Close will play a candidate for a position on the Supreme Court on the drama created by Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men). "A conservative judge just died, so it's the business of trying to get her nominated and the confirmation drama around it," actor John Spencer told the online magazine.

"The West Wing," which centers on the titular area of the White House, stars Martin Sheen as President Josiah Bartlet. The show features many performers with stage experience including regulars Spencer (Glimmer, Glimmer and Shine), Allison Janney (A View From the Bridge), Dulé Hill (Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk), Bradley Whitford (A Few Good Men), Richard Schiff (The Exonerated), Joshua Malina (A Few Good Men) and Tony winner Stockard Channing (Joe Egg).

Cherry Jones (The Heiress Tony winner) and Michael Gaston (A Day in the Death of Joe Egg) will appear on the March 3 episode. Other recent (some recurring) guest stars have included Mary-Louise Parker (Proof), Lily Tomlin (The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe), Anna Deavere Smith (Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992), John Goodmn (Big River), Joanna Gleason (Into The Woods), Harry Groener (Crazy For You), Kate Burton (Hedda Gabler), Dylan Baker (Eastern Standard) and Taye Diggs (Rent).

Close won her three Tony nods for her performances in Sunset Boulevard, Death and the Maiden and The Real Thing. The actress, known for such movies as "Fatal Attraction," "Dangerous Liaisons," and the Mel Gibson "Hamlet," also appeared on stage in The Play What I Wrote, Benefactors, The Crucifer of Blood, Rex and Barnum — for which she earned her first Tony nomination.

The hour-long drama "The West Wing" airs on NBC Wednesday nights at 9 PM (ET). Check your local listings. For more information, visit www.nbc.com/thewestwing.