Find out about the actors behind your favourite characters in The West Wing.
MARTIN SHEEN (Josiah Bartlet)
Best known for his performance opposite Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now, Martin Sheen has built an impressive list of film roles during a long and successful career.
Sheen's credits include Wall Street, Badlands, Catch Me If You Can, Gettysburg, The Dead Zone, Gandhi and The Final Countdown.
STOCKARD CHANNING (Abigail Bartlet)
New Yorker Stockard Channing earned an Oscar nomination after reprising her Tony-nominated performance in the memorable film version of Six Degrees of Separation.
Channing's additional film credits include Practical Magic, Twilight, The First Wives Club, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar and the hugely popular musical Grease.
DULÉ HILL (Charlie)
Born in New Jersey, Dulé Hill made his series-starring debut in The West Wing. Hill's big break came with a starring role in the original cast of Bring in 'Da Noise Bring in 'Da Funk on Broadway.
Later, Hill starred with Freddie Prinze Jr in She's All That, and with Jon Voight in the screen version of the children's novel Holes.
ALLISON JANNEY (CJ Cregg)
Allison Janney has won four Emmy Awards for her portrayal of CJ Cregg on The West Wing. Janney appeared in the big screen adaptation of Strangers with Candy, with Sarah Jessica Parker.
Janney's other films incluse The Hours, American Beauty, Nurse Betty, Drop Dead Gorgeous, 10 Things I Hate About You, Primary Colors, Celebrity, Private Parts, The Ice Storm and Big Night.
JOSHUA MALINA (Will Bailey)
Joshua Malina made his professional acting debut in the Broadway production of Aaron Sorkin's A Few Good Men. He went on to star in the critically acclaimed television series Sports Night.
Malina starred in Bruno Barreto's dark comedy A View from the Top, with Gwyneth Paltrow and Mike Myers. Additional film credits include In the Line of Fire, with Clint Eastwood, and Bulworth, with Warren Beatty.
MARY McCORMACK (Kate Harper)
Mary McCormack starred with David Spade in the hit comedy Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, as well as appearing opposite Julia Roberts in Steven Soderbergh's Full Frontal.
McCormack appeared in US miniseries Traffic; Madison, opposite Jim Caviezel; Private Parts; K-PAX; High Heels and Low Lifes; Mystery, Alaska and Deep Impact.
JANEL MOLONEY (Donna Moss)
Emmy Award nominee Janel Moloney's film credits include appearances in Desperate Measures, Til There Was You, Safe, Wild Bill and Bang, Bang, You're Dead.
Moloney's additional television credits include roles on ER. She also appeared in the television movies And Then She Was Gone, Double Edge and To Save a Child.
RICHARD SCHIFF (Toby Ziegler)
Prior to The West Wing, Richard Schiff guest starred in Ally McBeal, Chicago Hope and ER. He began his career as a theatre director but moved into acting with roles in Se7en and City Hall.
Other credits include Malcolm X, Forces of Nature, Hoffa, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Deep Impact and Dr Dolittle.
JOHN SPENCER (Leo McGarry)
John Spencer was best known as the tough and funny New York attorney Tommy Mullaney on the hit series LA Law, but he also appeared in Law & Order, Miami Vice and the films Cop Land, The Rock and Green Card.
On 16 December 2005, shortly before his 59th birthday, John Spencer passed away following a heart attack.
BRADLEY WHITFORD (Josh Lyman)
Bradley Whitford has received critical acclaim for his roles in theatre, film and television. He recently starred in the film adaptation of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
Other film roles include The Muse, Bicentennial Man, Scent of a Woman, A Perfect World, Philadelphia, The Client, Red Corner, Presumed Innocent. His television credits include ER, The X-Files and NYPD Blue.
