John Spencer R.I.P

[bennet_7]

John Spencer, the actor who played Leo McGarry on 'The West Wing' has died of a heart attck. He was 58.

I once read on an internet site that "Jed, Sam, CJ, Toby, Josh, Charlie and Donna are my favourite characters. Leo is my second favourite character." At the time (it was many years ago) I agreed with it. But Leo became one of my faves. His gruff manner and dry wit won me over. Plus he looks awesome in a three piece suit (I have a thing for old guys).

I don't think I ever saw Spencer in anything else but he brought gravitas to this role. He was Leo. I never thought he was acting. When he won his Emmy for best supporting actor in 2002 I remember really liking his acceptance speech. I think he said he loved his wife. I'm a sucker for that kind of thing.

He had really great chemistry with the rest of the cast, particularly Martin Sheen (President Bartlett) and NiCole Robinson (Margaret). I'll miss Leo tremendously and I hope that something fitting is done to write out his character. 'The West Wing' has a history of doing this badly (Mandy, Sam).

Margaret: Can I just say something for the future? *I* can sign the president's name. I've got his signature down pretty good.
Leo McGarry: You can sign the president's name?
Margaret: Yeah.
Leo McGarry: On a document removing him from power and giving it to someone else?
Margaret: Yeah. Or do you think the White House Counsel would say that's a bad idea?
Leo McGarry: I think the White House Counsel would say that's a Coup D'Etat.
Margaret: I'd probably end up doing some time for that.
Leo McGarry: I would think. And what the hell are you doing practicing the president's signature?
Margaret: It's just for fun.
Leo McGarry: We've got separation of powers, checks and balances, and Margaret, vetoing things and sending them back to the hill.

Leo McGarry: He's a klutz, Mrs. Landingham, your president's a geek.

Leo McGarry: [on the phone with the New York Times] 17 across. Yes, 17 across is wrong... You're spelling his name wrong... What's my name? My name doesn't matter. I am just an ordinary citizen who relies on the Times crossword for stimulation. And I'm telling you that I met the man twice. And I recommended a pre-emptive missile strike against his air force, so I think I know how...
C.J. Cregg: Leo.
Leo McGarry: They hang up on me every time.

Leo McGarry: Margaret, please call the editor of The New York Times and tell him that Khaddafi is spelled with 1 H and 2 D's and isn't a 7-letter word for anything

President Josiah Bartlet: Leo, hard as you might try, the Republican party isn't going anywhere.
Leo McGarry: We don't know that for sure, sir, they could all end up moving to Vancouver.
President Josiah Bartlet: I don't think so.
Leo McGarry: Me neither, but being in power means everybody else can take a seat for four years.

Leo McGarry: You saw Sam's friend?
Sam Seaborn: How did you know?
Leo McGarry: I had you tailed.
Josh Lyman: You had us tailed?
Leo McGarry: Yes.
Sam Seaborn: Why?
Leo McGarry: On the off chance that you're as stupid as you look.

Leo McGarry: [on Lord John Marbury] He thought I was the butler!
President Josiah Bartlet: For the first couple of weeks, so did I.

LEO: Got to. Little thing called team morale, Josh. You gotta make people feel
good about themselves.

LEO: All right, shut the hell up, everybody. I've fired more people than you
before breakfast.

Leo McGarry: I am making a mental list of those who are snickering, and even as I speak I'm preparing appropriate retribution.

Leo McGarry: Andrew Jackson had a big block of cheese...
Josh Lyman: ...And a Wheat Thin the size of Lake Tahoe

Toby Ziegler: [interrupting Leo's speech about Andrew Jackson's "big block of cheese"] Leo, wouldn't this time be better spent plotting a war against a country that can't possibly defend itself against us?
Leo McGarry: We can do that later, Toby. Right now I'm talking abut President Andrew Jackson.

Ainsley Hayes: So you lied to me just then.
Leo McGarry: I'm a politician, Ainsley. Of course I lied to you just then.

Mrs. Landingham: In my day we knew how to protect ourselves.
Leo McGarry: Well, in your day you could fight off the Indians with a Daniel Boone musket, couldn't you?
Mrs. Landingham: Ah, sarcasm - the grumpy man's wit.
Leo McGarry: Go sharpen a pencil, would you?

[signing Christmas cards]
Leo McGarry: Who's Sarah?
Margaret: Your sister.

[after Josh's therapy session with Stanley Keworth, Josh inquires why Leo is trying to help him]
Leo McGarry: 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 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 nuts? Now we're both down here." The friend says, "Yeah, but I've been down here before - and I know the way out."

Comments

[bennet-7.livejournal.com]

No problem. I loved Leo so much and I was shocked to hear about it on the news.