Why Bradley Whitford wasn’t at the ‘West Wing’ Emmys cast reunion

The cast of "West Wing" reunited at the 2024 Emmys to introduce the nominees and winner of the outstanding drama series, "Shōgun."

Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, Martin Sheen and Jimmy Smits took the stage to before a set right out of the Aaron Sorkin show.

"It's hard to believe that just 25 years ago, Aaron and the writers actually had to use their imaginations to create interesting plot lines for 'The West Wing,'" Janney said.

"Unlike today where storylines can be plucked right off the news, storylines that writers would have deemed a bit far fetched if not utterly ridiculous 25 years ago," Schiff replied.

The cast went on to encourage everyone to vote in the upcoming presidential election.

Missing from the reunion was Bradley Whitford, who played White House Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman.

In a tweet thread ahead of the Emmys, Whitford explained why he had to miss this week's cast events. He wrote that he was filming in Budapest and couldn't make it.

"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, 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,)" he wrote.

"My God, the writing on The West Wing. Those characters. Played by people I love and admire and get to be part of a family with for the rest of my life."

He echoed co-star Janel Moloney's AirMail piece in saying that the show "continues to be, a privilege. A gift."

Whitford paid tribute to the show's crew and creator Sorkin before turning his attention to his late co-star, John Spencer, who died in 2005.

"And I’m thinking of John Spencer," he continued. "Of how much we miss him. Of what a kick he would have gotten out of tonight.

"The farther away from the show I get, the more grateful I am to have been a part of it," Whitford concluded. "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!!!"

No word yet on why Rob Lowe, who played White House communications director Sam Seaborn in the show for four seasons, did not join the reunion.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com