John Spencer's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) The West Wing Leo McGarry L.A. Law Tommy Mulla… H.E.L.P. Valery

Main Movie Roles 1999 - Ravenous 1998 - Twilight 1998 - The Negotiator 1997 - Cop Land 1996 - The Rock 1995 - Forget Paris 1990 - Presumed Innocent 1990 - Green Card 1989 - Sea of Love 1989 - Black Rain 1989 - Far From Home 1987 - Hiding Out 1985 - The Protector 1983 - Echoes 1983 - WarGames 1979 - Meteor

BIOGRAPHY:

John was the only son of a lower middle-class family. His father, John Speshock, was a truck driver. His mother, Mildred, was a homemaker and an occasional waitress. He grew up near Paterson, New Jersey, but left at age 16 to attend the Professional Children's School. In 1963, he landed a recurring role on "The Patty Duke Show" (1963). After that ended, he attended Fairleigh Dickenson University and later New York University, but dropped out to return to acting. John had been an acknowledged alcoholic, who remained sober ever since getting therapy. He had quit smoking in 1999, which he described as "hell on earth". He passed away of a heart attack on December 16, 2005. He will be missed.


TRIVIA:

• He never married or had children.
• Before he was known to television audiences, John was well-known in New York for his brilliant stage performances throughout the 70s and 80s.
• An only child of a working-class family (his father was a truck driver who never finished grammar school and his mother was an occasional waitress), both of his grandfathers were alcoholics.
• Art sadly imitated life for John in the end. His _"The West Wing" (1999)_ (qv) TV character, Chief of Staff Leo McGarry, had a history of alcoholism and suffered a heart attack. John, who was himself a recovered alcoholic (since 1989), died of a heart attack four days before his 59th birthday in December of 2005.
• Received excellent stage reviews and a Drama League Award for his vivid reincarnation of the late 'Dan White (III)' (qv), the assassin of San Francisco Mayor 'George Moscone' (qv) and Councilman 'Harvey Milk (I)' (qv), in "Execution of Justice" in 1986. Earlier, he won an Obie Award for his portrayal of a returning Vietnam vet in the off-Broadway play "Still Life" in 1981.
• Toured with the legendary 'Gloria Swanson' (qv) playing her blind son in a stage production of "Butterflies Are Free" in 1970.
• As a child, he won several 4H awards for the tomatoes he grew. He was an avid gardener. He also collected art & antiques, and was involved in both the New York and L.A. AIDSWalk, which benefits local clinics and AIDS patients.
• January 2000 - John lived with his long-time girl friend, actress-choreographer 'Patricia Mariano' (qv).