John Spencer died of a heart attack at age 58.
I've always loved him as an actor, since I first saw him on L.A. Law (although, as it turns out, I'd seen him years prior as a missile silo airman in WarGames, but didn't realize it until much later). He was a classic character actor, who was able to bring a certain charm to even some of the worst characters.
Not that this is at all important in the grand scheme of things, but it certainly does leave me wondering where the hell West Wing is going to be heading in the next six months. Given that he's supposed to be the VP Candidate (and, given that the last president's VP had to resign in disgrace, how believable is it that a second VP would get elected and then vanish), that's a pretty huge hole to fill.
I guess it depends on "what's in the can" already, and what may already be in the can that they want to scrap so as to make his plot-exit easier. Right now, it seems like the easiest solution would be for Vinnick to win the election. Then Leo can simply vanish into obscurity. But without the ability to write him out gracefully, I'm not sure what else they can do, especially after last week's "We want Leo to replace Josh as the campaign manager" plot twist (which, luckily for the writers, Leo did not accept or it'd just be harder to weasel out of).
But all that aside.... rest in peace, sir.
Didn't know him as an actor way back when, but I'm definitely saddened by his death.
Yeah, that's a major bummer. As far as the West Wing, if Santos wins, and they have it filmed up to the lame duck point, it'd be interesting to have Leo die and Vinick appointed as the new VP. It's fairly plausible living in the McCain era...
Does John have an identical twin, by chance? :/