Actual-life drama hit the manufacturing of The West Wing throughout manufacturing of the NBC present’s seventh season, when John Spencer, the Emmy-winning actor behind White Home Chief of Employees Leo McGarry, died of a coronary heart assault at age 58 on December 16, 2005.
After a lot back-and-forth within the writers’ room — detailed under — the choice was made to have Leo die, as nicely, off-screen in Season 7’s two-part “Election Day” storyline. And the grief viewers see onscreen is that of each Leo’s colleagues and Spencer’s costars.