Rob Lowe has opened up about his “tremendous unhealthy relationship” with The West Wing.

The actor performed the deputy White Home Communications Director Sam Seaborn on the Emmy-winning NBC drama, however left partway by means of its fourth season.

On the time, it was reported that Lowe left the present on account of a wage dispute, in addition to a artistic disagreement over the quantity of focus given to his character.

In a latest look on the Podcrushed podcast, Lowe spoke about his resolution to go away The West Wing, describing his relationship with the sequence as “tremendous unhealthy”.

“I felt very undervalued” he stated, including: “I didn’t have a great expertise.”

“I walked away from the preferred woman in school, however I additionally knew that it was a brilliant unhealthy relationship, and it was the very best factor I ever did.”

Lowe subsequently went on to star within the sitcom Parks And Recreation, in addition to procedural dramas Code Black and 9-1-1: Lone Star.

Saying his departure from The West Wing on the time, Lowe stated in a press release to followers: “As a lot because it hurts to confess it, it has been more and more clear, for fairly some time, that there was now not a spot for Sam Seaborn on The West Wing.

“Warners had allowed me a possibility to go away the present as I arrived – grateful for it, completely happy to have been on it and pleased with it. We have been part of tv historical past and I’ll always remember it.”

The actor did, nevertheless, later return to The West Wing for a few episodes in direction of the tip of its run, together with the sequence finale. He additionally reprised the character of Sam for the 2020 TV particular A West Wing Particular To Profit When We All Vote.

First airing in 1999, The West Wing adopted the day-to-day operations of a political administration in The White Home, led by fictional Democrat president Jed Bartlett (Martin Sheen).

Alongside Lowe and Sheen, the sequence additionally starred Alison Janney, Bradley Whitford, Richard Schiff, John Spencer, Janel Moloney, and Dulé Hill.

Earlier this 12 months, The West Wing author Aaron Sorkin stated he thought he’d by no means write once more after struggling a stroke in 2022.