John Aylward (November 7, 1946 – May 16, 2022) was an American actor.

He was best known for playing the former DNC chairman Barry Goodwin on the NBC television series The West Wing and for playing Dr. Donald Anspaugh on the NBC television series ER.^[1] He also provided voice for Dr. Arne Magnusson in Half-Life 2: Episode Two.

Aylward was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. He attended St. Joseph's Grade school and went on to Prep High School, but graduated from Garfield High School in 1965. He graduated from the Professional Actor's Training Program at the University of Washington in 1970.^[2] He was one of the founders, in 1973, of Seattle's Empty Space Theatre, and he worked regularly as a company member of the Seattle Repertory Theatre.^[3] He appeared in dramas by David Mamet, Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams.^[1] Carol Flynt, co-producer of ER, first offered him an audition after seeing him in a 1996 production of "Psychopathia Sexualis" at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.

He appeared in numerous television shows, including Northern Exposure, 3rd Rock from the Sun, The West Wing, and ER among others. He played Father Edward Devine in the 2020 sports drama movie The Way Back.^[1]

Aylward died in Seattle on May 16, 2022, at the age of 75.^[4]