Obama chief inspired 'West Wing' character

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- The man who is to be U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's chief of staff inspired the character of Josh Lyman on TV's "The West Wing," Us Weekly said.

Bradley Whitford played the idealistic, workaholic Deputy Chief of Staff Lymon on the celebrated political drama for seven years.

Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel, who agreed to take the chief of staff position in the upcoming Obama administration Thursday, is a 48-year-old veteran of the Clinton White House, who sometimes is referred to as "Rahm-bo."

His youngest brother Ari Emanuel is a successful talent agent who also inspired an iconic TV character -- that of ruthless Hollywood powerbroker Ari Gold on "Entourage." Jeremy Piven plays the character on the show.