John Aylward, ‘ER’ and ‘The West Wing’ Actor, Dies at 75
variety.comWilson Chapman editorJohn Aylward, the actor best known for his recurring roles in popular NBC dramas “ER” and “The West Wing,” died Monday in Seattle from natural causes, his agent Mitchell K.
Stubbs confirmed to Variety. He was 75.Born and raised in Seattle, Aylward graduated from the University of Washington’s school of drama in 1970.
He got his start as a theater actor, founding Seattle’s Empty Space Theatre in 1973. He served as a regular in Seattle Repertory Theatre for 15 years.After getting his start in television with small roles on television films — including “The Secret Life of John Chapman,” “Stamp of a Killer,” “Third Degree Burn,” “Child in the Night” and “With a Vengeance” — Aylward began working more frequently on television in the ’90s, starting with a recurring role on “Northern Exposure.” Other television shows he had notable recurring and guest spots on over the course of his career included “Grace Under Fire,” “3rd Rock from the Sun,” “Family Law,” “Ally McBeal,” “Dharma & Greg,” “The X-Files,” “Everwood,” “The Practice,” “Nip Tuck,” “Law & Order,” “Boston Legal,” “Alias,” “Mad Men,” “Fringe,” “Shameless” and “Yellowstone.” Aylward was cast of “ER” in 1996, during its third season, after co-producer Carol Flynt saw him perform in “Psychopathia Sexualis” at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.
Aylward played Dr. Donald Anspaugh, a leading board member of the central hospital, and the chief of staff and chief of surgery for much of the show’s run.
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