Viewers of The West Wing are well aware of the heart-wrenching moments that occur in the show’s last season. However, they likely did not anticipate witnessing Martin Sheen, the star of the series, visibly shedding tears during a particular scene.
In honor of the occasion, they selected a significant scene from the show in which President Bartlet introduces his close friend and former chief-of-staff, Leo McGarry (John Spencer), as the nominee for Vice President.
The decision to include this scene in the segment was strategic, as it coincided with the start of the Democratic National Convention in the US. However, viewers who were not familiar with the behind-the-scenes of The West Wing may have been taken aback by Sheen’s emotional reaction during the clip.
@jenpsaki Martin Sheen reacts to footage of “The West Wing” co-star John Spencer for the first time #thewestwing #westwing #biden #dnc @MSNBC
The clip captures the last scene filmed by Spencer before his passing in December 2005 from a heart attack. As a cherished member of the cast, his death deeply affects the series.
The Cold, the episode in question, was already in post-production when Spencer passed away. As a result, Leo was noticeably missing in the subsequent episodes. Later on, the show would also witness Leo’s sudden death due to a heart attack, closely following Spencer’s passing. The episode Requiem was dedicated to honoring both the actor and his character.
Despite being initially overwhelmed by the clip, Sheen was able to quickly regain his composure and speak proudly of his work with his late friend.
“I have not witnessed it personally. In fact, I have been asked about it numerous times, but John Spencer still resides here,”Sheen explains, tapping his chest.
“Last night, we were discussing him and our emotions were a mix of sadness, happiness, and joy from having the opportunity to work with him and know him,”Sheen expressed. “Seeing him in that state was a new experience for me, and it left me feeling overwhelmed.”
Now available on Max, you have the option to binge all seven seasons of The West Wing or explore the new movies streaming this month, including some of the top films of the year.
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