As The West Wing cast members reunited at the 2024 Emmys ceremony on stage at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, the actor—who played Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman for all of the show’s seven seasons—shared his regrets on missing the occasion, which marked the series’ 25th anniversary.
“It breaks my heart not to be able to be with my West Wing family at the Emmys tonight or at the White House later this week to celebrate our 25th birthday,” Bradley wrote in a Sept. 15 post on X explaining what’s next for him. “But I’m in Budapest on another White House set pretending to work for another administration. (I know. I need to work on my range.)”
While Bradley was absent from the occasion (see all the stars who did grace the red carpet here), his costars including Allison Janey, Martin Sheen, Dulé Hill, Janel Moloney and Richard Schiff got on stage—which was decked out to replicate The West Wingset—to present Shogun with Outstanding Drama Series (See every winner of the night here).
Still, Bradley didn’t let his absence for the big moment get in the way of reminiscing about the series.
“My God, the writing on The West Wing,” his posts on X continued. “Those characters. Played by people I love and admire and get to be part of a family with for the rest of my life. As Janel said in her beautiful piece, it was, and somehow continues to be, a privilege. A gift.”
The actor went on to praise The West Wing crew, as well as its creator Aaron Sorkin and his late costar John Spencer, who died in 2005 just before the series’ last season aired.
“I’m thinking of our incredible crew,” Bradley added. “Of the hundreds of people you never saw who made this happen. I’m thinking of Aaron. Of the miracle of a brilliant writer sitting in a room and having an idea that made all of this possible. And I’m thinking of John Spencer. Of how much we miss him. Of what a kick he would have gotten out of tonight.”
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And like his costars—who joked about the show’s ridiculous plot lines turning out to be far tamer than the current, real political climate—Bradley got sentimental about the series’ impact.
“The farther away from the show I get, the more grateful I am to have been a part of it,” he continued. “I’m proud of its ongoing legacy that celebrates hope and public service in a world that can no longer afford cynicism and despair. So what’s next? To celebrate our anniversary, I hope you will check your voter registration and make a plan to vote!!!”
The West Wing cast presenting Shogunwith one of the night’s biggest honors was just one highlight from the 2024 Emmys. Keep reading for some of the night’s best moments.