# RIP John Spencer **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 16, 2005, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988 "2005-12-16T23:06:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988/1 "2005-12-16T23:06:55Z")
John Spencer, who played Leo McGarry on [has died](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051216/ap_en_tv/obit_spencer), ironically, of a heart attack (Leo almost died of a heart attack several seasons ago). He was a great actor, and seemed like a good guy. My condolences to his family. (And I can’t help but wonder how the producers and writers of WW will handle this… have Leo die suddenly? bring in a new actor to play Leo?) ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988/2 "2005-12-16T23:12:34Z")
Bummer. I’ve been a big fan of his since _L.A. Law_. Well, at least he died while his career was hot. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988/3 "2005-12-16T23:17:30Z")
Hmm, I’d totally forgotten that both Jimmy Smits and Spencer were _L.A. Law_ veterans. I’d kinda like to see Spencer’s character collapse at the convention and have Smits hold his body, making a speech that is short but the most rousing speech I’ve ever heard, getting swept into the White House with powers that will make martial law seem like anarchy. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988/4 "2005-12-16T23:39:14Z")
DAMN. John Spencer was an amazing actor. Leo McGarry was one of the best characters on the show, and that was because of Spencer’s acting. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988/5 "2005-12-16T23:41:36Z")
Well, that sucks. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988/6 "2005-12-16T23:48:04Z")
That does suck. When I watched the show, he was by far my favorite character. It will be weird to see how WW handles it. ---
**Author:** ![Amaranta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Amaranta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amaranta)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988/7 "2005-12-16T23:51:00Z")
Damn. Damn. Only 58. I’m really upset. I don’t think any other celeb death this year has upset me so much. Damn. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988/8 "2005-12-16T23:58:31Z")
I for one will never forget his titanic battle with Cliff Thorburn. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988/9 "2005-12-16T23:58:24Z")
Damn again. I’ll miss watching him. ---
**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988/10 "2005-12-17T00:35:19Z")
That really sucks. Dammit. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988/11 "2005-12-17T00:52:44Z")
It’s sad, particularly for his family and friends. But I have to admit, I’m also wondering how it will affect the show. I think they’re in the final weeks of the campaign and in the last episode, Leo was being asked to replace Josh as campaign manager, while simultaneously continuing as VP candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988/12 "2005-12-17T01:57:15Z")
The concern for his role in **West Wing** is really a tribute to his acting ability. If you remember his character on **LA Law** , he was totally different, yet just as believable. The other role that I remember him for also involved an attorney – the film **Presumed Innocent** with Harrison Ford. His part was pivotal. John Spencer, we are so going to miss you. You were aces. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988/13 "2005-12-17T01:58:46Z")
Plus he kept Michael Madsen from starting World War III. Well, not really, but they didn’t know that at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988/14 "2005-12-17T01:59:45Z")
Wow. Crap. > [@amaranta](#): > > I’m really upset. I don’t think any other celeb death this year has upset me so much. Same here. Damn. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988/15 "2005-12-17T02:14:57Z")
Says in his obit he was on the old _Patty Duke Show_; would’ve loved to see him in that. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988/16 "2005-12-17T02:51:43Z")
I was sitting in a bar this afternoon when I saw the announcement on the TV. My first thought was “Damn, he’s way too young to die this suddenly.” What a shame. The story he told Josh about the man in the pit was really one of the great acting jobs in TV history. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988/17 "2005-12-17T02:54:25Z")
Yeah, this has definitely been the celebrity death to affect me the most this year. I always liked Spencer from back in the L.A. Law days. I’m actually honestly surprised anyone else remembered him from back then, **Sampiro** , I always thought my appreciation of him in L.A. Law was something not shared by anyone else :). I was really happy about his being a major player on the West Wing, it’s always cool when an actor you take notice of, but who hasn’t had a lot of “heavy” success ends up becoming really successful. I’ve been a fan of Smits’ for awhile too, again from the L.A. Law days. But his acting ability was vindicated by NYPD Blue imo. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988/18 "2005-12-17T02:56:07Z")
I figure most of the remainder of the campaign is already filmed, although I’m not sure. If it is then they’ll probably announce Leo has died of a heart attack (makes perfect sense given they’ve already introduced the heart problem concept) the first time they have to film a new episode. I hope to see most of that episode dedicated to Leo McGarry the character hopefully as a tribute to John Spencer the man. Then the episode after that Santos should announce who his new VP candidate will be. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988/19 "2005-12-17T03:46:26Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > The concern for his role in **West Wing** is really a tribute to his acting ability. I reckon when it comes time for me to bite the big one, I won’t give a damn about the networks I built or the computers I fixed, or the orchids, the CPs or the water gardens. Maybe I’ll worry about the cat and the killifish. But, yeah, my first thought was what would happen to his character. I really wish we went somewhere and got rewarded, I really do. Again, damn. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988/20 "2005-12-17T04:01:34Z")
Crap. A good actor who, fortunately, was recognized in what turned out to be his final years. –Cliffy [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-john-spencer/335988.md?page=2)