Sam Waterston

Samuel Atkinson Waterston was born on November 15, 1940, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and the American Actors Workshop before beginning his career in theater on the New York stage in 1962, appearing in various revivals of Shakespearean works and productions at the Public Theatre. His early career saw him acting in supporting roles in films such as “Fitzwilly” (1967) and “Generation” (1969), and taking a leading role in “Three” (1969). Waterston also appeared in the 1973 television drama “The Glass Menagerie,” earning a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor.

Waterston rose to prominence with his portrayal of Nick Carraway in “The Great Gatsby” (1974), which earned him Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor and New Star of the Year. He continued to build a distinguished filmography, collaborating multiple times with Woody Allen in films like “Interiors” (1978) and “Hannah and Her Sisters” (1986). A turning point in his career came with his Academy Award-nominated performance as journalist Sydney Schanberg in “The Killing Fields” (1984). He also received critical recognition for his role as J. Robert Oppenheimer in the BBC miniseries “Oppenheimer” (1980).

In 1994, Waterston took on the role of Executive Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy in the television series “Law & Order,” a character he would portray for over 16 seasons, becoming the second longest-serving cast member on the show. This role earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award and multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Following “Law & Order,” he continued to star in high-profile TV roles, including Charlie Skinner in HBO’s “The Newsroom” (2012–2014) and Sol Bergstein in Netflix’s “Grace and Frankie” (2015–2022). Waterston concluded his tenure as Jack McCoy on “Law & Order” in February 2024, after appearing in over 400 episodes across various iterations of the franchise.