Editing Sam Waterston (section)

=== 1974–1993: Rise to prominence === 
Waterston has a history of doing theater work in the summer, often seen acting in such venues as [[Long Wharf Theatre]] and the [[Yale Repertory Theatre]] in New Haven.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Ernio|last=Hernandez|date=11 May 2005|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/92893-Sam-Waterston-Travesties-Opens-at-Long-Wharf-Theatre-May-11|title=Sam Waterston Travesties Opens at Long Wharf Theatre May 11|magazine=[[Playbill (magazine)|Playbill]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017080745/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/92893-Sam-Waterston-Travesties-Opens-at-Long-Wharf-Theatre-May-11 |archive-date=October 17, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Celia|last=Wren|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/18/theater/theater-when-chekhov-had-a-bad-dream.html|title=When Chekov had a Bad Dream|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 18, 2003}}</ref> In 1973, acting opposite [[Katharine Hepburn]], he played a shoe salesman in the television drama film ''[[The Glass Menagerie (1973 film)|The Glass Menagerie]]'' (1973), receiving a [[Primetime Emmy Award]] nomination for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series]] for his work in the film.<ref name="emmys">{{cite web |url=http://www.emmys.com/bios/sam-waterston |title=Sam Waterston |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) |access-date=February 3, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=William |last=Glover |title=Sunday: The Glass Menagerie |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19731215&id=nKtVAAAAIBAJ&pg=5245,3981537&hl=sv |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=Associated Press |date=December 15, 1973 |access-date=February 3, 2016}}</ref> He went on to appear as [[Bond (finance)|bond]] salesman [[Nick Carraway]] in the 1974 feature film version of ''[[The Great Gatsby (1974 film)|The Great Gatsby]]''  acting alongside [[Robert Redford]], [[Mia Farrow]], and [[Bruce Dern]]. For his performance he earned two [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]] nominations: [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actor]] and [[Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor|New Star of the Year]].<ref name="goldenglobes">{{cite web |url=http://www.goldenglobes.com/person/sam-waterston |title=Sam Waterston |publisher=Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) |access-date=February 3, 2016}}</ref> 

The following year, Waterston acted in the neo-Western comedy film ''[[Rancho Deluxe]]'' (1975) starring [[Jeff Bridges]], [[Elizabeth Ashley]], and [[Harry Dean Stanton]]. That same year, he acted in the Canadian thriller ''[[Journey into Fear (1975 film)|Journey into Fear]]'' with [[Zero Mostel]], [[Vincent Price]] and [[Shelley Winters]]. In 1976, he acted in the thriller ''[[Sweet Revenge (1976 film)|Sweet Revenge]]'' opposite [[Stockard Channing]]. The following year, he acted in the British-American thriller ''[[Capricorn One]]'' playing Lieutenant Colonel Peter Willis. The film had an ensemble cast which included [[Elliott Gould]], [[James Brolin]], [[O. J. Simpson]], and [[Hal Holbrook]]. Also in 1977, he starred in an Off-Broadway production of [[William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Measure for Measure]]'' as Duke Vincentio alongside [[Meryl Streep]] and [[John Cazale]] at the [[Delacorte Theatre]].<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1976/08/13/archives/stage-a-measure-to-test-the-mettle-of-actors.html|title= Stage: A 'Measure' to Test The Mettle of Actors|work= The New York Times|date= August 13, 1976|accessdate= November 28, 2023|last1= Gussow|first1= Mel}}</ref> 

Waterston made his first collaboration with [[Woody Allen]] playing Mike in the drama ''[[Interiors]]'' (1978) starring [[Diane Keaton]], [[Geraldine Page]], [[Maureen Stapleton]], and [[E.G. Marshall]]. The film was a departure from comedy from Allen and received critical acclaim as well as nominations for five [[Academy Awards]]. In 1980, he starred in ''[[Benefactors (play)|Benefactors]]'' alongside [[Glenn Close]], [[Mary Beth Hurt]], and [[Simon Jones (actor)|Simon Jones]] at [[The Brooks Atkinson Theatre]] on Broadway.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.playbill.com/personrolespage/person-role-page?person=00000150-ac81-d16d-a550-ecbf68430001|title= Sam Waterston Broadway Credits|website= [[Playbill (magazine)|Playbill]]|access-date= May 12, 2020}}</ref> Also in 1980, he portrayed [[American frontier|Old West]] figure [[Frank M. Canton|Frank Canton]] in ''[[Heaven's Gate (film)|Heaven's Gate]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/24/movies/screen-shorter-heaven-s-gate-with-voice-overs-tries-again.html |title=SCREEN: SHORTER 'HEAVEN'S GATE,' WITH VOICE-OVERS, TRIES AGAIN |work=The New York Times |last=Canby |first=Vincent|date=April 24, 1981}}</ref> and [[theoretical physicist]] [[J. Robert Oppenheimer]] in the miniseries ''[[Oppenheimer (miniseries)|Oppenheimer]]'' (1980) earned him nominations for a [[BAFTA Award|BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Television Series]] and a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film]].<ref name="goldenglobes"/> 
[[File:SamWaterstonJan10.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Waterston receiving the star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] in 2010]]
In 1984, Waterston played American journalist [[Sydney Schanberg]] in the British drama ''[[The Killing Fields (film)|The Killing Fields]]'', opposite [[Haing S. Ngor]] and [[John Malkovich]]. For his performance, Waterston received an [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] nomination.<ref>{{cite news|title=Polls shows Waterston, Field, 'Killing Fields' as Oscar picks |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19850323&id=rO80AAAAIBAJ&pg=3755,4636688&hl=sv |newspaper=Ocala Star-Banner |date=March 23, 1985 |access-date=February 3, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Historical pictures lead nominations for coveted Oscars |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=943&dat=19850207&id=nbpPAAAAIBAJ&pg=6458,2885944&hl=sv |agency=United Press International (UPI) |newspaper=Mohave Daily Miner |date=February 7, 1985 |access-date=February 3, 2016}}</ref> Waterston reunited with Woody Allen playing David, a romantic interest for [[Dianne Wiest]] and [[Mia Farrow]] in ''[[Hannah and Her Sisters]]'' (1986), Peter in ''[[September (1987 film)|September]]'' (1987), and Ben, a [[rabbi]] who is losing his eyesight ''[[Crimes and Misdemeanors]]'' (1989). He also took a supporting role in the coming of age film ''[[The Man in the Moon (1991 film)|The Man in the Moon]]'' (1991) starring [[Reese Witherspoon]] in her feature film debut, the [[John Waters]] satirical black comedy film ''[[Serial Mom]]'' (1994) and played [[Abraham Lincoln|President Abraham Lincoln]] in the miniseries ''[[Lincoln (miniseries)|Lincoln]]'' (1988).

Waterston voiced Lincoln in the 1990 [[Ken Burns]] documentary miniseries ''[[The Civil War (TV series)|The Civil War]]''.<ref name="credits"/> Waterston portrayed a district attorney in drama television series ''[[I'll Fly Away (TV series)|I'll Fly Away]]'' (1991–93), winning the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama]].<ref name="goldenglobes"/><ref>{{cite news |first=Bob |last=Thomas |author-link=Bob Thomas (reporter) |title='Scent' film surprise winner at Golden Globe Awards |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=266&dat=19930125&id=pNsrAAAAIBAJ&pg=5792,1965644&hl=sv |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=Kentucky New Era |date=January 25, 1993 |access-date=February 3, 2016}}</ref> In 1993, he portrayed [[Abraham Lincoln]] onstage in ''[[Abe Lincoln in Illinois (play)|Abe Lincoln in Illinois]]'' and received [[Tony Award]], [[Drama Desk Award]], and [[Outer Critics Circle Award]] nominations for his performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.playbill.com/person/sam-waterston-vault-0000070066|title= Sam Waterston - Performer|website= [[Playbill (magazine)|Playbill]]|access-date= May 12, 2020}}</ref>