James Cromwell Warps To 'West Wing'

Academy Award and Emmy-nominated actor James Cromwell has given the 100th episode of The West Wing the presidential seal of approval.

Best known to Trek fans as warp drive creator Zephram Cochrane in Star Trek: First Contact, Cromwell will play former president D. Wire Newman in the landmark instalment of the multi Emmy Award-winning series, according to The Futon Critic. Cromwell's character, described as an "irascible idealist", was the last Democratic president before The West Wing's Jed Bartlet.

Reportedly entitled "The Stormy Present", the 100th episode is likely to air in early 2004, although an official date has not yet been announced. According to early plot details posted at the West Wing Continuity Guide, the episode revolves around the death of a former president after a hip operation.

Cromwell, who made several guest shots on The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine before taking on the role of Cochrane, won't be the first Trek alumnus to feature on The West Wing this season. Steven Culp (Major Hayes) has appeared in the recurring role of Jeff Haffley, the Republican Speaker of the House, while Thomas Kopache (Tos in "Broken Bow"), Ron Canada (Fesek in "Juggernaut") and Terry O'Quinn (Admiral Pressman in "The Pegasus") have also dropped by the Oval Office.

The original news can be found at The Futon Critic. Thanks to Ziggy Spence for this!

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