John Spencer (born John Speshock Jr.; December 20, 1946 – December 16, 2005) was an American actor. He was best known for his role as Leo McGarry on the NBC political drama series The West Wing and for his role as attorney Tommy Mullaney in L.A. Law. His performance on The West Wing earned him a Primetime Emmy Award in 2002.

Oct 9, 2020 · John Spencer, who played Leo in the show, died in 2005. Here’s how The West Wing handled his death.

Feb 10, 2024 · During the final season of The West Wing, Leo McGarry's passing needed to be written into the show given the sudden loss of Emmy Award-winner John Spencer. Whether he's serving as senior counselor to the president or as a vice presidential running mate, Leo remains steadfast in his convictions and exceedingly thoughtful.

John Spencer played White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry on all seven seasons of The West Wing. He won an Emmy for the role in 2002 and was nominated in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004. Spencer died following a heart attack in a Los Angeles hospital on December 16, 2005, four days before what would...

Actor: The West Wing. John Spencer was born John Speshock III in Paterson, New Jersey, the only son of Mildred (Benzeroski), a homemaker and occasional waitress, and John Speshock, a truck driver. He grew up near Paterson, New Jersey, and left at age 16 to attend the Professional Children's School.

Oct 15, 2020 · John Spencer was an Emmy-winning actor best known for playing Chief of Staff Leo McGarry on The West Wing from 1999 to 2005. Ahead of the West Wing special reunion episode on HBO Max, here’s what you need to know about how he died and what they did on the show when it happened.

Dec 19, 2005 · John Spencer, the Emmy Award-winning actor who played the shrewd, craggy White House chief of staff on the NBC drama "The West Wing," died yesterday morning in Los Angeles, four days before...

Dec 16, 2005 · John Spencer, who played a tough and dedicated politico on "The West Wing" who survived a serious illness to run for vice president, died of a heart attack Friday. He was 58. Spencer died...

Dec 17, 2005 · John Spencer, an actor who received an Emmy Award for portraying the flawed but efficient chief of staff who anchored the large ensemble cast on NBC-TV’s “The West Wing,” died Friday...

Dec 17, 2005 · John Spencer, the actor who plays politician Leo McGarry in NBC television's The West Wing, has died of a heart attack at 58. The actor died in hospital in Los Angeles on Friday, his...