John Aylward

John Aylward (November 7, 1946 – May 16, 2022) was an American actor born and raised in Seattle, Washington. He attended St. Joseph's Grade School before moving on to Prep High School, ultimately graduating from Garfield High School in 1965. He completed the Professional Actor's Training Program at the University of Washington in 1970.

Aylward launched his acting career in Seattle, where he became one of the founders of Empty Space Theatre in 1973. He also worked as a company member of the Seattle Repertory Theatre, appearing in works by David Mamet, Arthur Miller, and Tennessee Williams. His stage work extended to Los Angeles, where a 1996 production of Psychopathia Sexualis at the Mark Taper Forum caught the attention of Carol Flynt, co-producer of ER, who subsequently offered him an audition for the series. On Broadway, Aylward appeared in The Kentucky Cycle in 1993.

Aylward became widely recognized for two recurring television roles: Barry Goodwin, a former DNC chairman, on the NBC series The West Wing, and Dr. Donald Anspaugh on the NBC series ER. His television work also included appearances on Northern Exposure, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and Mad Men. Beyond live-action performance, he provided the voice of Dr. Arne Magnusson in the video game Half-Life 2: Episode Two. In film, he played Father Edward Devine in the 2020 sports drama The Way Back.

Aylward died in Seattle on May 16, 2022, at the age of 75.