Breaking News! 9 January 2006

West Wing Actor Sheen Diagnosed With MS

Cast Looking At Curse; Whitford Said To Start Wearing Bulletproof Vest

Another bombshell has hit the award-winning television show, "The West Wing", following the sudden death last month of actor John Spencer, as it was announced that Martin Sheen, who portrays President Josiah Bartlet, has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

A veteran actor, of both television and movies, Sheen's character of President Bartlet also suffers from MS, which has provided a running theme on the NBC Emmy-winning program. It was well into the shows run that it was disclosed the President had the disease, causing political problems for himself and his staff.

Spencer, who played Chief of Staff Leo McGarry, suffered a fatal heart attack on December 16th. On "The West Wing", McGarry also suffered a heart attack, forcing him to resign from his position. In recent episodes, McGarry has returned to action, as the Vice Presidental running mate of Matt Santos, played by Jimmy Smits.

Following the holidays, 'The West Wing" returned to new episodes last evening and, ironically, in the opening moments, Martin Sheen, out of character, speaking directly into the camera, announced the death of Spencer and how the upcoming months would showcase the actors' talents.

In the episode, titled "Running Mates", Spencer, as Vice Presidential nominee Leo McGarry, prepares and performs in the campaigns' first and only Vice Presidents Debate. McGarry worries the staff with horrible performances during the pre-debate preparation, but then goes out and executes his position flawlessly.

While no official comment has come from the producers of the program, Hollywood insiders say that they are "very upset".

"There's been talk of a curse," said one veteran Hollywood agent.

Unconfirmed rumors have been circulating that Bradley Whitford, who plays Santos Campaign Director Josh Lyman, has taken to wearing a bulletproof vest.

In the opening episodes of Season Two of "The West Wing", a two-part drama titled "In The Shadow of Two Gunman", Lyman, then President Bartlet's Communications Director, was wounded in an assassination attempt on Presidential Aide Charlie Young.