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The gang’s back together! Nine years after The West Wing aired its series finale, the stars of the beloved show reunited on Tuesday, Jan. 13.
Martin Sheen, who was Emmy-nominated for his role as President Josiah ‘Jed’ Bartlet, met with six members of his on-screen staff: Joshua Malina (Deputy Communications Director Will Bailey), Dule Hill (Personal Aide to the President Charlie Young), Richard Schiff (Communications Director Toby Ziegler), Bradley Whitford (Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman), Allison Janney (Press Secretary C.J. Cregg), and Mary McCormack (Deputy National Security Advisor Kate Harper).
The West Wing (l-r) Allison Janney as Claudia Jean ‘C.J.’ Cregg, Richard Schiff as Toby Ziegler, Janel Moloney as Donna Moss, Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman, Stockard Channing as Abbey Bartlet, Martin Sheen as President Josiah “Jed” Bartlet, John Spencer as Leo McGarry, Dule Hill as Charlie Young
Eli Attie, a writer for the long-running NBC show, shared photos of the stars back together on Twitter. “West Wing reunion at @funnyordie,” he wrote, teasing a not-yet-released Funny or Die sketch presumably involving the actors.
The West Wing alums then shared the photos on their social media accounts, and Hill posted his own shot from the reunion.
After debuting in September 1999, The West Wing ran for seven years with seven seasons, coming to a close in May 2006 after winning a total of 26 Emmys. In the years since the show’s wrap, its stars have continued their acting careers and have largely stayed in television.
The actor portrayed George W. Bush in the 2008 film W. “Everyone said, ‘Why would you want to do that?’ And most of my friends continued to ask ‘why’ until it came out,” he told MTV News in November 2009. “I don’t know how we’re getting the praise and accolades we’re getting. It’s amazing to […]
Lead Sheen went on to appear in a 20-episode arc on his son Charlie‘s FX show Anger Management, and recently teamed up with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin for the upcoming Netflix series Grace and Frankie. After appearing in Backwash, In Plain Sight, and The Big Bang Theory, Malina found himself on another political show, starring as David Rosen on ABC’s runaway smash Scandal. Hill booked a big gig soon after West Wing‘s final episode, nabbing a starring role in USA’s Psych.
Schiff made cameos in Past Life, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, and House of Lies before booking a part on WGN’s Manhattan, which is airing its second season later this year. Whitford starred in ABC’s Trophy Wife before the show’s 2014 cancellation, and has since appeared in Amazon’s Golden Globe-winning series Transparent.
The star played a teen genius and licensed physician in the show Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989 to 1993).
Janney has been particularly busy and critically acclaimed with a starring role on CBS’ Mom, a multi-episode arc on Masters of Sex, and upcoming movie gigs with The DUFF, The Night Is Young, and Spy. Finally, McCormack worked with Malina on In Plain Sight, going on to appear in Welcome to the Family and The Newsroom.
This won’t be the first time that former West Wing stars have collaborated for Funny or Die. In 2012, Malina, Janney, Sheen, and Hill, plus Melissa Fitzgerald (C.J. Cregg’s assistant Carol Fitzpatrick) recorded a “Walk & Talk” skit, promoting the importance of physical activity.
