RIP Leo

December 16, 2005 3:16 PM

Leo McGarry! Where have you gone! RIP John Spencer.
posted by bluedaniel (99 comments total)

I never liked Blues Explosion.
posted by bardic at 3:19 PM on December 16, 2005

So, not the new Vice President, then.
posted by hackly_fracture at 3:19 PM on December 16, 2005

(bardic, yeah, but Pussy Galore?)
posted by hackly_fracture at 3:20 PM on December 16, 2005

Well, crap.
posted by [hifidigitalboy] at 3:20 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by brundlefly at 3:20 PM on December 16, 2005

58 years young. In all honesty I thought he looked older. Rather underrated actor I suspect, no? I quite enjoyed his works.
posted by bluedaniel at 3:21 PM on December 16, 2005

I didn't watch TWW last season, but isn't a heart attack for his character why CJ ended up the Chief of Staff? Not quite the way life imitating art usually workds.
posted by jacquilynne at 3:27 PM on December 16, 2005

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Much like President Jed Bartlet is better than the real thing, we'd be much better off with Leo instead of Andrew.
posted by grabbingsand at 3:27 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by Chanther at 3:32 PM on December 16, 2005

Well that sucks. I liked Leo.
posted by schlaager at 3:32 PM on December 16, 2005

damn
posted by hototogisu at 3:34 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by stumcg at 3:34 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by Slap Incognito at 3:35 PM on December 16, 2005

That's a shame. He was a very good actor. 58 is pretty young.
posted by Miko at 3:36 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by Count Ziggurat at 3:36 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by craniac at 3:38 PM on December 16, 2005

oh crap, my favorite TWW character.
Also liked him on L.A. Law.

I hope this still means Jimmy Smits gets elected.

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posted by Saucy Intruder at 3:43 PM on December 16, 2005

. (!!!)
posted by skyboy at 3:47 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by UseyurBrain at 3:47 PM on December 16, 2005

What a great career late in life, though. He was restricted to second-string parts until LA Law.
posted by dhartung at 3:48 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by spock at 3:50 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by blastrid at 3:51 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by unrepentanthippie at 3:55 PM on December 16, 2005

First saw Spencer singing the praises of the leafy green (and refusing to push the button) in WarGames. Loved him ever since, and 58 is too damned young.
posted by WolfDaddy at 3:56 PM on December 16, 2005

Worked with John Spencer on a film once - and he couldn't have been a nicer guy. Always friendly and smiling (not nearly as somber as his character Leo). Thought some of you "." post-ers would like to know. He'll be missed.
posted by AuntLisa at 3:56 PM on December 16, 2005

Is this a human being I would need a television to empathize with?
posted by I Foody at 3:56 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by tozturk at 4:00 PM on December 16, 2005

Is this a human being I would need a television to empathize with?

Wow. Um, apparently.
posted by longsleeves at 4:04 PM on December 16, 2005

This is very sad news.
posted by piratebowling at 4:06 PM on December 16, 2005

I just heard some sad news on talk radio - Actor/Fictional presidential advisor John Spencer was found dead in his Los angeles hotel room this morning. There weren't any more details. I'm sure everyone in the MetaFilter community will miss him - even if you didn't enjoy his work, there's no denying his contributions to popular culture. Truly an American icon.
posted by orthogonality at 4:11 PM on December 16, 2005

I thought it was a hoax at first. It really is sad.
posted by brina at 4:13 PM on December 16, 2005

Is this a human being I would need a television to empathize with?

No...just a personality.
posted by craniac at 4:14 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by Mijo Bijo at 4:27 PM on December 16, 2005

Well, feck. [And doublefeck-off to people who feel compelled to make arsehat comments in an obit thread.]

Stunned to hear this. I seem to recall some TWoP posters thinking he really did look ill around the time they intro'd that plotline.
posted by NorthernLite at 4:29 PM on December 16, 2005

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Such a great actor.
posted by longdaysjourney at 4:32 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by notcostello at 4:35 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by TonyRobots at 4:39 PM on December 16, 2005

Damn. Leo was great. I've never seen John Spencer in anything else, but he was brilliant in TWW. Loved his voice.
posted by Orange Goblin at 5:07 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by ticopelp at 5:07 PM on December 16, 2005

He was restricted to second-string parts until LA Law.

On television, perhaps. He had some plum roles on stage, Broadway, Off- and regionally. He worked for my theatre in a production of True West and was fantastic in it and, as others have mentioned, a nicer, more generous fellow you'd never meet. I never asked any favor of him that was turned down, during or after his work with us.

I'm gonna go lift a glass of club soda for John.
posted by bradlands at 5:08 PM on December 16, 2005

"This guy's walking down the street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can't get out. A doctor passes by and the guy shouts up, 'Hey you. Can you help me out?' The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up, 'Father, I'm down in this hole can you help me out?' The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by, 'Hey, Joe, it's me can you help me out?' And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, 'Are you stupid? Now we're both down here.' The friend says, 'Yeah, but I've been down here before and I know the way out.'"
posted by kfury at 5:16 PM on December 16, 2005 [1 favorite]

Until TWW, one of the greatest of the "hey, its that guy" actors. And someone that Martin Sheen held in the highest esteem.

What a shame.

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posted by anastasiav at 5:29 PM on December 16, 2005

I've known a couple of people who'd worked with him in theatre as well, and they all agreed he was a notably warm, generous, lovely guy. And only 58 -- what a shame.
posted by scody at 5:34 PM on December 16, 2005

I don't know it's just TV or what, but he definately hasn't been looking healthy the past couple of years. I guess something must of caught up with him. (even if it was only... time)
posted by blue_beetle at 5:35 PM on December 16, 2005

"You got a best friend? Is he smarter than you? Would you trust him with your life? That's your Chief of Staff."
posted by hindmost at 5:35 PM on December 16, 2005 [1 favorite]

I remember finding myself in the 9th Avenue Cheese Market on Dec 24, and my then-sig oth starting excitedly tugging my coat and pointing. I looked up at found myself face-to-face with none other than Leo McGarry, picking up some provisions for the holiday, no doubt. I managed to mumble some kind of greeting, to which he responded with an incredibly direct and warm smile and full eye contact, and the most sincere-sounding "Thank you."

I walked away completely thrilled...
posted by fingers_of_fire at 5:40 PM on December 16, 2005

fingers_of_fire, was he picking up a giant wheel of cheese for his foyer for all who were hungry?
posted by hindmost at 5:48 PM on December 16, 2005 [1 favorite]

Bummer. He was a good actor. Seems like he'd have been a nice guy. Glad to read comments from some who have worked with him.
posted by mmahaffie at 5:52 PM on December 16, 2005

I'll never forget the first day Tommy Mullaney walked into L.A. Law... he just looked so out of place mixed in with those Hollywood lawyer types.

I dropped out of the West Wing post-Sorkin. But I'm sure I'll watch the inevitable Very Special Episode.

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posted by evilcolonel at 5:54 PM on December 16, 2005

. too.

leo was one of the most likeable characters on the west wing, and spencer's acting was brilliant. he and richard schiff really were the highlights of the show.
posted by sergeant sandwich at 5:58 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by LeeJay at 5:59 PM on December 16, 2005

damn............
posted by jann at 6:06 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by bshort at 6:07 PM on December 16, 2005

I loved him on LA Law. And on West Wing.

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posted by andreaazure at 6:18 PM on December 16, 2005

Kfury: "This guy's walking down the street when he falls in a hole..." Thank you for picking out one of Spencer's bravura passages from the West Wing. His delivery on that covers exactly the right wry nuance of the reformed alcoholic.

I forget the exact episode, but it's about two full seasons later where Josh, Bradley Whitfield's character, is trying to persuade Leo that he should accept help on something. I paraphrase, but Leo says, "Why would I do that?" and Josh says, "See, this guy's walking down the street and falls into a hole." Pause. That's it. Possibly the most confident piece of TV writing I've ever seen, acted to perfection by two masters. It was good to have been there.
posted by Hogshead at 6:24 PM on December 16, 2005

I really don't know what to say. I always imagined I could meet a person like Leo in real life. Spencer protrayed his character masterfuly.
posted by phyrewerx at 6:31 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by stopgap at 6:39 PM on December 16, 2005

Damn. I first noticed him in his great supporting role in Presumed Innocent (which Bradley Whitfield has a small role in).

One of my favorite moments on The West Wing was an exchange in the Situation Room between Leo and Admiral Fitzwallace (John Amos) during some crisis. Fitzwallace asks Leo something like if he's done something new with his hair, and Leo says, "Well, I like to look nice for you."
posted by kirkaracha at 6:53 PM on December 16, 2005

With all bullshit shifts in character arcs TWW has seen since Sorkin left, Spencer's (and to some degree Schiff's) was the only character that seemed to have .... what? intergrity? gravitas? balls? That Alison Janney and Janel Moloney's characters could go from ingenues to sharks and back and back again, and Josh Malina's could go from reluctant young naif to backstabbing operator, and back again to idealistic communications director... and John Spencer's character could remain true to the blueprint of the persona he developed is definitely a testament to his artistic integrity, if not his own strength of character.

RIP, Leo.
posted by psmealey at 7:09 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by StrangeTikiGod at 7:21 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by infomaniac at 7:22 PM on December 16, 2005

Very very sad. He will be missed.

The West Wing is one of the few shows I miss not having television - I'll be sure to catch the last few episodes with Leo McGarry when I can.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 7:38 PM on December 16, 2005

Geez ... I think TWW could survive Martin Sheen leaving, but Leo was the glue that held it all together. RIP to both.

(Wasn't he also the guy in the missle silo in "War Games"?)
posted by RavinDave at 8:19 PM on December 16, 2005

The world has a shortage of Really Nice Guys. Many thanks to those who knew he was one of them for sharing.
posted by unrepentanthippie at 8:26 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by pithy comment at 8:29 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by NemesisVex at 8:47 PM on December 16, 2005

A damn shame.
posted by kjh at 8:59 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by fredosan at 9:15 PM on December 16, 2005

I served at the pleasure of the Chief of Staff, man. Damn shame.
posted by padraigin at 9:46 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by mdeatherage at 10:14 PM on December 16, 2005

A wonderful actor, and gone too young.

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posted by melissa may at 10:29 PM on December 16, 2005

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Always liked him, seemed like he would be great guy to sit down and drink a bottle of whiskey with.
posted by fenriq at 10:43 PM on December 16, 2005

Oh this really really makes me sad. Both my roommate and I are big West Wing fans.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:56 PM on December 16, 2005 [1 favorite]

I'm sure I'll watch the inevitable Very Special Episode.

As someone in a discussion group I'm in pointed out, TWW is well along in shooting what is generally assumed to be its final season. It may make more sense dramatically to simply let Leo live on off-screen, because having the character die would likely throw a major monkey wrench into their last few episodes. Having Leo die will demand time planned for other developments. OTOH, that's a cheap way to deal with the death of a beloved actor and character, and somehow I don't think TWW will do that. But I'd guess that some writers are going to be working extra over the holidays trying to figure how to handle it. (If they don't kill off Leo, Spencer's last episode will presumably become the VSE.)

Having said that, let me express my sadness that he's gone from our midst, too. He came across as very real, and it's nice to hear how good he was from those who interacted with him.
posted by pmurray63 at 10:58 PM on December 16, 2005

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posted by menace303 at 12:09 AM on December 17, 2005

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posted by peacay at 12:38 AM on December 17, 2005

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posted by feelinglistless at 12:47 AM on December 17, 2005

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Ditto on his character holding the West Wing together. I'm always disapointed when he doesn't make it in to an episode.
posted by jaysus chris at 12:51 AM on December 17, 2005

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posted by joegester at 1:15 AM on December 17, 2005

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posted by stray at 2:03 AM on December 17, 2005

they should do another 'big block of cheese' day in his honor
posted by rswst8 at 2:11 AM on December 17, 2005

fuck

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posted by mr.marx at 2:31 AM on December 17, 2005

The friend says, 'Yeah, but I've been down here before and I know the way out.'"

I heard his voice in my head as I read that.

My wife and I were shocked by the news yesterday. Many thanks to those of you who shared your memories of working with him; it's nice to know he was such a great guy. RIP.
posted by languagehat at 5:27 AM on December 17, 2005

This makes me so sad. Why am I this sad about a guy I never met? He just seemed so genuine, like a guy you'd really like to sit down and have a drink with. No, you know what it was? The guy had charm. He had that rare charm that seems to come from really liking people, and that works on men and women equally.

I know it's already been said, but: damn.

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posted by jenii at 8:37 AM on December 17, 2005

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posted by ParisParamus at 8:39 AM on December 17, 2005

What jenii said.

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posted by infidelpants at 9:11 AM on December 17, 2005

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posted by nevercalm at 9:18 AM on December 17, 2005

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posted by coldon at 10:12 AM on December 17, 2005

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posted by bz at 10:46 AM on December 17, 2005

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posted by hydropsyche at 11:45 AM on December 17, 2005

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Definitely one of my favourites on TWW. There's something comforting and strong about Leo.
posted by heatherann at 11:54 AM on December 17, 2005

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posted by elkerette at 5:31 PM on December 17, 2005

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posted by damn yankee at 8:49 PM on December 17, 2005

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posted by zardoz at 9:32 PM on December 17, 2005

58's far too young. My best to his family - this really made me sad.
posted by Space Kitty at 9:53 PM on December 17, 2005

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posted by Foaf at 10:02 PM on December 17, 2005

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posted by OhPuhLeez at 9:33 AM on December 18, 2005

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posted by coriolisdave at 5:08 PM on December 18, 2005

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I had a dream the other week where I was in the West Wing. (Best dream ever). At one point Leo gave me one of his looks, meaning This Is Not Good But You've Got Away With It This Time And Do Not Do It Again. I can still taste that look it was so real: he was an actor who could say a lot with very little.
posted by penguin pie at 8:09 AM on December 19, 2005