that is so sad. i liked him a lot. i wonder if this means Alan Alda will win the election. i really thought John would take over as prez after Martin Sheen (of course something would have to happen to Jimmy, but i thought that was inevitable).

he died of a heart attack 4 days shy of his 59 b-day.

but, really sad and shocked now!

I'm way behind on the show(still stuck on the Season 2 DVDs), but I'd heard he was a Vice Presidential candidate this year. I wonder what they're gonna do now.


Regardless, this is shocking news. 58 is way too young.

R.I.P. Leo.

Boy, that is pretty young. Feel sorry for his family...

I'm not seeing this reported on any news service. Any links to more info?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051216/...v/obit_spencer

not yet, it apparently just happened...like hours. I just saw it on NBC Evening News.

ABC News just posted it as well. This is so sad; that is way too young.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/...ory?id=1414538

thanksfor the link... very sad news

UGH!!!!! RIP horrible news.

This is really sad. He was one of my favorite characters on the show. RIP

"Watch it you ****head you're gonna pull my arm out!"

Loved him in The Rock.

Sad news indeed...

That is crazy news. He was easily one of my favorite characters on West Wing. I wonder how they are going to deal with this on the show. maybe try to get Rob Lowe to replace him on the ticket.

Very sad, he was very good in the early west wing, not so much of late, although the last episode was brilliant, and he was back to his old self, I can't believe this really.

and so young, relatively.

He was a good actor. I'll miss seeing his work.

A complete surprise. I just saw it on ABC news. Wow.

I'm surprised as well. Definately one of my top favs on West Wing. I was happy to see he was running for the VP slot (hoping he'd continue on in the series).

Sad. He was a really good actor.

I used to watch him on LA Law. Seemed like a nice guy on all the red carpet shows. Very sad.

Wow. Very shocking. I haven't watched West Wing in a year oor two but didn't his character at one point have a heart attack?

I liked him since his L.A. Law days, he certainly will be missed.

This is a real shock. I actually just got done watching a West Wing episode on DVD and then turned on the TV to see John had passed. He brought a believability to Leo that made him one of my favorite characters on the show. Hopefully they'll dedicate an epsiode to saying goodbye to the character and give all of us West Wing fans a chance to both mourn and remember him.

Thanks for all the great performances, John...you'll be missed.

I saw him on LA Law and followed him ever since. Man, this really sucks.

A big surprise, for sure, and very very sad.

Condolences to the family. We'll all miss him and his fine acting work.

very sad styff, my girlfriend was a huge fan of his. r.i.p.

firstly, i was totally shocked when i heard this. he was one of my favorite character actors.

secondly, i think this drives the nail in the coffin of the west wing if it wasn't already dead.