy Mac · 12-16-2005, 05:13 PM

That sucks... should make for some interesting writing the rest of the show, since he was Jimmy Smit's running mate.

Glengoyne · 12-16-2005, 05:19 PM

Always liked John Spencer. First noticed him back on L.A. Law, I think. Did a lot of things, and I think did them very well.

Senator · 12-16-2005, 05:22 PM

This is sad to me.

Vegas Vic · 12-16-2005, 05:24 PM

Sad news, indeed. Spencer was a very underrated actor.

davidlando1 · 12-16-2005, 06:05 PM

This is sad, I'm a big fan of his and the West Wing.

JonInMiddleGA · 12-16-2005, 06:06 PM

I didn't care for the guy's personal politics, but he was a damned fine actor & I'm sorry to see him go.

A real surprise too, I mean reading some bios, he quit smoking 6 yrs ago, quit drinking over a decade ago ... and then has a heart attack. Damn.

RebelMan · 12-16-2005, 06:39 PM

Wasn't he the guy that looked like Rumsfeld? Sorry to see him go.

Buccaneer · 12-16-2005, 07:08 PM

I really liked him when he came on LA Law ("Don't make me come over there and smack ya), which was the only time I saw him (I think).

gottimd · 12-16-2005, 07:10 PM

JeffNights · 12-16-2005, 08:08 PM

He was only 58? Sometimes on the show he looked alot older.

henry296 · 12-16-2005, 08:21 PM

Very sad. I enjoyed him on West Wing.

Interestingly, his character on the West Wing had a heart attack a couple of seasons ago.

kcchief19 · 12-16-2005, 08:24 PM

What a shock, and how eerie given the storyline he had on the show. I've been a fan of his since Presumed Innocent and through LA Law and some other movies to The West Wing. Terrible news.

This will definitely be quite a blow for the show. John Spencer was one of the core members of the cast that would be part of a revamped show if it's picked up for another season and reaches what looks like an evitable conclusion of a hand off to Jimmy Smits. I don't know how many shows are in the can, but it will certainly make an impact on the writing for this season and whether or not the show gets picked up for another season.

He will be missed by his fans. Just a terrible loss, especially for a guy who seemed like playing Leo was the role of a lifetime.

saldana · 12-16-2005, 08:31 PM

la law + the west wing he was great in, but he also was awesome as the fbi director in The Rock. this is indeed sad.

Draft Dodger · 12-16-2005, 08:35 PM

how sad. I'm a huge fan of his work on West Wing

cougarfreak · 12-16-2005, 09:04 PM

Man, this sucks. He was very good on West Wing, and LA Law. RIP

FBPro · 12-16-2005, 09:26 PM

Never watched WW but remember him on LA Law for sure. Always liked him.

QuikSand · 12-16-2005, 09:31 PM

"Was them that fucked up."
*shrugs*

-from Presumed Innocent

kcchief19 · 12-16-2005, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSand

"Was them that fucked up."
*shrugs*

-from Presumed Innocent

The lady was bad news.

I think it would be great if there really were a big block of cheese day.

thealmighty · 12-17-2005, 01:24 AM

The wrong V.P. had a heart attack.

kingnebwsu · 12-17-2005, 02:37 AM

Ouch...

Seriously, he was in two of my all-time favorite movies: Wargames and The Rock. Everytime I saw his related to West Wing I thought of those 2 movies. Bummer

stevew · 12-17-2005, 05:52 AM

He looked awful old for only being 58. Shame, since he was a pretty good actor. Even if he was on the Left Wing.

12-16-2005, 05:22 PM	#4
Senator FOFC's Elected Representative Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The stars at night; are big and bright	This is sad to me. __________________ "i have seen chris simms play 4-5 times in the pros and he's very clearly got it. he won't make a pro bowl this year, but it'll come. if you don't like me saying that, so be it, but its true. we'll just have to wait until then" imettrentgreen "looking at only ten games, and oddly using a median only, leaves me unmoved generally" - Quiksand

12-16-2005, 06:06 PM	#7
JonInMiddleGA Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA	I didn't care for the guy's personal politics, but he was a damned fine actor & I'm sorry to see him go. A real surprise too, I mean reading some bios, he quit smoking 6 yrs ago, quit drinking over a decade ago ... and then has a heart attack. Damn. __________________ "I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis

12-16-2005, 06:39 PM	#8
RebelMan Mascot Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada	Wasn't he the guy that looked like Rumsfeld? Sorry to see him go. __________________ Roger the Alien: Don't hurt me! I know it sounds cliche, but I mean you no harm! Stanley Smith: You're the alien? But they said you'd be bigger, and with claws. Roger the Alien: Oh, I've got claws. Look how fat you are. See? Kitty can scratch.

12-16-2005, 07:10 PM	#10
gottimd Dearly Missed (9/25/77-12/23/08) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: DC Suburbs	__________________ NAFL New Orleans Saints GM/Co-Commish MP Career Record: 114-85 NAFL Super Bowl XI Champs In memory of Gavin Anthony: 7/22/08-7/26/08

12-16-2005, 08:21 PM	#12
henry296 College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	Very sad. I enjoyed him on West Wing. Interestingly, his character on the West Wing had a heart attack a couple of seasons ago. __________________ "It's a great day for hockey" - "Badger" Bob Johnson

12-16-2005, 05:13 PM	#2
Easy Mac Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Here	That sucks... should make for some interesting writing the rest of the show, since he was Jimmy Smit's running mate.

12-16-2005, 05:19 PM	#3
Glengoyne Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Fresno, CA	Always liked John Spencer. First noticed him back on L.A. Law, I think. Did a lot of things, and I think did them very well.

12-16-2005, 05:24 PM	#5
Vegas Vic Checkraising Tourists Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cocoa Beach, FL	Sad news, indeed. Spencer was a very underrated actor.

12-16-2005, 06:05 PM	#6
davidlando1 Mascot Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Sycamore, Il	This is sad, I'm a big fan of his and the West Wing.

12-16-2005, 07:08 PM	#9
Buccaneer Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Colorado	I really liked him when he came on LA Law ("Don't make me come over there and smack ya), which was the only time I saw him (I think).

12-16-2005, 08:08 PM	#11
JeffNights College Prospect Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Michigan	He was only 58? Sometimes on the show he looked alot older.

12-16-2005, 08:24 PM	#13
kcchief19 Pro Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Kansas City, MO	What a shock, and how eerie given the storyline he had on the show. I've been a fan of his since Presumed Innocent and through LA Law and some other movies to The West Wing. Terrible news. This will definitely be quite a blow for the show. John Spencer was one of the core members of the cast that would be part of a revamped show if it's picked up for another season and reaches what looks like an evitable conclusion of a hand off to Jimmy Smits. I don't know how many shows are in the can, but it will certainly make an impact on the writing for this season and whether or not the show gets picked up for another season. He will be missed by his fans. Just a terrible loss, especially for a guy who seemed like playing Leo was the role of a lifetime.

12-16-2005, 08:31 PM	#14
saldana Pro Starter Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bethlehem, Pa	la law + the west wing he was great in, but he also was awesome as the fbi director in The Rock. this is indeed sad.

12-16-2005, 08:35 PM	#15
Draft Dodger Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Keene, NH	how sad. I'm a huge fan of his work on West Wing __________________ Mile High Hockey

12-16-2005, 09:04 PM	#16
cougarfreak College Starter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Out of Grad School Hell :)	Man, this sucks. He was very good on West Wing, and LA Law. RIP

12-16-2005, 09:26 PM	#17
FBPro College Starter Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SE	Never watched WW but remember him on LA Law for sure. Always liked him. __________________ GM RayCo Raiders-est. 2004-2012 Charter member of the IHOF-RayCo GM GM Tennessee Titans PFL 2011-2014 GM Tennessee Titans FOWL 2020-2025

12-16-2005, 09:31 PM	#18
QuikSand lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Annapolis, Md	"Was them that fucked up." shrugs -from Presumed Innocent

12-17-2005, 01:24 AM	#20
thealmighty Pro Starter Join Date: May 2003 Location: heaven	The wrong V.P. had a heart attack. __________________ Check out The Unofficial FOFC Movie Guide Here

12-17-2005, 02:37 AM	#21
kingnebwsu College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Ohio	Ouch... Seriously, he was in two of my all-time favorite movies: Wargames and The Rock. Everytime I saw his related to West Wing I thought of those 2 movies. Bummer

12-17-2005, 05:52 AM	#22
stevew Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the yo'	He looked awful old for only being 58. Shame, since he was a pretty good actor. Even if he was on the Left Wing.

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