The West Wing Cast: Where Are They Now?

Another high-profile West Wing character that took a trip to Mandyville was Emily Procter’s Ainsley Hayes. Brought into the Bartlet White House as an Associate Counsel, she was seemingly set up to be a love interest for Sam Seaborn after his call girl companion, Laurie, boarded the same train as Mandy herself following the end of the first season.

Ainsley’s most interesting attribute was her status as a Republican in a Democratic administration. The sparring between her, Sam and others on their conflicting viewpoints were excellent examples of Sorkin’s panache for dialogue, but also of how bilateral thinking could prevail as a force for good.

After appearing throughout seasons two and three, Procter vanished after securing a job on CSI: Miami, playing the role of Calleigh Duquesne throughout the show’s ten seasons on air. No mention was made of her departure until season four, when Matthew Perry’s Joe Quincy was brought in to take her position, though he vanished himself after just three appearances.

Sorkin has spoken in interviews about how one of his biggest regrets was not making better use of Procter. Outside of CSI, her work has been almost nonexistent, limited to just a two-episode stint on White Collar in 2013, but she did narrate The West Wing’s reunion table read last year.