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PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. -- Still mourning the loss of her beloved West Wing co-star John Spencer, who died of a heart attack Dec. 16, Kristin Chenoweth enjoyed a much-needed laugh Sunday night at a party at the home of her pal Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm).
"He was like my father," said Chenoweth, who not long ago enjoyed a conversation with Spencer about their own mortality. "We talked about how we wanted to die, and John said, 'I just want to go quick.' And he did."
Just a few days after Spencer's death, on what would have been the Emmy-winning actor's 59th birthday, the whole West Wing crew and cast gathered at Spencer's empty house for an impromptu memorial. "It was very helpful for us to talk about him -- and we even had a birthday cake for John."
West Wing writers had been laying the groundwork for a red-hot romance involving Chenoweth's character, Annabeth Schott, and Spencer's Leo McGarry. Just last week, Chenoweth was still shooting scenes alluding to a developing romance.
"They had me all happy, singing," Chenoweth said. "It was very awkward. I think the writers are frantically planning something appropriate to honor him, but we don't know what."
Chenoweth and Hines appear together as the wives of Jeff Daniels and Robin Williams in the comedy R.V. It's due in theaters in March.
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