Entertainment
How 'The West Wing' Spent Their 2013
It's been seven years since The West Wing went off the air, but we still find ourselves missing President Bartlet, Toby, Josh, and the others more often that we'd like to admit. Aaron Sorkin's Emmy-winning drama is one of the best TV series to ever air, and even all these years later, it's hard not to wish we still had our dose of walk-and-talk magic every week (and no, The Newsroom doesn't count). There have been plenty of amazing dramas that have aired since The West Wing, of course, but few have lived up to Sorkin's wonderful creation.
Luckily, we're not the only ones with West Wing nostalgia. Over the last few years, many of the show's cast members have expressed their long-lasting love for the series, talking in interviews about how unique the experience was and reuniting with their fellow cast members on Twitter and in funny PSAs. And in 2013, we got to see many of the West Wing ensemble in movies, TV shows, and more forms of entertainment that, while not as good as the White House, provided us with enough nostalgia to keep us going until the next time we decide to binge-watch the show on Netflix.
From President Bartlet to Ainsley Hayes, here's what the cast of The West Wing has been up to over the course of 2013.
Image: NBC
Martin Sheen (President Jed Bartlet)
Sheen became a series regular on Season 2 of Anger Management, the low-rated FX show starring the actor's son, Charlie. The elder Sheen also starred in Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain, a historical drama that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May. He also filmed roles in several upcoming movies, including The Boxcar Children and The Amazing Spider-Man 2, where he'll reprise his role of Uncle Ben.
Allison Janney (C.J. Cregg)
The ever-busy actress had a fantastic 2013, with supporting roles in indie hits Touchy Feely and The Way, Way Back, along with a starring turn in a new CBS series, Mom. Janney also appeared on Masters of Sex and Veep, and voiced characters on Phineas and Ferb.
Bradley Whitford (Josh Lyman)
Whitford spent 2013 appearing in guest roles on TV shows ranging from Go On to Shameless. He also had supporting turns in the films CBGB, December's Saving Mr. Banks, and the upcoming Decoding Annie Parker, alongside former co-star Richard Schiff. He is now starring on ABC's Trophy Wife.
Richard Schiff (Toby Ziegler)
Schiff appeared in Decoding Annie Parker, as well as June's Man of Steel. He also filmed roles for the 2014 films The Long Goodnight, Kill the Messenger, and Explosion.
Janel Moloney (Donna Moss)
Moloney had a quiet 2013, appearing in the drama Concussion and on an episode of The Good Wife. However, she filmed two movies, both set to be released next year.
Rob Lowe (Sam Seaborn)
Lowe had a fantastic 2013, starring in three highly-anticipated TV movies — Prosecuting Casey Anthony, Killing Kennedy, and the Emmy-winning Behind the Candelabra — and continuing his role on NBC's Parks and Recreation. In July, it was announced that Lowe would leave the sitcom in 2014.
Dulé Hill (Charlie Young)
Since 2006, Hill has starred on Psych, USA's acclaimed crime comedy. This year, he also shot two films, including Gravy, co-starring Sarah Silverman and Gabourey Sidibe.
Joshua Malina (Will Bailey)
Malina spent 2013 starring on another White House-centered show, ABC's hit Scandal. Molina plays David Rosen, Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Stockard Channing (Abigail Bartlet)
Channing had a recurring role on The Good Wife, appearing in a handful of episodes over 2012 and 2013. She also had a small role in Pulling Strings, an indie comedy.
Kristin Chenoweth (Annabeth Schlott)
Chenoweth, one of The West Wing's most successful cast members, spent 2013 filming several movies, including Rio 2 and the Jennifer Lopez-starring The Boy Next Door.
Nicole Robinson (Margaret Hooper)
Robinson, who played Leo's secretary on The West Wing, had a slow year, filming just one role in a 2014 film called The Living.
Melissa Fitzgerald (Carol Fitzpatrick)
Fitzpatrick appeared in a few episodes of Chasing the Hill, a political drama (sound familiar?) alongside former castmate Richard Schiff.
Mary McCormack (Kate Harper)
After her starring role on USA's In Plain Sight ended with the show's finale last year, McCormack spent 2013 filming NBC's Welcome to the Family, a short-lived series canceled soon after its October premiere. Oh, and she also managed to get pulled into a cheating scandal.
Jimmy Smits (Matthew Santos)
Smits currently stars on Sons of Anarchy, FX's critically acclaimed drama.
Lily Tomlin (Deborah Fiderer)
Tomlin spent the first few months of 2013 starring on ABC's short-lived Malibu County, which was canceled in May after just one season. In March, she had a supporting role in the Tina Fey-Paul Rudd comedy Admission. Currently, she's a regular on Lisa Kudrow's Web Therapy.
Alan Alda (Arnold Vinick)
Alda had a recurring role on the final season of Showtime's The Big C, which ended its four-season run in May.
Timothy Busfield (Danny Concannon)
This year, Busfield appeared on episodes of The Mob Doctor, Perception, and Revolution, starred in two TV movies, and filmed two upcoming movies.
Elisabeth Moss (Zoey Bartlet)
Moss is a regular on Mad Men, where she stars as copywriter Peggy Olsen. She also starred in the acclaimed miniseries Top of the Lake, filmed a voice role on The Simpsons, and filmed two movies.
Mary-Louise Parker (Amy Gardner)
After the end of her long-running show, Weeds, last year, Parker spent 2013 appearing in two comedies, Red 2 and R.I.P.D., filming three movies, and starring in The Snow Geese, a Broadway play.
Moira Kelly (Mandy Hampton)
Kelly's 2013 career consisted of a single appearance on one episode of Drop Dead Diva, a major decline from the success she experienced as a West Wing star and a Lion King voice artist more than a decade ago.
Tim Matheson (John Hoynes)
Matheson is a regular on the CW's Hart of Dixie, and also appeared on several episodes of Burn Notice, CSI, and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated this year.
Gary Cole (Bob Russell)
Vice Presidents, unite! Alongside Tim Matheson, Cole voiced roles on Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, but that work is secondary compared to his success as a regular voice artist on Family Guy as Principal Shepherd and other characters. In 2013, Cole also had recurring roles on Suits, The Good Wife, and Veep.
Anna Deavere Smith (Nancy McNally)
Smith has a major role on Showtime's Nurse Jackie, which was renewed for a sixth season in June.
Teri Polo (Helen Santos)
Polo has a recurring role on ABC Family's The Fosters, and also spent the year filming several movies set to be released in 2014.
Marlee Matlin (Joey Lucas)
Matlin is a regular on Switched at Birth, which has earned acclaim for its portrayal of deaf characters and use of ASL.
Michael O'Neill (Ron Butterfield)
O'Neill's career has always been good, but he experienced a revival of sorts back in 2010 when he portrayed mass murderer Gary Clark in the famed "shooter at the hospital" episode of Grey's Anatomy. Since then, he's booked roles on several top TV shows, and this year, had parts in Necessary Roughness, Rectify, and the November film Dallas Buyers Club.
Emily Proctor (Ainsley Hayes)
After starring on more than 230 episodes of CSI: Miami over the course of a decade, Proctor took 2013 easy, appearing in just two episodes of White Collar.
