Emmy-winning ‘West Wing’ icon in scornful takedown of Trump
Says ‘pattern of my life shifted’ after partner’s death, president’s election.
Ryan Cooper 
Stockard Channing, the Emmy-winning star of The West Wing, recently offered a sharp critique of Donald Trump while opening up about the personal evolution that led her to leave the United States.
A Life in Transition
Channing, best known to millions as First Lady Dr. Abigail Bartlet, revealed that the 2014 passing of her partner, Daniel Gillham, served as a catalyst for a profound lifestyle change. According to The Daily Mail, Channing noted that the tragedy had a delayed impact on her psyche, leading her to eventually relocate from Maine to London. She admitted that this personal shift coincided with the political landscape of the U.S. changing, specifically citing the election of Donald Trump.
Reflecting on Political Integrity
During her time on the hit NBC drama, Channing starred opposite Martin Sheen, who played President Josiah “Jed” Bartlet. Reflecting on the show's legacy, Channing noted that viewers often look back at The West Wing and admire a time when political figures were perceived to possess a higher standard of integrity.
From Hollywood Icon to London Recluse
Beyond her political drama fame, Channing remains an icon for her performance as the sassy Betty Rizzo in Grease. Despite the film being a massive box office success, the actress, who was 33 when she played the 17-year-old character, shared that the role did little to propel her film career at the time. She told You Magazine that following the musical's release, she struggled to secure even a single audition, noting that while television networks showed interest, motion picture studios did not.
Today, the Tony Award-winning star of Six Degrees of Separation has embraced a much quieter life in London, where she says she is perfectly content living as a recluse.
