10 TV Stars Who Died During Production

8. John Spencer

In December of 2005, The West Wing world lost its White House Chief of Staff. John Spencer, who played Leo McGarry on this presidential drama, died of a heart attack just days after his birthday. Having filmed two episodes that were in post-production at the time of his death, the producers were then quickly able to write his death into the show. In the show's final season, they say that McGarry died of a heart attack on election night. They also kept his name in the opening credits until the show's end to honor his death.