Bradley Whitford

Bradley Whitford plays Josh Lyman, the deputy chief of staff in The West Wing. Josh approaches a political argument as though somebody has challenged him personally. Whitford makes that competitive energy funny and useful, then shows how easily it can become impatience when the person in front of him does not share his priorities.

The performance won an Emmy in 2001. Josh's exchanges with Donna and his colleagues are essential to the show's pace: he can be several thoughts ahead and still need someone else to point out the obvious.

Whitford later reunited with Aaron Sorkin for Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. His television work also includes Commander Joseph Lawrence in The Handmaid's Tale, Mitch Chesborough in Echo 3 and Todd Penn in The Diplomat. A guest appearance in Parks and Recreation offers a much smaller-scale political arena.

His films range from Billy Madison to Get Out, The Post and Tick, Tick... Boom!. He is especially effective when a character expects to be the cleverest person present. Josh gives that confidence an appealing purpose while allowing the ego behind it to remain plainly visible.