Samuel Norman Seaborn is a fictional character played by Rob Lowe on the television serial drama The West Wing. From the beginning of the series in 1999 until the middle of the fourth season in 2003, he is deputy White House Communications Director in the administration of President Josiah Bartlet played by Martin Sheen. The character departed with six episodes left in season four after Lowe decided to leave the series, although he returned for two episodes in the final season, including the series finale, where he became White House Deputy Chief of Staff to the new president portrayed by Jimmy Smits.